Carlos E. Ramos-Scharrón, Ph.D.
Coordinator: Watershed Sciences Program
Carlos E. Ramos Scharrón, Ph.D.
10213 Brantley Bend
Austin, TX 78748
Ph: 787/587-0416
Email: cramos@irf.org
Dr. Ramos Scharrón is a regionally recognized expert on erosion and sediment control processes in the northeastern Caribbean, particularly Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, where he has carried out research studies for over a decade in affiliation with Island Resources Foundation and other partner institutions. His doctoral dissertation from Colorado State University (2004) was based on extensive sediment monitoring at dozens of sites on the island of St. John, including at Fish Bay where Island Resources Foundation owns 45 acres of protected green space. Dr. Ramos’s research resulted in development of a model for measuring and predicting erosion and sediment yields. His ongoing investigations are designed to provide science-based best management practices for small islands looking to identify improved methods for protecting and restoring critically endangered coral reefs.
I. Research Interests
Hydro-geomorphology; terrestrial carbon and sediment budgets; sediment routing; road erosion; infiltration and runoff routing modeling; anthropogenic and climate change effects on hydrologic/geomorphic processes and their consequences on water quality and sustainable development, stream habitat, marine ecosystems; development of GIS-based sediment budget/hydrologic applications; mass wasting processes; spatial scale issues; natural hazards.
Click here for access to most of Dr. Scharrón's publications.
II. Education
2006-2008 Post-Doctoral Researcher, Dept. of Biology, Univ. of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras
Mass wasting and the transfer of carbon from hillslopes into the fluvial network in a tropical montane system. Duties: Remote sensing evaluation, GIS model development and application, preparation of proposals for additional funding, and dissemination of study results. Advisor: Prof. Carla Restrepo
1997 – 2004 Ph.D., Watershed Sciences, Department of Geosciences, Colorado State Univ. Dissertation title: Measuring and predicting erosion and sediment yield on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Advisor: Prof. Lee H. MacDonald
1993 – 1995 Doctoral candidate, Department of Geology and Geophysics, UC-Berkeley. Advisor: Prof. William E. Dietrich
1988 – 1993 Bachelor of Science, Department of Geology, Univ. Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
III. Work Experience
2009-2011 Co-Principal Investigator & Co-Project Manager for Virgin Islands Resource Conservation & Development Council for the USVI Coastal Habitat Restoration Through Watershed Restoration Project, NOAA Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Program- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Duties: Proposal preparation; design, implementation, data analyses, and result dissemination of terrestrial erosion monitoring project; co-manager for implementation phase of erosion control strategy.
2006-present Environmental Consultant, Department of Environmental and Natural Resources-Puerto Rico: Impact assessment and implementation of erosion control programs. Duties: software development and application, assistance to local communities and land developers, erosion control implementation.
2003-present Co-Principal Investigator, NOAA-Coral Reef Ecosystems Program, UPR-Caribbean Coral Reef Institute, UPR-Sea Grant Program: Measuring and modeling erosion and sediment yields in Puerto Rico. Duties: Development of study design, installation and monitoring of field equipment, laboratory and statistical analysis, software development, grant application, and dissemination of results.
2000-present Project Manager, Island Resources Foundation: Duties: Evaluate, develop, and implement environmental impact assessment strategies to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on water resources of the Caribbean.
1997-2004 Graduate Research Assistant, Dept. of Earth Resources-Colorado State University:
Sediment budgeting study on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Duties: Development of study design, installation and monitoring of field equipment, hydrologic model calibration, laboratory, statistical, and GIS data analysis, and dissemination of results to the VI government.
1997 Graduate Student Instructor, Dept. of Earth Resources-Colorado State Univ.
Courses: Watershed Measurements, Introduction to Hydrology
1995–1998 Environmental Consultant, Stillwater Sciences, California Dept. of Forestry, Timber-Fish & Wildlife, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, and the Washington Forest Practices Board. Duties: Implemented and developed assessment strategies to evaluate erosion problems in forested areas of the Pacific Northwest.
1992 Research Assistant, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UC San Diego
Summer Internship Program. Project: Coarse sediment transport on coastal environments of Southern California. Supervised by: Dr. Tom Drake
1992 Teaching Assistant, Dept. of Geology, Univ. of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
Course: Geology for Engineers.
1990 Research Assistant, Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, UC Berkeley. Project: Rainfall thresholds for triggering shallow landslides in the Coos Bay area of Oregon. Supervised by: Professor William E. Dietrich
IV. Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Ramos-Scharrón CE, 2010. Sediment production from unpaved roads in a dry sub-tropical setting- Southwestern Puerto Rico. Catena 82(3): 146-158.
