FLOOD ASSESSMENT USING HYDRAULIC MODELING IN THE BURGAY RIVER: CASE STUDY IN THE EL DESCANSO SECTOR

Abstract

This study addresses the issue of flooding caused by the overflow of the Burgay River in the El Descanso sector. Floods, a growing global phenomenon due to climate change and urban expansion, pose a significant threat, leading to human and economic losses. To identify the areas most vulnerable to this risk, a hydraulic modeling of a section of the river was carried out using the HEC-RAS software. The methodology considered two scenarios. The first represents the current state of the river, while the second simulates the conditions of 1989, when the riverbed was free of obstructions and accumulated sediments. Historical data were collected through satellite images, topographic surveys, aerial photographs, and data from the GeoGLOWS Tethys platform to feed the model. The results of the current scenario reveal that sediment accumulation and human activities increase the magnitude and frequency of floods. In contrast, the 1989 scenario shows a significant improvement in the river's capacity to handle high flows, positively impacting water flow dynamics. Moreover, the generated flood maps serve as crucial tools for planning and risk management in the region. Finally, the implementation of monitoring stations at strategic locations is proposed to obtain more precise data, enabling the optimization of mitigation strategies and responses to flooding events.

Keywords: Modeling, sediments, flooding.