Proceedings from the Basin Sediment Management for Unique Island Topography Workshop, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Urban Planning

Background:

• Workshop focused on Engineering With Nature (EWN), green infrastructure (GI), and low-impact development (LID) strategies.
• Addressed challenges and opportunities specific to unique tropical island topography in Puerto Rico.
• Held at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez (UPRM) with participation from ~80 organizations.

Purpose of the Study:

• Summarize findings and opportunities from the Basin Sediment Management for Unique Island Topography Workshop.
• Identify practical applications of EWN, GI, and LID for Puerto Rico's specific environmental context.
• Foster collaboration among federal, state, local, and academic entities for sustainable development.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a pre-workshop field trip to the Añasco watershed for a baseline assessment.
• Included expert presentations on EWN, GI, and LID principles and applications.
• Facilitated breakout sessions for participants to identify and develop project concepts for selected sites.

Main Results:

• Identified specific project opportunities for EWN, GI, and LID at two field trip sites.
• Developed alternative solutions tailored to the unique tropical island topography and post-hurricane conditions.
• Highlighted potential community benefits and advancements in the state of practice for Puerto Rico.

Conclusions:

• The workshop successfully generated actionable project concepts for sustainable infrastructure in Puerto Rico.
• Emphasized the potential of EWN, GI, and LID to address environmental challenges and enhance community resilience.
• Recommended further development of identified concepts to benefit the region's infrastructure and environment.