Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program

The Pacific Islands Area - West (PIA-West) has some climate influenced agricultural problems. Annual precipitation varies over the year. The average annual precipitation (2500 mm +/- 500 mm, 100 inches +/- 20 inches) is clearly sufficient to support almost all crops. Most of the rain falls from June through December. This can and does often result in flooding that leads to crop loss and erosion damage to the farm plots should they be without cover during that time.

The dry season in the PIA-West, typically occurs during the months of January through May. Droughts are common and may result in conditions requiring supplemental irrigation to maintain good plant health. Severe dry seasons can bring mandatory water conservation measures. These water conservation measures impact the agricultural community negatively. The farming community in Kagman, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) has been enduring these problems for some time now.

Watershed projects in the PIA-West, have been primarily directed to address the problems caused by the seasonal variability of rainfall. The previously installed Talofofo watershed project on Guam reduced flood damage to crop land. When completed, the Kagman watershed project on Saipan will go further. It will capture excess rainy season runoff and prevent flooding. The excess runoff will be stored for use as irrigation water in a nearby abandoned quarry (70 million gallon reservoir).

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Report to Congress, Kagman Watershed Project, Saipan, CNMI (1.33 MB)

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