BELIZE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REVISED December 2008 4. 1 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING 4.1 TRANSFER STATIONS/ RECYCLING STATIONS Since the objective is to remove open dumps from the offshore islands of San Pedro and Caye Caulker it will be necessary to have a transfer station in Belize City where the waste from these islands can be temporarily stored before being transported to the central landfill site at Mile 22. The Mile 3 Open Dump site has been identified as the likely area to have the transfer station located as it will minimize cost and transportation needs in transferring wastes from the islands to Belize City. The wastes will have already been baled/bagged and ready for transportation before it leaves either San Pedro or Caye Caulker. 4.1.1 Belize City (Mile 3 and 3.5) The Mile 3 open Dump is located about 3 miles to the west of Belize City in a mangrove wetland area. The central part of the Dump has the coordinates UTM 16 Q 369844 and 193494 N. The site has an approximate area of 47,000 square meters or 11.61 acres. This site is presently closed to the disposal of any solid waste material. In June of 2007, a secondary open dump site also became operational in Belize City. This site, referred to as Mile 3.5, is located about half a mile west of the previous Mile 3 site. It has an area of 4 acres. The central section of the Open Dump has the coordinates UTM 16 Q 369705 and 11934749 N. This site is located in a swampy area near mangroves. It is estimated that 448 cubic yards of solid waste is transferred from the city to this site on a daily basis. The task of collecting and transferring the wastes to the Dump site is done under the Belize Waste Control, a private entity contracted by the Belize City Council since 1992.
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BELIZE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROJECT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REVISED
December 2008 4. 1
4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING
4.1 TRANSFER STATIONS/ RECYCLING STATIONS
Since the objective is to remove open dumps from the offshore islands of San Pedro and
Caye Caulker it will be necessary to have a transfer station in Belize City where the waste
from these islands can be temporarily stored before being transported to the central
landfill site at Mile 22.
The Mile 3 Open Dump site has been identified as the likely area to have the transfer
station located as it will minimize cost and transportation needs in transferring wastes
from the islands to Belize City. The wastes will have already been baled/bagged and
ready for transportation before it leaves either San Pedro or Caye Caulker.
4.1.1 Belize City (Mile 3 and 3.5)
The Mile 3 open Dump is located about 3 miles to the west of Belize City in a
mangrove wetland area. The central part of the Dump has the coordinates UTM
16 Q 369844 and 193494 N. The site has an approximate area of 47,000 square
meters or 11.61 acres. This site is presently closed to the disposal of any solid
waste material.
In June of 2007, a secondary open dump site also became operational in Belize
City. This site, referred to as Mile 3.5, is located about half a mile west of the
previous Mile 3 site. It has an area of 4 acres. The central section of the Open
Dump has the coordinates UTM 16 Q 369705 and 11934749 N. This site is
located in a swampy area near mangroves. It is estimated that 448 cubic yards of
solid waste is transferred from the city to this site on a daily basis. The task of
collecting and transferring the wastes to the Dump site is done under the Belize
Waste Control, a private entity contracted by the Belize City Council since 1992.
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Seven (7) backload compactor trucks, each with sixteen (16) cubic yards of
capacity, are utilized to perform this task on a daily basis. Belize City is divided
into two sectors, i.e. North and South Sectors with the Haulover Creek serving as
the boundary. Each sector then has specific days on which waste is collected,
Monday and Thursday on the North and Tuesday and Friday on the South
respectively.
Currently there are no practices employed at the site for the recording the volume
of solid waste being deposited at the Mile 3.5 Open Dump.
As a component of the ETEISA Report, water and leachate samples were collected
(see appendix J) from the Mile 3 and Mile 3.5 Open Dumps. The water samples
were collected from upstream and downstream while the leachate sample was
collected from within the Dump site. In-situ analysis was also conducted with the
use of a Digital Conductivity meter (Conductronic PC-18). Table 4.1 shows the
in-situ results.
