Watersheds:
 Belize has a total of 35 major and minor river catchments or watersheds which drain the Maya Mountains and the Coastal Plain and discharge into the Caribbean Sea. Boles (Boles, R. 1999. The Sibun River Watershed Atlas) grouped these watersheds into six main regions based on general characteristics of topography, geology, soils, rainfall and land use. Boles defines a watershed region as a cluster of watersheds that share many structural, climatic and often impact characteristics. BTFS has modified this watershed region schema to include: the Northern, Central, Southeastern, Southern and Gulf of Mexico Watershed Regions.
"The total volume of freshwater available per capita in Belize in 1995 was 80.8 thousand cubic meters, the highest in Latin America (CCAD, 1998. Estado del Ambiente y Los Recursos Naturales en Centraoamerica). Numerous freshwater and brackish water lakes or lagoons are scattered in the central and northern coastal and inland areas.
The average daily water supply from river sources is approximately 3.79 million gallons, from groundwater sources 0.59 million gallons and from springs 0.38 million gallons (Johnson, 1996. National Report on Water Resources: Belize, Country Report.).
Groundwater, from 7 'provinces', is a vital source for freshwater in rural Belize, where almost 95% of the freshwater supply comes from groundwater (Rural Water Unit, Ministry of Rural Development)." - Ramon Frutos - Nat'l. Meteorological Service of Belize. |
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