About Us

Restoring and Protecting Puerto Rico's Watersheds

Protectores de Cuencas Inc. (PDC) is a science and community-based non-profit organization dedicated to restoring and protecting watersheds across Puerto Rico. PDC has an island-wide scope and maintains a growing network of collaborative interagency support, including various Puerto Rico government agencies and municipalities, as well as federal agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Many of PDC projects focus on addressing land-based sources of pollution and erosion through the use of a combination of proven best management practices and green infrastructure, including permeable parking lots, bioswales, rain gardens, and hydroseeding, among others.

What is a Watershed?

NOAA’s definition of a watershed is “a land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt to creeks, streams, and rivers, and eventually to a common outflow point such as reservoirs, bays, and the ocean.”

What is Integrated Watershed Management?

Integrated watershed management is an adaptive form of management that takes into account environmental, economic, and societal factors of the watershed when planning management actions.