Table 4.1: In-situ Analysis
Zone Value Unit
Upstream
Temperature 19.6 oC
Electrical
Conductivity
546 S/cm
pH 7.45 -
Downstream
Temperature 20.9 o C
Electrical
Conductivity
507 S/cm
pH 8.10 -
Leachate
Temperature 28.3 o C
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Electrical
Conductivity
600 S/cm
pH 8.25 -
The results from the upstream samples indicated that the temperature was adequate
for this type of sample and the pH was found to be neutral, also adequate for this
sample. There were no heavy metals detected from this site. In regards to
Inorganic Macro-components, the result indicates low levels of Iron, however,
Manganese was not detected. Results also indicated that there was no presence of
Coliform bacteria detected. The laboratory data also indicates that there was no
pollution from organic loading BOD. See Table 4.2 below.
Table 4.2: Upstream Sample - Laboratory Results
Parameter Unit Result
Arsenic mg/l ND
Barium mg/l ND
CADMIUM mg/l ND
TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON mg/l 19.74
CHLORIDE mg/l 15,177
COLIFORM BACERIA (FECAL) MPN/100ml ND
CHROMIUM mg/l ND
BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN
DEMAND (BOD5)
mg/l ND
CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND
(COD)
mg/l 580
IRON mg/l 0.071
FAT AND OILS mg/l ND
MANGANESE mg/l ND
MERCURY mg/l ND
NITRATE mg/l 0.3024
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NITRITE mg/l 0.1209
AMMONIACAL NITROGEN mg/l 0.6037
LEAD mg/l ND
SELENIUM mg/l ND
TDS (TOTAL DISOLVED
SOLIDS)
mg/l 30956
SULFATE mg/l 1843.94
ZINC mg/l 0.0377
From the downstream results, it was confirmed that the temperature was also
adequate at 20.9 ºC and that there was an alkaline pH. It was noted, however, that
low levels of mercury and lead were detected. The findings also indicated that the
BOD/COD ratio is 61.7/456=0.135, which is a value characteristic of
methanogenic leachates. Coliform bacteria were also present in this sample. High
levels of iron and some manganese were also detected from this sample. The high
levels of Iron could be attributed to amount of waste iron rust. See Table 4.3
below.
Table 4.3: Downstream – Laboratory Results
Parameter Unit Result
Arsenic mg/l ND
Barium mg/l 0.1154
CADMIUM mg/l ND
TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON mg/l 57.67
CHLORIDE mg/l 2365
COLIFORM BACERIA (FECAL) MPN/100ml 2300
CHROMIUM mg/l ND
BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN
DEMAND (BOD5)
mg/l 61.7
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CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND
(COD)
mg/l 456
IRON mg/l 14.950
FAT AND OILS mg/l 35.5
MANGANESE mg/l 0.8940
MERCURY mg/l 0.00020
NITRATE mg/l 0.3727
NITRITE mg/l 0.2696
AMMONIACAL NITROGEN mg/l 3.7427
LEAD mg/l 0.1711
SELENIUM mg/l ND
TDS (TOTAL DISOLVED
SOLIDS)
mg/l 6208
SULFATE mg/l 985.72
ZINC mg/l 0.7828
When water percolates through the waste, it promotes and assists the processes of
decomposition by bacteria and Fungi. In actively decomposing waste the
temperature rises 28.3 ºC and the pH 8.25 and many metal ions which are
relatively insoluble at neutral pH can become dissolved in the developing leachate.
As can be noted from Table 4.4 below, leachate sample laboratory results, it was
detected that there was low levels of heavy metals present. Iron on the other hand,
was relatively low, being only 5.241 mg/l. The results also indicated that here was
no pollution from organic loading as BOD was not detected, however, COD was
found to 320 mg/l. No Coliform bacteria were noted in this sample. Due to the
fact that ammonia is released by the decomposition of proteins, low levels (91.2)
of this substance were noted in the sample. An average amount (3,201mg/l) of
total dissolved solids was recorded from this sample. Average amounts of chloride
and iron was also found from this sample.
