Evaluación de impacto ambiental de la calidad del agua de la laguna de yambo ubicado en el Cantón Salcedo Provincia de Cotopaxi

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the water quality of the Yambo lagoon while seeking to identify potential impacts that affected the place's biodiversity and counteract them by implementing a mitigation plan. Through physicochemical and microbiological analyses measured at three points in the lagoon during three monitoring sessions, the NSF and León indices were calculated using the Icatest v1.0.0.44 software; the negative and positive impacts were identified through a matrix of rapid impact assessment. On average, an average result of 66.97 ("Medium" quality range) and 70.77 ("Excellent" quality range) was determined for the NSF and León indices, respectively. Through applying the RIAM (Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix), negative impacts were found to a greater extent than the positive impacts of the activities carried out in the lagoon. Based on the indicated results, it is concluded that, even though the water quality of the Yambo lagoon is within acceptable ranges, it tends to decrease, which is why it is necessary to implement the negative impact mitigation plan since It was established that there is a tourism-impact relationship, indicating that at least two of the negative impacts evaluated directly affect the water quality of the lagoon. Therefore, it is recommended that there be an intervention on the part of the authorities and a commitment on the part of the owners of the commercial premises.