Is Maracas Valley in Crisis?

1. Is Maracas Valley in Crisis?

2. ISSUES IN THE VALLEY • Quarrying • Traffic Congestion • Denuding of the Hillsides • Water Shortages

3. Quarrying • Traffic Congestion • Denuding of the Hillsides • Water Shortages • Impact of Ortinola Quarry

4. Coosals Quarry FEB 2004 JAN 2005 200 t/day – 300t/day

5. Coosals QuarryNov 2007

6. El Chorro Quarry - no longer in operation 2002 2008 100 t/day – 150t/day

7. Proposed Ortinola Quarry • Area 19 acres-NO CEC REQUIRED! • Estimated capacity: 80-120 t/day • Upstream WASA's Acono Water Works; one of only two water catchment areas in Maracas Valley.

9. Proposed Ortinola Quarry Area

10. Proposed Caurita Quarry • Area 10 Hectares - NO CEC REQUIRED

11. CAN THE VALLEY SUPPORT ANOTHER QUARRY? ANOTHER QUARRY WILL PUT US OVER THE EDGE!

12. Quarrying • Traffic Congestion • Denuding of the Hillsides • Water Shortages • Impact of Ortinola Quarry

13. Traffic!!

14. Traffic Summary • Present capacity of the Maracas Royal Road: 800 to 1000 vehicles/hr • Present usage of the Maracas Royal Road: 738 vehicles/hr (morning peak, south bound direction)‏ • Maracas Royal Road is currently close to maximum capacity !

15. January 2002Heavy Trucks did not help this Situation

16. and in October 2007….

17. And in February 2008

18. CAN THE MARACAS ROYAL ROAD SUPPORT MORE HEAVY VEHICLES?

19. Quarrying • Traffic Congestion • Denuding of the Hillsides • Water Shortages • Impact of Ortinola Quarry

20. Acono

21. As a result of deforestation & slash and burn • As a result of poor land clearance for housing developments

22. Satellite imagery Mountain View

23. Satellite imagery Valley View

24. Satellite imagery Acono

25. View from the ground Acono (2002)‏

26. Acono February 2008

27. Maracas Gardens as seen from Mountain View (January 2005)‏

28. Poolside 2005

29. Buena Vista at the Entry to the Valley (2002)‏

30. Maracas Gardens (2002)‏

31. House surrounded by Water!

32. More Flooding-2007

33. SHOULD THERE BE MORE REMOVAL OF HILLSIDE COVER?No!It is also the cause of flooding in the Caroni Plain

34. Quarrying • Traffic Congestion • Denuding of the Hillsides • Water Supply • Impact of Ortinola Quarry

35. MARACAS VALLEY IS A SENSITIVE WATERSHED AREA

36. Maracas Valley: Facts and Figures Population Maracas Valley population growth is 6 times the national average !

37. Water Situation • Level Of Service (LOS) measured on a five class scale Class 1 168 hours per week or continuous supply Class 2 120 to 168 hours per week Class 3 84 to 120 hours per week Class 4 48 to 84 hours per week Class 5 Less than 48 hours per week Maracas Valley predominantly in classes 3 and 4. There is scope for improvement

38. 2000 Water Balance (Supply Versus Demand) • 2000 Water Supply:            5,800 m3/day • 2000 Water Demand:          5,900 m3/day 2000 water balance is at a near equilibrium

39. 2010 Water Balance (Supply Versus Demand) • Ortinola Quarry would negatively affect the water balance of Maracas Valley as follows: • 2010 Water Supply:            4,700 m3/day (19% decrease as compared to 2007 figures) • 2010 Water Demand:          7,000 m3/day (19% increase as compared to 2007 figures) 2010 Water Deficit (1-2):      2,300 m3/day (33% of 2010 water demand !!!) 

40. Water Balance (Supply Versus Demand)

41. Impact of Proposed Ortinola and Caurita Quarries • Ortinola and Caurita quarries will result in: • Increased loading of the Maracas Royal Rd. • Decrease of hillside cover • Increased flooding • Chronic water shortages and scheduling

42. Impact of Proposed Ortinola and Caurita Quarries • Ortinola and Caurita quarries will result in: • Reduced water quality • Increased incidences of water borne diseases etc. • Increase in air pollution creating respiratory problems and lowering of life expectancy (vehicles, quarry blasts)‏

43. Is Maracas Valley in Crisis? Yes!

44. CAN THE VALLEY SUPPORT ANOTHER QUARRY?NO

45. ALTERNATIVES • Import aggregate - A study has indicated that the cost of imported aggregate is similar to that of locally produced material • Eco-Tourism