A protocol to apply BASINS to assess non-point sources of pollution (Puerto Rico)

The main objective of this work is to provide a protocol for the application of a management tool for the development and assessment of strategies for the control, reduction, and management of non-point pollution sources in Puerto Rico. The work presented is one of the first efforts of the application of U.S. EPA's BASINS to Puerto Rico. BASINS incorporates GIS technology and the model Soil and Water Assessment Tool. A drawback in the application of BASINS is that USEPA has not developed the database for Puerto Rico. The Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve watershed was selected for the demonstration of the application procedures developed under this research. This research demonstrates that a systematic application is possible for Puerto Rico even with the lack of a database. The simulations helped to visualize the impacts of future changes in the land use and the agricultural practices within the watershed.