Trip to Celestún Cenote
On Friday Feb. 18 2022 I went to Celestún on the northwest coast of the Yucatán to do field work …
On Friday Feb. 18 2022 I went to Celestún on the northwest coast of the Yucatán to do field work. I went with Ismael and Eli (who work with Flor Arcega at UNAM-Sisal). Thank's to Ismael for driving and both of tolerating my lack of Spanish comprehension. Later in the day Iris, a profesora at UNAM-ENES met us at the site. We arrived at about 9:30am, set up my GPS system to establish a 'benchmark', and used an autolevel to then measure the water level in the cenote. Water was being pumped from the cenote for use by the town of Celestún and I assume, based on the size of the pumps, that the pumps were operating at 100's of gallons/min. Apparently the pumping has had little impact on the water levels in the cenote.
The Cenote was surrounded by a concrete wall, presumably to protect the water from surface runoff to keep the water supply cleaner. Our measurements indicate the water level is about a meter above sea level. Small aguadas are near the cenote and support small wetlands with greener vegetation surrounded by the dry landscape. We tried to visit a cenote an a more natural state that was close by, but couldn't (or didn't want to) get through the brambles and tall grass that surrounded it. Below are some pictures from the day, including a trip to the Celestún beach where we ate lunch after finishing the surveying.
Pumps are at the right of the photo. Eli is at the left and at the center equipment is being set up for water quality monitoring.
Fish, turtles and a caiman (crocodile?) were seen in the cenote. Here's a picture of one of the fish.
Eli and Ismael helping GPS unit in background track satellites.
The top of the nail in the concrete was surveyed in as a benchmark.
A view of the cenote and Celestún water supply.
Small aguada near the cenote.
End of the day at the Celestún beach.