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Table 4.4: Leachate – Laboratory Results
Par Parameter Unit Result
Arsenic mg/l ND
Barium mg/l 0.3232
CADMIUM mg/l ND
TOTAL ORGANIC CARBON mg/l 164.1
CHLORIDE mg/l 1020
COLIFORM BACERIA (FECAL) MPN/100ml ND
CHROMIUM mg/l ND
BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN
DEMAND (BOD5)
mg/l ND
CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND
(COD)
mg/l 320
IRON mg/l 5.241
FAT AND OILS mg/l ND
MANGANESE mg/l 0.41
MERCURY mg/l ND
NITRATE mg/l 0.2874
NITRITE mg/l 0.245
AMMONIACAL NITROGEN mg/l 91.2394
LEAD mg/l 0.0359
SELENIUM mg/l ND
TDS (TOTAL DISOLVED
SOLIDS)
mg/l 3201
SULFATE mg/l 173.14
ZINC mg/l 0.0145
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4.1.2 San Pedro
The San Pedro site is located south of Ambergris Caye and is currently being used
as an open dump. The common practice to reduce waste volume at the site is open
burning. The surrounding vegetation is mainly dwarf mangroves, which is
common in areas of little flushing as nitrates and phosphates are limiting nutrients
affecting their growth.
In a straight line, the site is approximately 1.86 miles southeast from the San Pedro
Airstrip; approximately 2.7 miles north of Grand Canal; and quarter mile from the
San Pedro Lagoon to the west and from the Caribbean Sea to the east. The nearest
Marine Protected area to the site is the Holchan Marine Reserve, to the south. The
site is located on a 26 acre parcel of land. This parcel of land is privately owned
and the San Pedro Town Board has entered into a five (5) year lease agreement
between the private land owner for the use and management of the site for the
disposal of solid waste generated on Ambergris Caye. However, of the 26 acres,
only a relatively small area of about 5-6 acres is being used for the actual
depositing of waste.
4.1.3 Caye Caulker
The Caye Caulker dump site is located on the south western area of the island,
immediately west of the airstrip. The site is approximately 1.5 acres in area and is
situated in a mangrove wetland amongst several small permanently inundated
areas and adjacent to a canal that connects to the Caribbean Sea on the leeward
side of the Island.
The site is an eyesore readily visible to tourist in particular those that fly into the
island. The geology of the area is similar to that of the San Pedro dump site. The
geologic profile is primarily comprised of a thin upper layer of coarse calcareous
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sand mixed with mud and peat, underlain by peat, followed once more by a layer
of fine coralline sand before reaching limestone bedrock. The soils essentially
have very little water retention capacity and would readily permit leaching of
pollutants. The dumpsite is easily accessed by stray dogs and cats and wildlife
such as raccoons. Gulls, vultures, brown jays, grackles and other bird species are
known to frequent the site.
Because of its close proximity to residences this site has always being a site of
concern associated with the proliferation of vermin and other pests. The economy
of the Island being dependent on tourism is very vulnerable to the devastating,
potential impact which an outbreak of an environmental disease such as malaria,
typhoid or cholera could have on the livelihood of its residents. The dumpsite
receives an average of 38 tons of garbage per weak, with a considerable
percentage (45%) consisting of organic waste and plastics and styrofoam (see
appendices J and K).
The open burning of some of these wastes has been identified as one of the main
sources of releases of dioxins and furans into the atmosphere. Garbage on this site
would be periodically lit to reduce its volume and sometimes fires would occur as
a result of spontaneous combustion. Residents and visitors are not only being
affected by the smoke but could also unknowingly be exposed to the insidious
effects of some of the contaminants contained in the emissions being released. The
close proximity of the site to the Pelican Marina allows for pollutants to readily
directly enter the Caribbean Sea with its subsequent potential impacts to the
surrounding marine ecosystem. An analysis of the leachate produced by the Dump
conducted by ETIESA (appendix I ) would indicate that the site is being
contaminated.
Air traffic is sometimes negatively impacted due to low visibility caused by the
smoke and air safety reduced to the abundance of birds attracted by the site. The
Owners of the adjacent Pelican Marina have complained on several occasions
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about the release of litter and other pollutants from the dump unto their
development which caters primarily to the tourism industry. There are local
operators who provide services to villagers and businesses of transporting their
waste material to the dump site. The vehicles utilized to carry out these services
include pickup trucks and bicycles with carts.
