Abstract
Lower Laguna Madre (LLM) is designated as an impaired waterway for high concentrations of bacteria and low dissolved oxygen. The main freshwater sources to the LLM flow from the North and Central waterways which are composed of three main waterways: Hidalgo/Willacy Main Drain (HWMD), Raymondville Drain (RVD), and International Boundary & Water Commission North Floodway (IBWCNF) that are not fully characterized. The objective of this study is to perform a watershed characterization to determine the potential pollution sources of each watershed. The watershed characterization was achieved by developing a cyberinfrastructure, and it collects a wide inventory of data to identify which one of the three waterways has a major contribution to the LLM. Cyberinfrastructure development using the Geographic Information System (GIS) database helped to comprehend the major characteristics of each area contributing to the watershed supported by the analysis of the data collected. The watershed characterization process started with delineating the boundaries of each watershed. Then, geospatial and non-geospatial data were added to the cyberinfrastructure from numerous sources including point and nonpoint sources of pollution. Results showed that HWMD and IBWCNF watersheds were found to have a higher contribution to the water impairments to the LLM. HWMD and IBWCNF comprise the potential major sources of water quality impairments such as cultivated crops, urbanized areas, on-site sewage facilities, colonias, and wastewater effluents.
Highlights
The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) region has undergone sudden hydrologic change due to urbanization
The watershed is comprised of three waterways, Hidalgo/Willacy Main Drain (HWMD), Raymondville Drain (RVD), and International
Geospatial data were obtained to develop a Geographic Information System (GIS) database through a cyberinfrastructure to recognize the dominated attributes contributing to the watersheds
Summary
The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) region has undergone sudden hydrologic change due to urbanization. This abrupt change has produced a decline in water quality in the primary waterways of the region. The Laguna Madre is an estuarine wetland system along the Gulf of Mexico that receives freshwater from the LRGV [1]. This watershed is known for its recreational activities and is currently threatened by the inflows of main drainage pathways that carry significant levels of contaminants. The watershed is comprised of three waterways, Hidalgo/Willacy Main Drain (HWMD), Raymondville Drain (RVD), and International
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