CAREER: Evaluating the Impacts of River Engineering and Stream Restoration Projects on the Ecosystem Service of Floodwave Attenuation

ABSTRACT1254569(石头)。该职业奖的研究目标是发现河流工程、流域管理和溪流恢复努力对洪水波衰减的生态系统服务的影响程度。为实现这一目标，将致力于实现以下三个研究目标：(1)改进洪水衰减过程的概念和数值模型，重点关注河道-泛滥平原相互作用对洪水水动力学的影响；(2)评估历史河流工程和流域管理活动对中格兰德河(MRG)洪水衰减生态系统服务的影响；以及(3)评估通过修复加强MRG内洪水衰减的潜力。将使用水槽实验和现场观测来测试和改进控制河道-泛滥平原相互作用的物理过程的概念模型。对洪水水动力学的更好理解将被纳入到水力学模型中，以更准确地表示洪水波的传播。利用河况的历史重建，将使用模型来研究由于人类活动而导致的洪水在MRG中衰减的变化。最后，使用替代的未来恢复方案，将评估通过MRG恢复活动增强洪水衰减的潜力。长期教育目标是推动美国的水资源工程培训朝着更全面和更可持续的实践方向发展，同时增加代表不足的学生的参与。为了实现这一目标，这一职业奖项的教育目标是：(1)创建一个专注于河流及其泛滥平原可持续管理的综合研究和教育计划；(2)增加新墨西哥大学代表不足的学生对工程和科学课程的参与。将通过一项教育计划实现这些目标，该计划包括：(1)通过实践学习活动向未得到充分服务的K-12学生进行外联，向他们传授有关流域和人类与格兰德河的互动的知识；(2)与西南印度理工学院的教职员工和美洲原住民学生就该项目的教育和研究部分进行合作；(3)研究生和本科生参与该项目的各个方面。

ABSTRACT1254569 (Stone). The research goal of this CAREER award is to discover the degree to which river engineering, watershed management, and stream restoration efforts impact the ecosystem service of floodwave attenuation. To accomplish this goal, the following three research objectives will be pursued: (1) improve conceptual and numerical models of the process of floodwave attenuation with an emphasis on the influence of channel-floodplain interactions on flood hydrodynamics; (2) evaluate the impacts of historical river engineering and watershed management activities on the ecosystem service of floodwave attenuation within the Middle Rio Grande (MRG); and (3) assess the potential to enhance floodwave attenuation within the MRG through restoration. Flume experiments and field observations will be used to test and refine a conceptual model of the physical processes controlling channel-floodplain interactions. The improved understanding of flood hydrodynamics will be incorporated into hydraulic models to more accurately represent floodwave propagation. Using historical reconstructions of river conditions, models will be used to investigate changes in floodwave attenuation in the MRG as a result of human activities. Finally, using alternative future restoration scenarios, the potential for enhancing floodwave attenuation through MRG restoration activities will be evaluated. The long-term education goal is to advance water resources engineering training in the U.S. towards more holistic and sustainable practices while increasing participation by underrepresented students. In pursuit of this goal, the educational objectives of this CAREER award are to: (1) create an integrated research and educational program focused on sustainable management of rivers and their floodplains; and (2) increase participation of underrepresented students in engineering and science programs at the University of New Mexico. These goals will be pursued through an education plan that includes: (1) outreach to underserved K-12 students through hands-on learning activities to teach them about watersheds and human interactions with the Rio Grande; (2) collaboration with faculty and Native American students at the Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute on both educational and research components of this project; and (3) involvement of graduate and undergraduate students in all aspects of the project.