4.2 REGIONAL SANITARY LANDFILL: MILE 22 SITE
4.2.1 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
4.2.1.1 Surrounding Land Use
The proposed solid waste site is located about 4 km due north from its
existing entry point on the Western Highway. Along this route the land is
open pine orchard savannah interspersed with occasional thickets along
low lying drainage basins which intersect the route at various points. The
site is bordered by hardwood forest to the north and by mostly broken ridge
transitional forest to the east, south and west detailed in Figure 4.1. There
are no inhabited centers or farmsteads in the areas around the access road
right of way on the landfill site and the only discernable activity now
taking place near the site is selective logging. This area falls into the Belize
River Drainage Basin with surface runoff draining into the Cox and
Mucklehany lagoons which links up to form the Mussel Creek drainage
which then empties into the Belize River near Double Run. Further away
from the site there are several ongoing and proposed developments and
business enterprises. These are Big Falls Farm, Black Orchid Garden,
Ramon’s Development, Olympic Development and Jih Chan. With the
exception of Big Falls Farm all off these properties are intended for
housing development and in the case of Jih Chan this initiative is well
under way. Big Falls Farm is located about 12.5 km. to the Northwest of
the proposed landfill site. It contains 14,700 ha. of land and in the 1970s
and 80s was a major rice producing enterprise producing an abundance for
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local consumption and surplus for export. There have been tentative efforts
to revive this industry on the property since a good portion of the
infrastructure remains. The farm was and still is a noted producer of beef
cattle mainly catering to the local market. Cleared land covers about 24%
of the property with broadleaf forest and wetlands covering the remainder.
This property contains Cox Lagoon which has been noted in the past as an
area rich in wildlife, especially Crocodiles and wading birds. This wetland
area, including Mucklehaney lagoon and Mussel Creek, has been identified
as a gap in the National Protected Areas System and is a key site for
securing comprehensive community coverage and an important link
between the Northern and Southern internal Biological Corridors. This area
including its soils and vegetation types is emphasized in this study because
its drainage system encompasses the site of the proposed landfill site.
To the southeast of the site there is an area which is being proposed as a
residential community. This development called Black Orchid Garden is an
initiative spearheaded by a group of expatriate Belizean Americans who
are committed to establishing a residential development which will
accommodate the resettling of members of this group back into the
country. A development plan for this property is in circulation but so far
there has been little or no development on the ground. The property has
been surveyed. The development is shown on the site plan, Figure 3.6. This
project has become dormant for the past few years and ahs yet to obtain
environmental clearance. The north boundary of this property is being
planned as a natural buffer area that would also double as a site for utility
infrastructure and recreational purposes. This portion of the property is
close to the boundary of the landfill site and if present development plans
remain unaltered, a potential conflict over land use ma y arise. The
vegetation type over most of this property is pine orchard savannah but a
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sizeable portion also falls into low waterlogged marsh with scrub
vegetation.
Ramon Development is a large property that extends to both sides of the
Western Highway and extends south of the project site. This property
includes a portion of the land that the new sanitary landfill site will be
located on. The property is mostly undeveloped and includes pine orchard
savannah on both sides of the western highway and broadleaf forest along
its south boundary with the Sibun River.
Jih Chan Limited was planned to be a major residential development along
the Western Highway. The parcel contains 3,170 acres of which 1,313
acres or 40% of the total was meant for residential purposes, 266 acres for
commercial or industrial activity, 240 acres for public easements and
recreation, 505 acres for small holder agricultural activities. The remainder
of land is allocated for the provision of infrastructural services, including a
sanitary landfill. This existing development is located about 5 km SW off
the proposed sanitary landfill site. To date the full developmental plans for
this site has not been realized and only about 35 houses have been built
with no new one built in the last five years, nevertheless the potential for
a substantial residential settlement remains.
In addition to these entities, other important sites but further afield are the
Belize Zoo (12.0 km. from the site) and Tropical Education Center (10.0
km.), La Democracia and Mahogany Heights, a New Town Site with
presently 350 new homes (both 20 km from the site).
