River Mechanics: Intensive Course

Basic Project Information:

Principal Investigators:

Problem and Research Objectives

Motivated by further research related to the Goodwin Creek watershed, the project title "Hydraulic Characterization of Goodwin Creek" provided support to offer a course in River Mechanics at the Mayaguez Campus of the University of Puerto Rico. Dr. Johannes Gessler from Colorado State University was the instructor for this 11 days course. The course provided basic material, as well as, updated information on the field of river mechanics, erosion and sedimentation theories.

Methodology

Dr. Johannes Gessler, from Colorado State University offered a 30 hours short course in River Mechanics. The classes were offered at the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. Three hours, during 11 days (from May 1 to May 11) a group of 10 students and two faculty member attended the conferences. The topics covered the areas of erosion, sedimentation and geomorphology, among others. Two credits were granted to those students enrolled in the course.

Principal Findings and Significance

Many rivers in Puerto Rico has serious erosion problems. Sediment transport rates are very high during high stage flows. Sediment deposition is also a major concern in the most important reservoir of the Island. This training provided new information to the researchers and advanced students in the field of river mechanics. It will serve as a basis for continuing penetration into this field and, eventually, start developing applied research to reduce the accelerated degradation of the river channels.