Fu B, Newham LTH, Ramos-Scharrón CE. 2010. A review of surface erosion and sediment delivery models for unsealed roads. Environmental Modelling and Software 25: 1-14.
Restrepo C, Walker LR, Shiels AB, Bussman R, Claessens L, Fisch S, Lozano P, Negi G, Paolini L, Poveda G, Ramos-Scharrón C, Richter M, Velázquez E. 2009. Landsliding and its multiscale influence on mountainscapes. Bioscience 59(8): 685-698.
Ramos-Scharrón CE, MacDonald LH, 2007. Measurement and prediction of erosion rates from natural and anthropogenic sources of sediment in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Catena Special Issue-Soil water erosion on rural areas, 71: 250-266.
Ramos-Scharrón CE, MacDonald LH. 2007. Development and application of a GIS-based sediment budget model, Journal of Environmental Management, 84: 157-172.
Ramos-Scharrón CE, MacDonald LH. 2007. Runoff and suspended sediment yields from an unpaved road segment, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, Hydrological Processes, 21(1): 35-50.
Ramos-Scharrón CE, 2007. Maho Bay road erosion reduction project, St. John, US Virgin Islands. Environmental Connection 1(1): 18-20.
Ramos-Scharrón CE, MacDonald LH. 2005. Measurement and prediction of sediment production from unpaved roads, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 30(10): 1283-1304.
V. Forthcoming Journal Articles
Ramos-Scharrón CE, Restrepo C. in prep. The transfer of organic Carbon by landslide activity on a tropical montane ecosystem in Guatemala. To be submitted to Global Biogeochemical Cycles.
Ramos-Scharrón CE, MacDonald LH. in prep. Effectiveness of an erosion control method in reducing sediment production rates from an unpaved road, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. To be submitted to Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.
Ramos-Scharrón CE, in prep. Anthropogenic effects on hillslope-scale runoff and sediment production on dry-tropical coastal watersheds of the Eastern Caribbean. To be submitted to Journal of Hydrology.
Ramos-Scharrón CE, in prep. Surface hydrology of a small island, St. John-US Virgin Islands. To be submitted to Caribbean Journal of Science.
Ziegler et al., in prep. Comprehensive review of road impacts. To be submitted to Geography Compass.
VI. Abstracts, Book Chapters, Conference Proceedings, & Other Articles
Ramos-Scharrón CE, Rodríguez-Benítez J. 2008.Plot-scale sediment and organic matter yields from natural and disturbed surfaces in a dry subtropical forest of southwestern Puerto Rico. GSA Joint Annual Meeting Abstract No. 299-10.
Benavides-Solorio J de D, Ramos-Scharrón CE. 2007. Impacts of forest fires and roads on hydrologic and surface erosion processes of forested watersheds. In: Manejo Integrado de Cuencas Hidrológicas (In Spanish). In: Avances de investigación en agricultura sostenible IV: Bases metodológicas para el manejo integral de cuencas hidrológicas, Sánchez-Brito et al. (eds.). INIFAP, Centro de Investigación Regional Pacífico Centro. Michoacán, México, pp. 333-386.
Ramos-Scharrón CE, 2007. Sediment production from natural and disturbed surfaces in dry tropical areas of the Eastern Caribbean. Proceedings of the 7th Caribbean Island Water Resources Congress, Sangchul Hwang (Ed.), Univ. of the Virgin Islands Water Resources Research Institute, St Croix, USVI, pp. 26-30.
Ramos-Scharrón CE. 2006. Plot- and hillslope-scale sediment production from natural and disturbed surfaces in dry tropical areas of the Eastern Caribbean, EOS Transactions AGU, 87(52), Fall Meeting, Supplement, Abstract B23B-1085.
Restrepo C, Ramos-Scharrón CE, Joseph-Haines M, Miller M. 2006. The role of shallow landslides in the downslope transfer of organic matter and its implications on the residence time of carbon in a tropical mountain system. EOS Transactions AGU, 87(52), Fall Meeting Supplement, Abstract B51B-0307.
Ramos-Scharrón CE. 2002. Researchers measure erosion rates on St. John dirt roads. V.I. Non-point Source Newsletter, Issue 17, vol. 5(1), p. 1, 3.
Ramos-Scharrón CE, MacDonald LH. 2003. Measuring and modeling the effects of development on sediment production and delivery, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. EOS, Transactions AGU,84(46), Fall Meeting Supplement, Abstract H51F-07, p. F755-F756.