The area around the landfill site is not dedicated to any subsistence or
commercial land use. There is no human habitation within a 4 km radius of
the site and agriculture development is minimal. The existing dirt/gravel
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access road is currently being used as a temporary ‘bacadeer’ for loggers
who are operating within the area. It also appears that the access road is
occasionally used as a convenient drop off depot for the illegal dumping of
garbage. Garbage has accumulated at several locations along the southerly
portion of the route off the Western Highway.
The entire stretch of the Western Highway from Belize City to its terminus
at the border is rapidly being settled. Statistics have not been compiled to
show the rate of this increase but the Belize and Cayo District through
which the highway passes through, are the two most populous districts
having 29.8% and 22.9% of the nation’s population respectively. If present
development plans for the stretch of the Western Highway near the landfill
site materialize as planned, this area could become one of the fastest
population growth areas in the country. With the presence of Mahogany
Heights and other proposed developments along the Western Highway, the
area would appear as a rapid growing area of the country. A major housing
development is also presently located at mile 8, while others are proposed
for the areas around Burrell Boom and Hattieville. All these new and
proposed developments will benefit from this new landfill facility since
solid waste disposal is a serious development constraint facing developers.
In addition, a larger landfill would provide economic benefits over a series
of small uncontrolled sites for each development.
4.2.1.2 Existing Road and Traffic Conditions
4.2.1.2.1 Alternative Access Road
The Mile 22 landfill site can be accessed from the existing trail to the west
(Mile 24) and the existing right of way (Mile 22) east along the Western
Highway. This highway is in turn directly or indirectly connected to all of
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the other major road systems in the country hence facilitating access to all
the major regions. A gravel/dirt road once lead from the Western Highway
at mile 24 into the site. The first section of this road is generally in good
condition but would have to be significantly upgraded to meet the
anticipated heavy demands of traffic entering the landfill site. In its present
condition the road lacks surface drainage and portions of the roadway will
quickly become flooded, making it impassable in the rainy season. A box
culvert currently affords drainage along the Western Highway but further
in floods along one creek has washed away the road and access is only
possible over a makeshift bridge built of logs juxtaposed along the creek
bed. In addition, this area has several steel culverts in place which are in
poor condition. The land for this access route would have to be approved,
surveyed and purchased. In addition, without constructing a service road
400-500 m in length parallel to the Western Highway, poor visibility at the
approaches to the Western Highway at mile 24 will become a serious
impediment to using this road as the main access to the landfill site. Good
site access has been identified as one of the main criteria used in evaluating
the suitability of any landfill site (See section 3). The old entrance to the
landfill site lies near the top of a hill; the road rises as it meets the highway
along a ridge. The approach from the west has very poor visibility being
blocked by the land elevation at the Big Falls road cutoff, which lies at the
crest of the hill. To compound the visibility problem at this spot, the
highway takes a left turn after the Big falls road cutoff. In recent years,
there have been numerous fatal accidents at this location.
4.2.1.2.2 New Access to Existing Road
In 2006-2007 a new access located at about 1/4 mile away from the
previous entrance to the existing trail or dirt road was built by the Ministry
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of Work. This was done to allow for safer access since this access would
allow better visibility along both sides of the highway. In addition
Several sections of the existing trails were realigned and upgraded for
easier and safer flow of traffic. These works were being done following
recommendation contained in the STANTEC EIA of 2001.
Another alternative access along the property line that divides the Ramon
Property from Olympic Development and ABI was also investigated. This
route was eventually ruled out because much of it would have traversed
low lying marshy areas which would have increased the capital cost
associated with this activity tremendously. Since the landfill site must
have year round access, the road leading to it must allow for all weather
use and be able to withstand the anticipated heavy traffic and tonnage.
These criteria would indicate a need for a paved road surface with adequate
drainage installed.
4.2.1.2.3 Traffic on Western Highway
The present traffic count on the highway leading past this site is uncertain
but is believed to be on a rising trend mainly due to two factors:
Increased ownership of motor vehicles countrywide for example
between 1990 and 1998 there was a 65.8 increase in motor vehicle
ownership (Central Statistical Office, April 1999).
The increasing population of residential areas along the Western
Highway, in particular, between Belize City and Belmopan.
