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 Theories range from an increase in construction runoff to
inclement weather to people clearing mangroves to allow larger boats
into the area.
"We have been compiling data," Carmen Guerrero, secretary of the
Department of Natural Resources, said in a phone interview as she
headed toward Las Cabezas de San Juan Nature Reserve with a team of
scientists to investigate the problem. "There are a lot of factors
that could be at play."
The bioluminescent lagoon, often referred to as a bay, attracts
tourists who set out in kayaks or boats by night from the
neighboring city of Fajardo to see waters that glow when microscopic
organisms are disturbed. A greenish light swirls off hands and arms
as visitors trail them through the water.
But the bioluminescence has dropped so much that tour operators have
had to cancel trips and reimburse visitors, Guerrero said.
Fajardo Mayor Anibal Melendez told reporters that the lagoon has
been dark for at least eight days.
"We've never seen anything like that," he said.
Melendez blamed runoff from the construction of a nearby water and
sewer treatment plant, and he has asked that the plant be moved
elsewhere.
Officials involved with the plant deny it's the cause. But as a
preventive measure, the government temporarily suspended
construction at the project for two weeks until scientists from
various agencies including the U.S. Geological Survey can figure out
what is causing the problem, Guerrero said.
She stressed that officials do not know if possible construction
runoff is to blame. Recent rains and a storm that is generating
heavy waves is another possibility for affecting the lagoon's
bioluminescence, Guerrero said.
"It's important to give these experts room so they can do their job
and help us understand what happened in the lagoon and why it has
temporarily lost some of its brightness," she said.
Alberto Lazaro, president of the state Water and Sewer Authority,
said he will evaluate scientists' findings before deciding how to
proceed in several weeks.
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He said the treatment plant is needed because people are discharging
sewage into the lagoon and nearby ocean. The plant, which is to be
completed by 2016, was approved by the territory's Department of
Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
which is providing the funding.
"The goal of the project is to conserve this valuable resource, and
we have designed and developed this project taking all those
requirements into account," Lazaro said.
Laura Velez, who heads the government Environmental Quality Board
that monitors such projects, said that the treatment plant has had
adequate erosion and sediment control and that officials have
regularly inspected it to ensure compliance with environmental
standards.
The Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico, which manages the lagoon and
surrounding areas, collects water samples three times a week to
record data including temperature, salinity and precipitation.
Guerrero said scientists will analyze that data to help solve the
mystery of the darkening lagoon.
Miguel Sastre, a biology professor at the University of Puerto Rico
who has long studied Fajardo's bioluminescent lagoon, one of three
in the territory, said it went nearly dark in 2003 for unknown
reasons, but rebounded a couple of months later.
He said in a phone interview that his main concern this time is the
construction of the water and sewage treatment plant because it
coincides with the drop in bioluminescence.
"We have to take action and evaluate the situation," Sastre said.
"We should do our utmost to help preserve these sites."
[Associated
Press; DANICA COTO]
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