Site # JM07    
Information utility high   Date 12/29/09
Description Head of gorge with multiple wells and catch dams    
Nearest Village El Jocote    
GPS coordinates N 12 31.261 W 85 51.805  
Elevation (ft) 1767   Slope 10 (looking upriver to top of ridge)  
Photos from Jazmin's camera Folder name    
 
North facing (0 degrees) 5533/JM07_N_12-29-09_JO.JPG East facing (90 degrees) 5534/JM07_E_12-29-09_JO.JPG
South facing (180 degrees) 5535/JM07_S_12-29-09_JO.JPG West facing (240 degrees) 5536/JM07_W_12-29-09_JO.JPG
Sketches by Patrick #2,3      
Vegetation      
  Trees and shrubs, including: dragonfruit, ferns, quebracho, melero, panagua, quitacalzonte, guaruma, quebracho.    
Water      
2 wells, 3 check dams and several springs in immediate vicinity. Closest home nearby is within 100 meters and belongs to Zacharia Jurbina, who owns the property surrounding the wells.
  Seasonal creek crossings, private property and rough terrain can form barriers to accessibility.    
Human Accessibility      
  Site is used for laundry, bathing, drinking water, livestock consumption. There is a very healthy riparian zone throughout the canyon.    
Land Use      
  Site is used for laundry, bathing, drinking water, livestock consumption. There is a very healthy riparian zone throughout the canyon.    
Soil sample results      
pH 6.5 Nitrogen 10 lbs/acre
Phosphorous 10 lbs/acre Potassium 300 lbs/acre    
Water sample results      
pH 8 Nitrogen 0 ppm Phosphate 4 plus ppm
Coliform negative Dissolved Oxygen 5 ppm    
According to Antonio, the springs are always full. In one of the small wells, about 3 feet deep, there were very small little fish. During the dry season there are frogs also. The dams have been here since at least 1970, the upper one is fenced to prevent livestock from intruding. One source of water appears to be in a cave. The owner of the property allows his family, perhaps only his sons, (about 7 families) to use the water in the canyon. Everyone helps take care of the gorge. According to Antonio the retention dams and wells in this zone used to have fish but no longer. We did see very small little fish that resembled tad poles. Additionally, we see filamentous algal growth around the perimeter of the spring. According to Antonio the cave to the right of the retention dam is the source of the water from upstream streams.