In 1995, 1998 and 2002, the Ministry of Works conducted three motor
vehicle censuses along the Western Highway and data was gathered to
access the frequency of highway usage. Data was collected at milepost 4,
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17 and 35. The traffic frequency data is summarized as follows. In the year
2006, Belize saw an increase in the number of vehicles that have been
involved in the scrap metal industry. In the period September to December
of 2006, the Department of the Environment, the agency responsible for
issuing License to Export Metal, recorded a total export of 1150 tons of
Scrap metal of which 1050 tons were exported via the Western Border with
the use of 71 heavy vehicles.
This industry further bloomed and in 2007 a total of 8807.5 tons of Scrap
Metal of which 8367.5 tons were exported via the Western Border with the
use of 672 heavy vehicles.
In comparing the Ministry of Works data and those of the Department of
the Environment, from the period 2002 to 2007, the amount of heavy
vehicles trafficking the Western Highway, being anywhere from Belize
City to the Western Border has seen a significant increase. (See Table 4.5)
The drop in traffic between miles 17 to 35 is perhaps accounted for by
vehicles using the Coastal Road which divert traffic coming from the 2
southern districts away from areas above La Democracia. This road is used
more often when weather conditions and road condition on the gravel road
are good.
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Table 4.5 Vehicular Traffic on the Western Highway
Census Point
Average Light Vehicle
Traffic
(vehicles per day)
Average Heavy Vehicle
Traffic
(vehicles per day)
Average Total Vehicle
Traffic
(vehicle per day)
Mile 4:
March 1995
January 1998
1617
1784
703
650
2320
2435
March 2002 2067 327 2439
Mile 17:
March 1995
January 1998
716
Nd
367
Nd
1084
Nd
March 2002 1449 365 1814
Mile 35:
March 1995
January 1998
524
819
178
191
701
1010
March 2002 641 199 840
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4.2.1.3 Existing Topography
4.2.1.3.1 Topography and Drainage
The proposed Regional Sanitary landfill Mile 22 site will occupy a high
ridge near the transitional zone (Appendix E) between the pine-orchard
savannah and the broadleaf broken ridge forest. The site occupies the apex
of the ridge with the land elevation falling away rapidly to the north, south
and to the east. In the past, the northerly portion of this site was heavily
excavated for gravel road construction and remains in a heavily disturbed
state. It appears that the materials extracted here were highly favored by the
builders for road construction and that this was the main extraction site
along this section of the road. The site is full of borrow pits but evidence of
the depth of the digging can be found from the occasional outcroppings
containing large trees which exist throughout the site. Materials were dug
down to 4 meters deep. (Appendix E: Plates 2 & 9).
Since this extraction took place, surface erosion has cut deep ruts into the
exposed and eroded subsoils. Deep ruts run from the highest part of the
ridge in all directions but are especially pronounced along the eastern and
northern slopes, which as a rule, are generally steeper. The assessment of
the site for this study took place in the early part of the rainy season (late
June to July) during a low rainfall period. Very little standing water could
be found on the site, however it is believed that most of these borrow pits
will hold water during the rainy season. At the southern end of the
excavated area about 230 m. from the site apex lies a small unnamed creek
(Appendix E: Plate 8), flowing in a west to east direction. This creek is
about 2.5 m wide and 2 m. deep and collects surface drainage from the
south slope and some from the east and west slopes. This stream is joined
by another stream of similar size, flowing roughly from NW to SE. Beyond
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its confluence the stream enters a swampy marsh where it breaks into
smaller channels, which join before crossing the entrance road.
After crossing the existing entrance road the stream leads into a thicket of
broadleaf forest to the east of the site. The stream flows through this thicket
and then joins a major creek flowing northward from the box culvert under
the Western Highway. The creek eventually drains into Cox Lagoon and
then the Creek, which flows into Mussel Creek. This system then empties
into the Belize River.
The surface flow over the remainder of the site is towards lesser ordered
streams, many of them existing as localized troughs between the ridges and
are probably only active and distinguishable after heavy rainfall.
Nevertheless, the general trend remains the same. All drainage at this site is
towards the Belize River and its tributaries; mainly the Cox and
Mucklehany drainage systems. This means a general east and north flow
for the surface waters emanating from this site.
