The Weather in Villa Montes
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Latest News
Quizzz
Every three months we publish our newsletter
El Pilcomayeño with latest news about our
work, new scientific facts and other interesting
topics on the Pilcomayo. To subscribe for our
free newsletter simply fill in your name and
email in the boxes below.
El Pilcomayeño with latest news about our
work, new scientific facts and other interesting
topics on the Pilcomayo. To subscribe for our
free newsletter simply fill in your name and
email in the boxes below.
Newsletter
To download older issues of our newsletter
click on the corresponding issue below.
click on the corresponding issue below.
For latest data on water levels of the
Pilcomayo in Villa Montes and other locations
click here
Pilcomayo in Villa Montes and other locations
click here
Latest Water Data
Water Levels
Water Chemistry
For latest data on Water Temperature, pH,
conductivity and alkalinity of the Pilcomayo
click here.
conductivity and alkalinity of the Pilcomayo
click here.
5 Reasons Why You Should Help
As a non-profit organization the success of the
LAMPI Foundation depends on people like you!
Here are 5 reasons why you should help us:
LAMPI Foundation depends on people like you!
Here are 5 reasons why you should help us:
Although the last point hasn't been completely
scientifically proven yet read here how you can
help.
scientifically proven yet read here how you can
help.
1. Helping is Easy & Fun.
2. Your help will make a BIG difference.
3. Results will be directly visible.
4. You gain access to our special VIP pages.
5. You will live longer.
2. Your help will make a BIG difference.
3. Results will be directly visible.
4. You gain access to our special VIP pages.
5. You will live longer.
News Archive
News Archive 2010
If you want to read previous articles. Visit our
News Archive 2010
If you want to read previous articles. Visit our
archive here.
archive here.
Tuesday 8 June - Pilcotours
Now that Cesar and Max are very busy running their
café/bar/restaurant the Iguana and our new volunteers still wanted
to explore the surroundings of Villamontes it was up to Dyon to
guide them. We already walked up (and through) the Tampinta
river, a small tributary of the Pilcomayo river but still wanted to do
the bike tour. On a sunny Tuesday morning we got onto our bikes
and left for the Peña Colorada. We got lucky because just as we got
there the fishing community was hauling in a big net to collect
some fish. Awesome to see entire families in the water at work.
Later on we followed the road to Tarija for a while and return via
San Antonio and the railroad bridge crossing the Pilcomayo. When
we got back at the office Angela was just putting the lunch on the
table, what a timing. With this beautiful morning still in our minds
we were ready to get back to work in the afternoon!
café/bar/restaurant the Iguana and our new volunteers still wanted
to explore the surroundings of Villamontes it was up to Dyon to
guide them. We already walked up (and through) the Tampinta
river, a small tributary of the Pilcomayo river but still wanted to do
the bike tour. On a sunny Tuesday morning we got onto our bikes
and left for the Peña Colorada. We got lucky because just as we got
there the fishing community was hauling in a big net to collect
some fish. Awesome to see entire families in the water at work.
Later on we followed the road to Tarija for a while and return via
San Antonio and the railroad bridge crossing the Pilcomayo. When
we got back at the office Angela was just putting the lunch on the
table, what a timing. With this beautiful morning still in our minds
we were ready to get back to work in the afternoon!
For more pictures of these and previous Pilcotours, visit our archive by clicking here.
Thursday 10 June - Excursion watertreatment company
The office of the Villa Montes watertreatment company EPSA
Manchaco is just across the street from the LAMPI Office. Still neither
of the LAMPI volunteers ever got to visit their water purification plant.
Today we finally visited the plant as part of the education project with
one of the participating classes. When we got there a few engineers
told us everything about the physical and chemical purification of the
water. Not only did they discuss water contamination, water
consumption also was an important part of the visit. The last few years
it appears that there is less rain during the rainy season and the
population of Villa Montes is rising and with them the demand of fresh
water. These two developments have been making the EPSA´s job a
lot harder lately. For that reason they were very enthusiastic about
Manchaco is just across the street from the LAMPI Office. Still neither
of the LAMPI volunteers ever got to visit their water purification plant.
