Peruvian River Discharge Measurements with RiverSurveyor ADP

October, 2003 - In a project sponsored by Florida International University, hydrologists Clinton Hittle and Liz Debiak used a 3-MHz RiverSurveyor system to study shallow water hydraulics in several Peruvian rivers. The small and portable mini-ADP system was easily mounted onto the wooden boats used by the local people.

During the two-week project, measurements were made at the following river sites:

• Rio Piches (PAC and PACUS)
• Rio Neguachi (NEG)
• Rio Chontabamba near Oxapampa (OXA)
• Rio Nazaratagi (NAZ)

As shown in the following graph, data were collected using the RiverSurveyor software program, and discharge was computed on site at the end of each transect. The results for the Rio Piches river show a net discharge of 80 cubic meters per second (3000 cfs) with depths ranging up to 4 meters (12 feet).

• RiverSurveyor ADP