Sistema de Lagunas Interdunarias de la Ciudad de Veracruz. 02/02/05; Veracruz; 141 ha. 19°10'N 096°10'W. On the periphery of the city of Veracruz and within the city itself, 18 humid dune slacks comprise the site, the largest being Laguna Olmeca with 60 ha. These are rare geomorphologic features that have permanent water but depend entirely of rainfall recharging the aquifers. Communities of jointed flatsedge Cyperus articulatus, Frog fruit Phyla nodiflora, Cattail Typha latifolia, and Pontederia sagittata populate the site. Noteworthy fauna include Western grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis, Snowy Egret Egretta thula, American Coot Fulica americana, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis and Wood Stork Mycteria americana. Filling or dredging for land reclamation and urbanization are the biggest threats to the lagoons, and many have already disappeared, thus reducing the flood control services the slacks provide for the city. Low water quality is also a concern in most of the lagoons. Foot paths have been constructed along the shores and some restoration work has been carried out, dredging sediments in some of the water bodies. The municipality of Veracruz has recently taken over the management and restoration of the lagoon system. Ramsar site no. 1450. Most recent RIS information: 2004.