Rio Humacao Channelization Viability Study

Abstract

Río Humacao is located in the southeast coast of Puerto Rico and it flows generally northeastward and then southeastward and enters the alluvial floodplain at the town of Humacao, 6 kilometers upstream from its mouth. Major tributaries are Quebrada Mabu, and Quebrada Mariana. Quebrada Mabu, flows southward and Quebrada Mariana flows eastward. Both tributaries cross through the town of Humacao. A great portion of the town lies on the Special Flood Hazard Areas as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on its Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). This happens because mostly of the town of Humacao was developed around the river in their floodplain before the FEMA FIRM’s were adopted by the PR Planning Board on 1984. The main objective of this project is to determine the preliminary extent of the channelization of the Rio Humacao and its tributaries to remove out the portion of the town from the Special Flood Hazard Area, and if it is economically viable. Key Terms - Quebrada Mabu, channelization, Special Flood Hazard Area, economical viability.