EVALUATING VARIABILITY IN ISLAND KARST DISTURBANCE IN PUERTO RICO FROM APPLICATION AND REFINEMENT OF TWO CURRENT KARST DISTURBANCE INDEX METHODS

Karst environments are unique landscapes that contain important resources, including fresh water found within the aquifers. These environments are easily disturbed by a myriad of human impacts. The anthropogenic impacts on karst are deleterious to the ecosystems that are dependent on the karst environment and also to groundwater itself. The Karst Disturbance Index is a holistic tool to measure anthropogenic impacts associated with karst environments. The KDI has never been used on an island setting like Puerto Rico, which has an isolated geographic nature, wherein resources like karst aquifer-derived groundwater are highly susceptible to increased withdrawal and pollution. The KDI is needed to assess the threats and disturbance to a karst environment, and further aids in explaining economic, scientific, and cultural factors contributing to the problem. The purpose of this research is to create holistic KDI score for the area of Arecibo of the island of Puerto Rico. This area represents a densely populated and urbanized extent as well as rural areas within the municipality. The disseminated results of the assessment of the area using the KDI will educate and help to foster stewardship of this vital resource in Puerto Rico.