15. Water resources Engineering

The water cycle is intimately connected to the functions of natural systems and human society. The primary foci of UNH Water Resources Engineering research in the water cycle are to: quantify terrestrial pathways (flow), describe natural ecology (quality), identify the magnitude of interferences (changes from the natural state), and propose/design remedial measures to return disturbed systems to their natural state. These projects are as wide-ranging and diverse as is the multitude of environmental settings including: mountains, desert, tundra, and coasts.

The location for most of our research is in New Hampshire and New England, but has also included efforts in Alaska, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Belize, and Colombia. The following are topical areas of our research with specific examples for each.) Surface Water Hydrology Understanding the dynamics of flow in surface water systems (rivers, canals, streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, marshes, arroyos, etc.). This includes the field measurement of flow and water levels, the relationships between these two variables, the statistical variability at each setting, and then development of the levels of risk.

Examples include base flow needs for instream flow, drought susceptibility, and flood levels.Salt Marsh Hydrology and Effects of Constructed Drainage Features As communities encroached on wetlands and marshes in coastal regions, the roads, paths, and railways cutoff or restricted hydraulic access to the ocean. Often the small culverts installed under the transportation routes would allow salt marshes to drain to the ocean, but severely inhibit the return flow of salt water back to the marsh. This then dramatically changed the salt marsh plant communities by allowing freshwater species to invade the margins, and ultimately change the entire marsh ecosystem.

Numerous coastal structures (from bridges to culverts) have been studied and modeled in order to assess their effect on natural systems. Then we designed replacement structures that could yield improved performance. The most recent example is the new Scammel Bridge over the Bellamy River in Dover, NH. {visuals from Scammel, Bass Beach, Exeter Industrial Park, Johnson/Bunker Creek studies}