Ramos-Scharrón CE, MacDonald LH. 2001. Measuring and modeling sediment production from unpaved roads, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Eos, Transactions AGU, 82(47), Fall Meeting Supplement, Abstract H52B-0412, p. F-510.
MacDonald LH, R Sampson, DM Anderson, CE Ramos. 1998. Road runoff and erosion on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. EOS, Transactions AGU, 79(45), Fall Meeting Supplement, Abstract H11F-04.
VII. Miscellaneous Reports
Ramos-Scharrón CE (editor). In prep. Assessment of Coastal Water Resources and Watershed Conditions at Virgin Islands National Park- St. John-USVI. Technical Report, Water Resources Division, National Park Service.
Ramos-Scharrón CE. 2009. The effects of land development on sediment loading rates into the coastal waters of the islands of Culebra and Vieques. Submitted to the Coastal Zone Management Program, PR Dept. of Natural and Environmental Resources. 94 p.
Ramos-Scharrón CE. 2009. Qualitative assessment of sediment sources and guidelines for the design of a runoff and sediment yield monitoring strategy for the Body Ponds watershed, Antigua. Submitted to Environment-Tourism Consulting, St. John’s, Antigua. 38 p.
Ramos-Scharrón CE, Lindsay K, Bacle JP. 2009. Erosion control strategy for the Fish Bay watershed. Final report submitted to the US Fish and Wildlife, Caribbean Region. 32 p.
Ramos-Scharrón CE, Lindsay K, Bacle JP. 2007. Fish Bay Watershed assessment- Recommendations for an erosion control program. Submitted to the Gulf of Mexico Foundation and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation.
Ramos-Scharrón CE. 2006. Effectiveness of an erosion control method in reducing sediment production rates from an unpaved road- Maho Bay Watershed Erosion Reduction Project, St. John, USVI. Final Report to the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, 15 June 2006, 48 p.
Nemeth RS, LH MacDonald, CE Ramos-Scharrón. 2001. Delivery, deposition, and effects of land-based sediments on corals in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Report to the Water Resources Research Institute, Univ. of the Virgin Islands, Project No. VI99-02, 24 p.
MacDonald LH, CE Ramos-Scharrón. 2000. St. John Erosion Study - Final Report to the Water Resources Research Institute- University of the Virgin Islands. 1 March 1998 to 31 August 1999, p. 27.
Ramos CE. 1998. Shallow Mass-Wasting: A literature review and general recommendations for the development of a sediment monitoring strategy. Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, Olympia, Washington, 41 p.
Ramos CE. 1997. Surface erosion from roads: A literature review and general recommendations for the development of a sediment monitoring strategy. Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, Olympia, Washington, 66 p.
Ramos CE. 1996. Quantification of stream channel morphological features: recommended procedures for use in watershed analysis and TFW ambient monitoring. TFW-AM 9-96-006, 89 p.
VIII. Proposals
2011-2012 NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program- Watershed Restoration on the Island of Culebra, Puerto Rico (Co-Project Manager, ~$100K, in review).
2010-2015 National Science Foundation- Water Sustainability and Climate Program: “Climate Change and Cumulative Watershed Effects on Virgin Island Ecosystems” (Collaborator, $3.5M, in review)
2010-2011 Univ. of the Virgin Islands-Water Resources Research Institute: “Measurement of Particulate Organic Material and Erosion Rates in Small Sub-tropical Watersheds on the East End of St. Croix, USVI” (Co-PI, $20K, awarded)
2010-2011 National Science Foundation Ecosystems Studies Program: “Landsliding, land-use change, and carbon dynamics in a Central American mountainscape.” (Collaborator, awarded)
2010-2012 Univ. of Puerto Rico Sea Grant College Research Program: “Application of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to Estimate Discharge and Sediment Yields from the Río Grande de Añasco Watershed, Puerto Rico.” (Principal investigator, $166K, awarded).
2009-2011 PR Department of Natural and Environmental Resources- Coral Reef Conservation and Management Program: “Assessment of sediment inputs and marine habitat conditions form Laguna Joyuda to Punta Guaniquilla, Cabo Rojo.” (Principal investigator, $50K, in review).