Today we finally visited the plant as part of the education project with
one of the participating classes. When we got there a few engineers
told us everything about the physical and chemical purification of the
water. Not only did they discuss water contamination, water
consumption also was an important part of the visit. The last few years
it appears that there is less rain during the rainy season and the
population of Villa Montes is rising and with them the demand of fresh
water. These two developments have been making the EPSA´s job a
lot harder lately. For that reason they were very enthusiastic about
LAMPI´s request to do an excursion to their plant. This way they can explain some important things about water
contamination and very important, water wastage to the Villamonteños. In the end we had a very interesting and
instructive morning for half of the LAMPI team. Of course the other half will also be able to go and visit the plant, be it
with one of the other participating classes. For pictures of this excursion, click here.
contamination and very important, water wastage to the Villamonteños. In the end we had a very interesting and
instructive morning for half of the LAMPI team. Of course the other half will also be able to go and visit the plant, be it
with one of the other participating classes. For pictures of this excursion, click here.
Wednesday 30 June - Good bye, Marloes and Dyon
Villa Montes grieves today. After one and a half year voluntary work,
Marloes and Dyon have left Villa Montes. Both of them have done a
lot of work for LAMPI and on several schools in Villa Montes. Dyon
was one and a half year involved in education project "Somos
Pilcomayeños" and has recently finished his job at two schools with
success. Marloes has worked this period on Juan Pablo II, a school
for children with special needs. After a very fine good-bye party in the
backyard of LAMPI, we wish them a beautiful trip through Bolivia,
Peru and Columbia and all the best back in the Netherlands.
Marloes and Dyon, thank you!!!!
Marloes and Dyon have left Villa Montes. Both of them have done a
lot of work for LAMPI and on several schools in Villa Montes. Dyon
was one and a half year involved in education project "Somos
Pilcomayeños" and has recently finished his job at two schools with
success. Marloes has worked this period on Juan Pablo II, a school
for children with special needs. After a very fine good-bye party in the
backyard of LAMPI, we wish them a beautiful trip through Bolivia,
Peru and Columbia and all the best back in the Netherlands.
Marloes and Dyon, thank you!!!!
Although the temperature has dropped at a historical zero
degrees, Villa Montes had a warm welcome for Fons Smolder
in this, for him familiar town. His wife, Ivonne, originally a
Villamontina, followed him quickly. In the mean time all the
family, friends en relatives have been visited and updated,
mainly during the bi-annual reunion of Ivonne’s family in the
LAMPI-garden.
Today it was time for Fons to share his vast knowledge about
the Pilcomayo with Villa Montes. After an introduction with
music, some empenadas and Coke, Fons started his
presentation for the Colegio Municipal, the city council and other
parties involved in this theme. The presentation, named “El
Pilcomayo: Historia y una visión para un futuro sostenible”,
explained about the problems of the Pilcomayo. The decline of
the Sabalo stocks due to mining pollution in Potosí,
overexploitation and fluctuating water levels, influenced by “El
Niño” were discussed. As well as solutions and chance for the
region, like the cultivating Sabalo larvae and establishing a
nature historical museum. In the few sun rays that reach Villa
Montes these days, the audience will digest the in-depth
information. Thanks again, Fons!
degrees, Villa Montes had a warm welcome for Fons Smolder
in this, for him familiar town. His wife, Ivonne, originally a
Villamontina, followed him quickly. In the mean time all the
family, friends en relatives have been visited and updated,
mainly during the bi-annual reunion of Ivonne’s family in the
LAMPI-garden.
Today it was time for Fons to share his vast knowledge about
the Pilcomayo with Villa Montes. After an introduction with
music, some empenadas and Coke, Fons started his
presentation for the Colegio Municipal, the city council and other
parties involved in this theme. The presentation, named “El
Pilcomayo: Historia y una visión para un futuro sostenible”,
explained about the problems of the Pilcomayo. The decline of
the Sabalo stocks due to mining pollution in Potosí,
overexploitation and fluctuating water levels, influenced by “El
Niño” were discussed. As well as solutions and chance for the
region, like the cultivating Sabalo larvae and establishing a
nature historical museum. In the few sun rays that reach Villa
Montes these days, the audience will digest the in-depth
information. Thanks again, Fons!
