Making Flooding A Thing Of The Past
A 2007 report by the Central Statistical Office (CSO), Ministry of Planning and Development entitled “First Compendium of Environmental Statistics”, states that traditionally, major flooding in T&T occurs generally in the Caroni, Caparo and Santa Cruz basins. However, devastating floods also occur in smaller basins such as Diego Martin Valley, San Fernando, Barrackpore, Sangre Grande and Penal. In geography, a basin refers to a bowl shaped depression in the surface of the land, drained by a single river system. The major causes of flooding include but are not limited to the land’s surface features, land use practices, rainfall and soil type.
As stated in the CSO report, land use or physical planning and the environment are intricately linked. Land use planning is also linked to human development and given our small island, the social needs of the population and our economic goals, there will always be decisions to be made regarding the allocation of lands for different uses. Land use decisions carry with it opportunities but also challenges to overcome. These discussions can assist in the further development of industries, create residential neighborhoods but also may lead to deforestation, elimination of wetlands and exploitation of natural resources. The negative impact however, can be mitigated with foresight, proper planning and implementation.
In T&T, the Town and Country Planning Act Chapter 35:01governs land use and is administered by the Town and Country Planning Division. The Chamber believes that laws have become antiquated and as such the relevant laws and regulations should be updated as the developmental and environmental needs of the country change over time. Environmentalists and other interest groups have already expressed their outrage that some of our best agricultural lands have gone towards housing and industrial development.
Effective and sustainable management for the exploitation of mineral deposits such oil, natural gas, asphalt as well as the significant quantities of gravels, sands, clays and limestone is also necessary. While we would like to ensure their economic value is realized, we must monitor the environmental impact of extraction and quarrying, which have both received much opposition from local environmentalists. Furthermore, it is necessary that an inventory of abandoned quarrying sites be established to monitor if rehabilitation has been taking place, as is mandatory under the Minerals Act 2000.
In north-west Trinidad, we have continued to fill wetlands to create land for roads, houses and commercial centres. Wetlands, bottomlands, marshes and swamps are valuable in preventing and controlling floods. The wetlands serve as sponges that soak up huge amounts of water and let it run off slowly. Thus, when these areas are filled in and built over, floods are more likely to occur.
Additionally, deforestation on the slopes of the Northern Range have caused an increase in the rapid run off, eroding topsoil and flooding the land below as there are less tree roots to hold the excess water after heavy rains. The run-off subsequently collects in the Caroni and Caparo basins where the soils are of low permeability, hindering infiltration and thus leading to flooding.
These activities emphasize the need for proper land use practices and conservation methods. Spatial planning systems are needed, which considers the natural factors such as soils with impeded drainage, erosion, heavy rainfall, high run off, prevalence of high tides and settlement development in the flood plains of main rivers which make certain areas susceptible to flooding. Poor drainage systems in built up areas and new housing estates where the drains are choked with debris or there are insufficient outlets for the water to drain off after a heavy downpour is also undoubtedly one of the areas which needs to be urgently addressed.
Other ways to prevent and control floods include constructing flood control dams across rivers; building dikes and levees alongside rivers to prevent overflowing and using canals to help drain off extra water. Diverting streams and rivers to avoid highly populated areas as well as regulation of floodplain development and urbanization would reduce flood losses.
There is no doubt that the long term solutions to fix the current problems are expensive, however the long term benefits of having proper systems in place with the proper maintenance will significantly outweigh the initial cost. After all, isn’t this all part of what taxpayers monies should be covering? Undoubtedly, the effects of flooding are certainly not only economic but also a highly social and psychological one.
The Government is on record as saying that ‘flooding will be thing of the past’ yet just a few weeks into the rainy season we have already witnessed severe flooding in the West after just a few sharp showers. Based on recent advisories, we have been warned to brace for heavy weather, and we wonder what will take place if a severe rainstorm occurs.
Apart from some work such as dredging of drains being undertaken, there is no evidence of the start of any longer-term solution. The next step we would like to see would be for the Government, the Mayors and Regional Corporation Chairmen to implement systems, both short and long term solutions that would significantly reduce, if not eradicate what seems to have become a fixture in our nation’s annual calendar of events.