2009-2010 NOAA Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Project Grants, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: “Coastal and marine habitat restoration through watershed stabilization- USVI.” (Co-Project Manager, Co-Principal Investigator, $2.7M; $250K research funds, awarded)
2008-2009 PR Department of Natural and Environmental Resources-Coastal Zone Management Program: “Development and application of an erosion control program to reduce sediment loading rates from land-based sources to the coral reefs of Culebra-Puerto Rico.” (Program manager, $45K, awarded).
2009-2011 Univ. of Puerto Rico-Caribbean Coral Reef Institute: “Long-term land use dynamics and erosion processes on the Río Fajardo watershed and its effects on coral reef communities”. (Co-Principal Investigator, $125K, awarded)
2007-2009 PR Department of Natural and Environmental Resources: “The effects of land development on sediment loading rates into the coastal waters of the islands of Culebra and Vieques, Puerto Rico”. (Principal Investigator, $40K, awarded, concluded)
2007-2008 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Coastal Program, Caribbean Office: “Development and application of an erosion control strategy for the Fish Bay watershed, St. John, USVI”. (Project Manager: $10K, awarded, concluded)
2006-2008 Univ. of Puerto Rico Sea Grant College, Seed-Money Program: “The effects of land development on sediment loading rates into coastal waters of Culebra, Puerto Rico”. (Principal Investigator, $3.5K awarded)
2006-2008 National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, Coral Reef Conservation Fund: “Fish Bay erosion control project”. (Project Manager, $41K awarded, concluded)
2006-2008 Gulf of Mexico Foundation: “Development and application of an erosion control strategy for the Fish Bay Watershed”. (Project Manager; $26K awarded, concluded).
2006-2008 Caribbean Coral Reef Institute: “Development of software applications for assessing the effects of land development on sediment production and sediment yields”. (Principal Investigator; $77K awarded)
2003-2005 NOAA- Coral Reef Environmental Studies Program: “Terrestrial sediment budget- La Parguera, Puerto Rico”. (Co-Principal Investigator; $143K awarded, concluded)
2002-2005 Virgin Island Department of Planning and Natural Resources, EPA 319(h) Non-Point Sources of Pollution Grants: “Maho Bay Road Rehabilitation Project, St. John, USVI” & John Head Road Rehabilitation Project, St. John, USVI”. (Principal Investigator, $104K awarded, concluded)
2001-2003 Virgin Island Department of Planning and Natural Resources, EPA 319(h) Non-Point Sources of Pollution Grants: “Development of decision tools for Non-Point Source Management in St. John-USVI”. (Principal Investigator; $43K awarded, concluded)
1999-2001 Water Resources Research Institute-University of the Virgin Islands & U.S. Geological Survey: “Delivery, deposition, and effects of land development on corals in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands”. (Collaborator; $30K awarded, concluded)
1996-1998 Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission: “Development of ambient monitoring strategies”. (Project Manager; $48K awarded, concluded)
IX. Presentations and Workshops
“Land development and soil erosion in the Eastern Caribbean- Key findings of a decade-long field and modeling program in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico”, 10th US Virgin Islands Non-Point Sources of Pollution Meeting, St. Thomas, USVI, 6-7 May 2010.
The effects of unpaved roads on sediment loading rates into the coastal waters of the islands of Culebra and Vieques, Puerto Rico”, 10th US Virgin Islands Non-Point Sources of Pollution Meeting, St. Thomas, USVI, 6-7 May 2010.
“Erosion rates in a small subtropical watershed on the East End of St. Croix, USVI- Preliminary assessment” 10th US Virgin Islands Non-Point Sources of Pollution Meeting, St. Thomas, USVI, 6-7 May 2010.
“Aplicación de la investigación científica en el desarrollo de planes de manejo en cuencas hidrográficas para la protección de los arrecifes de coral en Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes”. Caribbean Coral Reef Research Institute Special Meeting, Puerto Rico-DNER, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 24 March 2010.
“The transfer of modern organic Carbon by shallow landslide activity in a tropical montane system in Central America”. PASI Conference on Cloud Forests and Climate Change, Dominican Republic, 6-14 February 2010.
“Terrestrial and marine monitoring activities related to the USVI Coastal Habitat Restoration through Watershed Stabilization Project”. Presented by Dr. Tyler Smith. US-EPA CARE Leadership Seminar: Understanding Land Use Impacts to Coastal Environments. Univ. of VI, St. Thomas, 16 November 2009.
“Science in Translation: Application of hydrological research in the development of soil erosion control strategies in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico”. Department of Geography and the Environment, UT-Austin Seminar Series, 6 November 2009.