Friday 23 July - Back to college with Fons
Temperatures rise again now the Bolivian winter is almost at its end. But last winter has left deep scars on the
Bolivian nature. In July, while the Antarctic chillness settled over the South American continent the temperature
dropped extremely. Water temperatures in Bolivian rivers that normally register about 15 °C during the day fell as low
as 4 °C, killing an estimated 6 million fish and thousands of alligators, turtles and river dolphins. Scientists say the
event is the biggest ecological disaster Bolivia has known. Decomposing fish have polluted the waters of several
rivers so badly that problems with drinking water arise.
Fons Smolders was at that time in Bolivia and visited the affected rivers. Fons: “It is not unlikely that the extreme
weather conditions in July might have been related to the El Niño phenomenon. Although it is still debated whether
El Niño is affected by climate change, it is generally accepted that climate change has the potential to increase the
prevalence and severity of extremes such as heat waves, cold waves, storms, floods and droughts”.
Most of the fish has probably died because of the cold combined with other stress factors. “Some of the fish that I
saw had white spots that may indicate disease. The cold probably made them very susceptible to all kinds of
infections,” according to Fons. In collaboration with Michel Jégu, researcher at Noel Kempff Mercado Natural History
Museum in Santa Cruz is Fons planned to study the rivers and lakes affected, in part to assess whether controlled
burning of farmland in the region raised pollution levels in the water.
Bolivian nature. In July, while the Antarctic chillness settled over the South American continent the temperature
dropped extremely. Water temperatures in Bolivian rivers that normally register about 15 °C during the day fell as low
as 4 °C, killing an estimated 6 million fish and thousands of alligators, turtles and river dolphins. Scientists say the
event is the biggest ecological disaster Bolivia has known. Decomposing fish have polluted the waters of several
rivers so badly that problems with drinking water arise.
Fons Smolders was at that time in Bolivia and visited the affected rivers. Fons: “It is not unlikely that the extreme
weather conditions in July might have been related to the El Niño phenomenon. Although it is still debated whether
El Niño is affected by climate change, it is generally accepted that climate change has the potential to increase the
prevalence and severity of extremes such as heat waves, cold waves, storms, floods and droughts”.
Most of the fish has probably died because of the cold combined with other stress factors. “Some of the fish that I
saw had white spots that may indicate disease. The cold probably made them very susceptible to all kinds of
infections,” according to Fons. In collaboration with Michel Jégu, researcher at Noel Kempff Mercado Natural History
Museum in Santa Cruz is Fons planned to study the rivers and lakes affected, in part to assess whether controlled
burning of farmland in the region raised pollution levels in the water.
Monday 13 September - Extreme cold takes 6 million fish lives in Bolivia
As a student I’m attending the last year of the master of water
management. I have the luck to work on an internship combined with
the master thesis in Villa Montes during a period of eight months.
Various persons are willing to help me with the project, where I’m
very grateful for. Tijn van de Steeg and Max van de Ven will supervise
me in Bolivia. Rob Lenders, Fons Smolders and Marinke Stassen
will supervise the project in the Netherlands.
The target of the internship is to investigate the cause of the fish
mortality locally called Borrachera, which means drunkenness. The
Borrachera could possibly be caused by fine sediment and chemical
processes with aluminum which obstruct the functioning of the gills,
followed by suffocation.
management. I have the luck to work on an internship combined with
the master thesis in Villa Montes during a period of eight months.
Various persons are willing to help me with the project, where I’m
very grateful for. Tijn van de Steeg and Max van de Ven will supervise
me in Bolivia. Rob Lenders, Fons Smolders and Marinke Stassen
will supervise the project in the Netherlands.
The target of the internship is to investigate the cause of the fish
mortality locally called Borrachera, which means drunkenness. The
Borrachera could possibly be caused by fine sediment and chemical
processes with aluminum which obstruct the functioning of the gills,
followed by suffocation.
For the master thesis I will concentrate on the socio-economic and ecological aspects of the Pilcomayo river, in
special onto the conflicts of interests within the river basin.
