ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS IN BRIEF.

Government authorities are facing several environmental challenges at the start of 2001, including a possible moratorium on new tourism construction along the Caribbean coast, a dispute with the US over allocation of water from the Colorado River, and the potential for a severe water shortage

Government seeks to limit development along Caribbean coast

The Secretaria del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT) has offered a controversial proposal to tighten restrictions on construction of new hotels and tourism facilities in undeveloped resorts along the Caribbean coast.

Under a plan proposed by Environment Secretary Victor Lichtinberger, the government would prohibit new construction of large tourism complexes along the coasts of Quintana Roo and Yucatan states. "We are going to build cabanas," said Lichtinberger. "We are not going to build any more huge resorts."

A primary concern, SEMARNAT officials say, is that the unrestricted development of coastal areas in Quintana Roo and Yucatan states has resulted in destruction of the ecosystem. As an example, they cited the disappearance of mangroves, which have acted as a natural filter for the ocean and a nursery for marine life. The loss of mangroves has also resulted in the destruction of coral reefs and pollution of once-clear lagoons.

SEMARNAT will have the opportunity to test its new policy in coming weeks when it decides on the fate of an already approved project in Xcacel, a beach about 107 km south of the Cancun resort. The endangered green and loggerhead sea turtles use the Xcacel beach during the summer to lay their eggs in the sand.

A Spain-based company acquired the beach property in 1998 under a deal brokered by former Quintana Roo governor Mario Villanueva, who fled the country rather than face charges of complicity with drug traffickers (see SourceMex, 1994-04-14).

Villanueva pushed hard to gain control of thousands of hectares of coastal land, including Xcacel, from the federal government. He then sold the land cheaply to developers.

The Instituto Nacional de Ecologia (INE), an agency affiliated with the environment secretariat, approved a permit for development of a huge tourism complex at Xcacel in November 2000. But construction has yet to begin because of strong opposition from environmental groups and the mayor of nearby Ciudad del Carmen.

SEMARNAT officials say the secretariat will not allow construction of the complex to continue as planned, but may approve a more limited project at Xcacel after consultations with environmental groups and the government.

Lichtinberger contends that Mexico must stop its "chaotic" development of the tourism industry or face the consequences. "Tourism has to be based on the protection of Mexico's beauty," he said. "One can't exist without the other."

Mexico raises concerns about US Colorado River plan

SEMARNAT officials are protesting a policy adopted by the outgoing government of former US President Bill Clinton regarding usage of the Colorado River.

In a directive announced Jan. 16, then US interior secretary Bruce Babbitt said the state of California would receive surplus water from the Colorado River Basin in exchange for the state's commitment to implement new water- conservation methods.

The decision was preceded by an agreement reached by the US Interior Department with the states of Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada to provide some of their surplus water to California in exchange for a promise to reduce its dependence later.

Some Mexican government officials are angry that Babbitt reached the decision without consulting with Mexico. SEMARNAT contends that increased water usage by California agricultural interests will increase salinization levels on the river, which will adversely affect 200,000 ha of agricultural land downriver in the Mexicali Valley in Baja California.

In addition, said SEMARNAT, the decision will worsen the already severe environmental problems at the foot of the Colorado River near the Gulf of California. And, the reduced water flows could cause further damage to the ecosystem near the border of Baja California and Sonora states.

"In the last few years, the river flows have been erratic and undependable," SEMARNAT said.

Emilio O. Rabasa, a legal expert at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), has urged President Vicente Fox to address the issue during an upcoming meeting with US President George W. Bush in mid-February.

"Mexico has the right to receive the same quality of water from this river as that distributed to residents of California," said Rabasa, citing a 1944 US-Mexico treaty that covered the rights of both countries to the water in the Colorado River.

Jalisco state could face worst water shortage in 50 years

Jalisco state authorities are growing increasingly concerned about the possibility of a severe water shortage in the state this year.

One water-conservation official said the state could be facing its worst drought in decades.

"This year, in particular, is one of the most critical of the past 50 years because the sources of water are only at 30% or 40% of their capacity," said Froylan Gutierrez Ramirez, a water-conservation officer for the Sistema Intermunicipal de Agua Potable y Acantarillado (SIAPA) in Jalisco state.

SIAPA officials are especially concerned about the very low water levels at Lake Chapala, a major source of water for the Guadalajara metropolitan area. The federal water-policy agency, the Comision Nacional de Agua (CNA), has imposed tight restrictions on the amount of water Jalisco state can extract from Lake Chapala.

Water levels are also extremely low at the Gonzalez Chavez Reservoir, an alternative source of water for Guadalajara.

The potential water shortage has led authorities in Guadalajara, Tonala, Zapopan, Tlaquepaque, and other municipalities in Jalisco to launch water-conservation campaigns.

"First, we are going to promote awareness of the problem among the citizens," a SIAPA official said. "If we do not receive the proper response from citizens, we will consider rationing water and imposing other restrictions."

Guadalajara Mayor Fernando Garza Martinez said there will be no water restrictions if usage does not surpass the current rate of 200 liters per resident daily. [Sources: Reforma, 01/05/01; San Diego Daily Transcript, 01/16/01; El Universal, The New York Times, 01/12/01; El Diario de Yucatan, 01/19/01; Mural (Guadalajara), 01/21/01, 01/23/01; El Informador (Guadalajara), 01/23/01; Novedades, 01/24/01, 01/26/01]