Ramos-Scharrón- CV 8/2/2010 Page 8
“Science in translation- Application of hydrologic research in the development of erosion control strategies for the Northeastern Caribbean.” Special Seminar, Inter-agency Government Committee. St. Johns, Antigua, 8 January 2009.
“The effects of land development on runoff, sediment, and organic matter yields in a dry subtropical forest of southwestern Puerto Rico”. 2008 End of the International Year of the Reef Symposium, Caribbean Coral Reef Institute, Rio Piedras-PR, 3 December 2008.
“Plot-scale sediment and organic matter yields from natural and disturbed surfaces in a dry subtropical forest of southwestern Puerto Rico”. GSA Joint Annual Meeting, Houston-TX, 8 October 2008.
“Science in translation- Application of hydrologic research in the development of erosion control strategies for the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.” Semi-annual meeting of the Puerto Rico Federal and State Non-Point Sources of Pollution Inter-agency Committee. San Juan, PR, 11 June 2008.
“Sediment production from natural and disturbed surfaces in dry tropical areas of La Parguera, Puerto Rico, 2003-2005.” 7th Caribbean Islands Water Resources Conference, St. Croix, USVI, 25 October 2007.
“Development and application of a GIS system to study the role of landslides in the carbon cycle of the Sierra de las Minas mountain range in Guatemala.” Dept. of Biology, UPR-Río Piedras, PR, 19 April 2007.
“Hillslope erosion on dry tropical areas of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.” 1st Symposium on the Coral Reefs of Puerto Rico, Dept. of Environmental and Natural Resources, San Juan, PR, 11 April 2007.
“Landslides and their role as vectors for the downslope transport of carbon in Sierra de las Minas, Guatemala” Invited speaker, Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad del Valle, Ciudad Guatemala, Guatemala, 15 January 2007.
“Plot- and hillslope-scale sediment production from natural and disturbed surfaces in dry tropical areas of the Eastern Caribbean.” AGU Fall Meeting, 11-16 December 2006.
“The role of shallow landslides in the downslope transfer of organic matter and its implications on the residence time of carbon in a tropical mountain system.” AGU Fall Meeting, 11-16 December 2006.
“The Fish Bay watershed road erosion control project- Use of a Geographical Information System tool in the development of a sediment reduction program in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands”. U.S. Coral Reef Task Force 16th Meeting, St. Thomas, USVI, 24-28 October 2006.
“Progress Report: Development of software applications for assessing the effects of land disturbance on sediment yields”. UPR-Caribbean Coral Reef Institute Principal Investigator Meeting, La Parguera, Puerto Rico, 4 August 2006.
“Measuring sediment production from natural hillslopes and disturbed surfaces in La Parguera, Puerto Rico”. NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystems-Caribbean Program, Management Team Meeting, La Parguera, Puerto Rico, 10-11 April 2006.
“Measuring sediment production from natural hillslopes and disturbed surfaces in a dry tropical setting- La Parguera, Puerto Rico.” American Geophysical Union-Hydrology Days, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. 20-22 March 2006.
“STJ-EROS- A GIS-based application to assess the impact of unpaved roads on watershed-scale sediment yields.” Virgin Islands Non-Point Sources of Pollution Conference. St. John, USVI. 28-30 November 2005.
“Measuring and predicting erosion and sediment yields on dry tropical areas of the Eastern Caribbean”. Invited speaker to the Dept. of Biology, Univ. of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, Special Seminar. 15 September 2005.
“Terrestrial sediment budget in La Parguera-Puerto Rico”. NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystems-Caribbean Program, Management Team Meeting, La Parguera, Puerto Rico, 12-13 July 2004
“Monitoring and modeling sediment production and sediment yields on St. John-USVI and La Parguera-PR”. Invited speaker to the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Caribbean-Atlantic Regional Workshop on Coral Reefs and Land-based Pollution, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 18-19 May 2004.
“Measuring and modeling the effects of development on sediment production and delivery, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands”. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 2003.
“Development and application of STJ-EROS: a GIS-based sediment budget model for St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands.” Presentation at the Virgin Islands Non-Point Sources of Pollution Conference, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. 4-5 December 2003.
“Terrestrial sediment budget in La Parguera-Puerto Rico”. NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystems-Caribbean Program, Management Team Meeting, La Parguera, Puerto Rico, 7-8 July 2003
“Measuring and modeling sediment production from unpaved roads, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands”. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 2001.
“Sediment budgeting on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands.” Presentation to the Water Resources Division of the National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 3 May 2001.
