In El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico, the Forest Service needs to build road networks with environmental sensitivity. The purpose of our project was to recommend a stream crossing structure that causes little damage to the local area. We molded a methodology for assessing stream health at crossings and used it to evaluate eleven watersheds in and around El Yunque. Our team assessed fifteen sites and comparatively analyzed the results with a pristine stream as a model. We concluded that stream health and crossing structures were not connected. For many analyzed watersheds, we recommend livestock barriers, replanting, trash removal and water extraction reduction. We hope that our study will contribute to the Forest Service's mission of protecting the nation's natural resources.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Clark, Stacie Ann
• Reid, Thomas Daniel
• Blodgett, Anika Jeanette
• Kelley, Kaitlyn Nicole

Subject

• Environment
• Water
• Infrastructure
• Sustainability

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042911-194628

Keyword

• Sustainable development--Environmental aspects
• National parks and reserves--Management
• Sustainability
• Water resources development

Advisor

• Nikitina, Svetlana
• Ludwig, Reinhold

Year

• 2011

Center

• San Juan, Puerto Rico Project Center - IQP

Sponsor

• United States Forest Service - El Yunque National Forest

Date created

• 2011-04-29

Location

• San Juan

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright