Water Laboratory Offers Research Opportunities: Panama Canal Watershed Study

October 26. 2009 -

UW is involved with projects around the world. Inside the water resources lab, located in the College, Fred Ogden is leading hydrologic research on the Panama Canal Watershed study- Agua Salud project. This laboratory study is aimed at determining the effect of accumulated sediment behind weirs on stream-flow measurement accuracy. Sponsors for this project include the U.S. Army Research Office, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, the HSBC Climate partnership, and Roy and Caryl Cline. A 1:5 scale physical model of a V-notch weir (shown) is being used to conduct the study. An array of ultrasonic water level sensors mounted on a computer-controlled traverse is being used to measure water surface profiles. The water resources lab, which is located in the basement of the engineering building, has very useful equipment for this type of study. The massive pumps, weigh tanks, and flow meters help provide very accurate flow measurements.

With assistance from Research Scientist Ed Kempema, Civil and Architectural Engineering Department Engineer Marvin Perry, Graduate Research Assistant Trey Crouch and undergraduate Drew Herrera, this project is moving forward with impressive results. According to Ogden, a similar study was performed at CSU in the 1970’s for the USDA Agricultural Research Service. That study, however, did not quantify the effect of sedimentation on measurement errors. As such, the results of the previous study are not useful for determining effect of sedimentation on flow measurement accuracy. Many weirs around the world are full of sediment. Results from this study will be of great interest to engineers and scientists who wish to obtain the most accurate flow measurements possible without having to go through the expensive process of sediment removal.