2025 Tasks

Progam Contact

Ginger Scarbrough, PhD

WERC Program Manager

Juanita Miller, PE

WERC Safety Officer

Backhoe buried in post-wildfire washdown

Q: Would your team like to receive a sample of post-wildfire flood waters?
A: Email us to request it.

Q: When will we receive the promised post-wildfire sediments? (Updated 11/7/24)
A: The first samples we collected were reported as "nothing special" (no indicators of wildfire sediments). We suspected that would be the case which is why we collected additional sediments from a bull-dozed area on Oct. 19. We are still waiting for lab analyses of those.

Q: Are we required to address the Ruidoso area in our designs? (Posted 10/10/24)
A: No. Please select an area in which your team wants to make a difference. The only reason we are providing Ruidoso sediments is because they are real post-wildfire sediments that we can access. If your team wishes to source sediments from elsewhere, please feel free to do so.

Q: Can you tell us more about the sediments collected from Ruidoso? (Posted 9/16/24)
A: Your team is not required to propose a design that includes the Ruidoso area. These sediments are provided as an example of real-world post-wildfire sediments. The soil content will likely differ from your team's selected site.

See below for photos of the sediment collection area. Sediments were collected on 09/14/2024 one mile up the road from the US Forestry Service Office (901 Mecham Dr. in Ruidoso) in the picnic area. This is part of the Lincoln National Forest Recreation Area, Cedar Creek, Ruidoso. Forest Rangers informed us that the sediments contain burn-scar washdown, along with a variety of other constituents—the flooding was very severe in that area and washed down a variety of materials.

The samples were barely damp when collected. They are dark grey. When you receive the samples, you can compare the color with the photos below (the light brown soil underneath the trees is the native soil).  The sediments were easy to shovel and are relatively fine grained (fine-to-course-grained sand; no pebbles or cobbles). I do not know if we will dry them further. The reason we planned to dry them is to prevent growth of unwanted organisms while they are stored for months in 5-gallon containers. 
Q: What volume of sediments can you ship to us? (Posted 9/17/24)
A: The task problem statement says that we will ship you about 2 gallons (in two 1-gallon Ziplock bags). This is under the assumption that you will use your own surrogates for preliminary testing (after you evaluate the real samples), and then you can use the shipped samples during your final stages of testing. If you need more than two 1-gallon bags of sediments, please email werc@nmsu.edu
Q: Since the sediments are from Ruidoso, what does that mean for our project? (Posted 9/16/24)
A: Do not think you need study the Ruidoso area. We are providing Ruidoso sediments only because they are representative of real post-fire flooding sediments that were relatively easy to obtain. You are welcome to use Ruidoso as your study area, but you are not expected to do so. 
Q: How is our team expected to gather information about our study area? (Posted 9/03/24)
A: Since the contest is modeled after teams answering an engineering RFP, we provide initial references, then expect each team to conduct their own research, accessing public documents, etc. Please see our website: Team Info>First Time Teams (https://werc.nmsu.edu/team-info/first-time-teams.html). There, you will find timelines, along with other tips for a successful project. 
The way to succeed is to double your failure rate.

Thomas J. Watson

Ruidoso Photos

Lincoln Natl Forest-Cedar Creek

Entrance to area where post-wildfire flooding sediments were collected. Forest rangers reported that the river that usually flows under the street rose 8+ feet during the July storms.

Native Light brown soils under trees

Light brown soil under trees illustrates the color of native soils (compare with your samples when they are shipped to you).

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Post-wildfire flooding washdown sediments that will be shipped to teams.

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