Beside studying I will concentrate on learning Spanish, and having fun by e.g. playing football and exploring the
interesting nature rich environment.
special onto the conflicts of interests within the river basin.
Beside studying I will concentrate on learning Spanish, and having fun by e.g. playing football and exploring the
interesting nature rich environment.
Saturday 11 September -New "Borrachera" in Villa Montes By Lennart Swinkels
Monday 11 Oktober - Bolivian status for LAMPI
We were waiting for it to happen quite a while, but in September it happened. After 11 months of Bolivian
procedures, applications and a lot of waiting, Max could finally put the last signature on the form. This means that
from now on LAMPI is officially divided in Stichting LAMPI Nederland and her Bolivian partner organisation,
Fundación LAMPI Bolivia.
The great advantage of this construction is that funds for projects in Bolivia can be easier applied for in the
Netherlands and other western countries. Although the tasks of both foundations differ, the main goal stays the
same for both parties, the protection of the Pilcomayo River. The tasks for LAMPI Nederland are now to raise funds
and organise activities to support LAMPI Bolivia financially. As well as giving information in the Netherlands about
the work of LAMPI in Bolivia.
procedures, applications and a lot of waiting, Max could finally put the last signature on the form. This means that
from now on LAMPI is officially divided in Stichting LAMPI Nederland and her Bolivian partner organisation,
Fundación LAMPI Bolivia.
The great advantage of this construction is that funds for projects in Bolivia can be easier applied for in the
Netherlands and other western countries. Although the tasks of both foundations differ, the main goal stays the
same for both parties, the protection of the Pilcomayo River. The tasks for LAMPI Nederland are now to raise funds
and organise activities to support LAMPI Bolivia financially. As well as giving information in the Netherlands about
the work of LAMPI in Bolivia.
Friday 12 November - You can download the latest newsletter
El Pilcomayeño, the LAMPI newsletter can be downloaded here. And you will be informed about all the LAMPI
news.
news.
Tuesday 8 December - Borrachera in Villa Montes
After one night waiting on the Pilcomayo river bank by Lennart, the
moment was there the next morning. The Borrachera-Action Team,
existing of Lennart, Jaap, Fernando and Tijn was reminded by Roberto
Salazar of a Borrachera, a natural phenomenon with massive fish
mortality as result. The Team had waited long for this moment so the
tension was high now the moment was there. Fishing nets, coolers
and Buffy were taken to the river, where already some people were
waiting with hooks and casting nets. It was a little disappointment not
to see hundreds of dead fish floating by, although Jaap spotted a
surubi of one meter, but it was snatched in
moment was there the next morning. The Borrachera-Action Team,
existing of Lennart, Jaap, Fernando and Tijn was reminded by Roberto
Salazar of a Borrachera, a natural phenomenon with massive fish
mortality as result. The Team had waited long for this moment so the
tension was high now the moment was there. Fishing nets, coolers
and Buffy were taken to the river, where already some people were
waiting with hooks and casting nets. It was a little disappointment not
to see hundreds of dead fish floating by, although Jaap spotted a
surubi of one meter, but it was snatched in
front of our noses. It was not a severe Borrachera, so the Team had to seek in all corners of the river to collect some
fish. The ones left were easy to find because of the smell of several days dead fish. Three fish species were selected
for the investigation after the cause of the Borrachera, i.e. sabalo, boga and bagre. Specimens were found of the first
two species mentioned, it seems that most bagres survived this borachera, for no specimens of this species were
encountered. That same night, with the help of cottons and toothpaste tapping our noses, the gills off the fish were
dissected for sampling and will be further analysed by Lennart at the G.I. (general instrumentary) at the Radboud
University in Holland.
fish. The ones left were easy to find because of the smell of several days dead fish. Three fish species were selected
for the investigation after the cause of the Borrachera, i.e. sabalo, boga and bagre. Specimens were found of the first
two species mentioned, it seems that most bagres survived this borachera, for no specimens of this species were
encountered. That same night, with the help of cottons and toothpaste tapping our noses, the gills off the fish were
dissected for sampling and will be further analysed by Lennart at the G.I. (general instrumentary) at the Radboud
University in Holland.