“Measuring and predicting runoff and suspended sediment yield from an unpaved road segment, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands.” American Geophysical Union-Hydrology Days, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. 2-5 April 2001.
“Erosion and sediment transport- A workshop describing the practical applications of the St. John erosion project.” Invited by the Water Resources Research Institute, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. 28 April 2000.
“Overview of the St. John Erosion Study”. Audubon Society-St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. 21 March 2000.
“Construction of a sediment budget in St. John”. Dept. of Earth Resources-Colorado State University, Graduate student seminar series. April 1999.
“St. John Erosion Study-A Work in Progress”. Invited speaker to the Water Resources Research Institute Seminar Series, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix. 11 December 1998.
“Road runoff and erosion on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands”, American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 1998.
X. Honors and Awards
2010 Pan-American Advanced Studies Institute (PASI)-National Science Foundation, Participant
2001-02 Department of Earth Resources Graduate Scholarship-CSU
1998-99, 2000-01 Stanley Schumm Graduate Fellowship- Dept. of Earth Resources-CSU
1993-1995 Cota Robles Graduate Fellowship- College of Arts & Sciences- UC Berkeley
1991-93 2000-01 American Geological Institute Minority Fellowship
1993 Harry Hess Prize- Dept. of Geology, UPR Mayaguez
1993 Outstanding Student-Athlete Award- UPR Mayaguez
XI. Programming and computer skills
Experienced with the SAS statistical package, ArcGIS version 9.2, ArcInfo Workstation, Arc Macro Language and ArcGIS Model Builder programming. Some experience developing console-type and Windows-form applications with the Visual Basic.Net programming language.
XII. Organizations
American Geophysical Union, Geological Society of America, Association of American Geographers, International Association of Hydrological Sciences, International Erosion Control Association, Caribbean Conservation Association, Geological Society of Puerto Rico.
XIII. Service
Member of Editorial Board, Journal of Environmental Modelling and Software, 2010-2012.
Participant in Coastal Ecosystem Decision Support Workshop: Guánica-Puerto Rico. Sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Ecosystem Services Research Program and UPR.
Reviewer for the following journals: ‘Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science’, ‘Environmental Management’, ‘Environmental Modelling and Software’, and ‘Caribbean Journal of Science’.
Independent reviewer for environmental assessment projects submitted by the California Water Board, and hydrology consultant for NOAA and the US Fish and Wildlife on environmental assessment reports submitted for private development projects throughout the US Caribbean.
Honors thesis research adviser for Josué Rodríguez- Environmental Sciences Program, UPR-Río Piedras. Project: The effects of land development on the production of runoff, sediment, and organic material from hillslopes in La Parguera, Puerto Rico.
Mentored Ms. Vilmaliz Rodríguez, M.S. student, Department of Geology, UPR-Mayaguez- Thesis topic: Spatial and temporal variations of suspended sediments in the Mayaguez Bay associated with land-based sources of sediment.
Participant in “Resilience thinking for the sustainable management of the Río Grande de Arecibo watershed: The use of spatially-explicit framework for understanding responses to perturbations”. Inter-multidisciplinary studies, Graduate School, University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras.
Assisting Ms. Chantale Bégin, M.S. student, Simon Fraser University- Thesis topic: Sedimentation stresses to coral reefs of the Eastern Caribbean.
XIV. Languages
Fully bilingual in English and Spanish. Some proficiency in reading Portuguese.
XV. References
Prof. Richard Appeldoorn, Director-Caribbean Coral Reef Institute, Department of Marine Sciences, Magueyes Laboratories, PO Box 908, Lajas, Puerto Rico 00667, (ph) 787/899-2048 x. 251, rappeldo@uprm.edu
Dr. William Jackson, Division Chief, Water Resources Division-National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Dr., Fort Collins, CO 80525, (ph) 970/225-3503, bill_jackson@nps.gov
Dr. Matthew Larsen, Chief Scientist for Hydrology, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., MS 436, Reston, VA 20192, (ph) 703-648-5044, mclarsen@usgs.gov
Prof. Lee H. MacDonald (Dissertation Chair), Dept. of Forestry, Rangeland, and Watershed Stewardship-Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, (ph) 970/491-6109, leemac@cnr.colostate.edu
Prof. Carla Restrepo (Post-doctoral adviser), Department of Biology-University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras, PO Box 23360, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00931, (ph) 787/721-5168, crestre@cnnet.upr.edu
Prof. Ellen Wohl, Department of Geosciences-Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, (ph) 970/491-5298, ellenw@cnr.colostate.edu
