Chalillo Update: Dam turning clear river brown

The final pages of my book, The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw: One Woman's Fight to Save the World's Most Beautiful Bird, took place nearly four years ago. How's the Chalillo Dam worked out for Belize? Not so great. Here's the latest: During Belize's June-to-November rainy season the green, placid Macal River typically swells into a roiling beast. But this year something's a little off. Unusually high amounts of sediment are mucking up the river, and it's not all coming from hillside runoff. Candy Gonzalez, who's been monitoring the dam since it began construction years ago, has obtained aerial photographs that show the river running clear in the reservoir behind the dam, and turning chocolate below the dam. Stephen Usher, operations VP for BECOL, which runs the dam, acknowledges that the company is flushing high levels of sediment out of the reservoir. (The dam's intake pipes are several hundred feet below surface water level. Sediment can kill a dam if it fills in the reservoir and smothers the intake pipes.) Usher blames Guatemalan Xateros--foreign palm frond poachers--for deforesting the hills surrounding the dam and causing the iron-rich soil to run into the water. Which is classic Belize: When in doubt, blame Guatemala. Downstream residents, many of whom depend on the river for drinking water, are complaining about dirty stinky water coming out of their taps. Adele Ramos, as usual, has the best reports on the developing story in Amandala (updated here). Channel 7 has an expected take-no-sides version, and International Rivers has a version slanted toward the enviro side. Adding to the controversy: A photo of the Macal, downstream of Chalillo, meeting the Mopan River (left), showing the undammed Mopan running clear until it meets the silt-laden Macal. ** 8/27 UPDATE ** Adele Ramos continues to push the story in Amandala. The latest issue has a senior Gov't of Belize health inspector advising: (1) Don't drink the water, (2) Don't swim in the water, and (3) Don't worry, all is under control. Next up: A public meeting to discuss the river brownout, next Thursday, Sept 2, at the Cultural Center in Cayo. Expect fireworks.