4.2.1.4 Soils and Geology
4.2.1.4.1 Regional Soils and Geology
The study area lies within the region referred to as the Northern Coastal
Plains of Belize (King et. al.,1992 ). This area contains mostly flat to
undulating topography, which are characteristic of the Belize River Valley
and Northern Belize. Most of the plain is underlain by Cenozoic limestone,
decreasing in age and hardness from the southwest to the northeast. The
natural forest cover over these limestone derived soils are semi-deciduous
broadleaf forest, however, often times these areas are interspersed with
areas of pine forest and orchard savannah over leached soils from the
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Pleistocene alluvium (King et al., 1992). Soils of the Pinol Series, which
occur over the coastal deposits along the Western Highway, belong to the
puletan suite of soils. The undulating plain subunit has been characterized
as having soils of the Rough Mile series, while the high plain subunit is
associated with the Colonel English series, the alluvial wash with the
Haciapina Series, and the low plain with the Bocotora Series. The Rough
Mile Series soils have been characterized as vertic planasols (Miller and
Miller, 1995) in which the A2 horizon is weakly developed, grayish brown
in color and sandy loam or loam in texture. The B horizon is strongly
mottled clay, while the C horizon (45-100 cm depth) is gray and mottled
light gray or white, yellow, brown, and red. The clay subsoil contains
slickensides. The Colonel English Series soils comprise a thin gray loamy
sand A1 horizon overlying a bleached albic loamy sand or sandy loam
(Miller and Miller, op cit). The B horizon (at about 50 cm) is strongly
mottled gray, yellow, brown and red, which grades with a mottled clay C
horizon below about 100 cm. Miller and Miller (1995) noted that gravel
was common below the lower A horizon. The Bocotora sub-type is a pale
colored sandy topsoil over mottled red and white sandy clay subsoil, with
acid conditions. Low subsoil permeability and poor drainage were noted
(King et. al., 1992). Characteristic vegetation is pine savannah, in which
there were lower denser patches, providing for a more varied understory of
shrubs. The Haciapina subtype consist of deep, pale colored very wet sandy
topsoils over compact red and white mottled clay subsoils, which are very
poorly drained. The characteristic vegetation for the Haciapina was given
as pine savannah with minimal tree cover other than clumps of palmetto
(King et. al., 1992).
In terms of agriculture potential and land use, the undulating plain (Rough
Mile) was classed as “extremely small”, being limited by nutrients,
moisture and root room. Currently, the site is being used as a quarry for
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road gravel and landfill. The high plain subunit (Colonel English) was also
used for gravel extraction. It was also classed as “extremely small” in
agricultural potential, as it is limited by nutrients, moisture and root room.
The alluvial wash (Haciapina) was assessed as “marginal”, being limited in
nutrients and drainage. Low plain areas (Bocotora) are limited by nutrients,
moisture and root room, and were classed as “extremely small” in
agricultural potential. A smaller area just west of Teakettle Creek falls into
the Beaver Dam Plains Land System which is the prevalent land series
north of the Western Highway. These vertisols occur on marl derived from
limestone (Miller and Miller, 1995), and have a high clay content (60-
90%). The dominant clay is montmorillonite, characterized by dry season
surface cracking, wet season intractability, and slicken sides with irregular
horizon boundaries. Very little cultivation occurs in this soil type, which is
limited by workability, root room and proper drainage. This soil was given
a “moderate” potential for agricultural value (King et. al., 1992). Further to
the west of the site are lands of the Lower Belize Floodplains, comprising
sub-units of alluvial wash, high bench and low bench. Soil types include
Meditation, Bermudian Landing and Lemonal. There is very little
cultivation, although there has been some pasturing on high floodplain
bench areas. The soil has good agricultural potential although it is
compromised by poor drainage and workability. To the north of the
Western Highway, are soils of the Neustadt Swamps Land Type, many
comprising sub-units of open savannah plain but with patches of low marsh
forest plain and marsh forest plain. Soil types include Chucum and Sibal,
with uses ranging from “very limited pasture” to none. Soils of the Chucum
subsuites are seasonal freshwater gleys which are poorly drained and
basically infertile (King et. al., 1992). Agricultural potential was rated as
“marginal”, with constraints from workability, wetness, root room and