The NRCS Caribbean Engineering Division provides conservation engineering services to clients and partners in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our mission is to lead innovative engineering solutions to natural resource conservation challenges in the Caribbean Area.
Focus Areas
- Civil Engineering
- Agricultural Engineering
- Energy efficiency
- Surveying
- Environmental Engineering
- Geology
- Hydrology
- Water Management
- Watersheds
Projects
- HUCAR
- RIO LOCO
- Colosso Irrigation Project
- Salinas Irrigation Projects
- Santa Isabel Irrigation Project
- Yabucoa Canals RCPP
- Daguey and Ajies Dams Post Maria Repairs
- EWP - post disaster response
- Bordeaux Farming Community Water Quality and Quantity Improvements
- Isabela Irrigation Channels Repairs
What's New
- Pathways Survey Training in Aibonito - July 12, 2021
- Dam Inspection & On-the-Job Training in Añasco - July 1, 2021
- Success Story - Helping Puerto Rico’s Dairies Recover from Hurricane María
What We Do
Our Caribbean Engineering Team applies sound engineering tools and principles to plan, design, and implement conservation practices and systems to help farmers and landowners improve the health of their operations while protecting our natural resources for the future.
The Conservation Engineering Division (CED) provides local technical support to our farmers and ranchers along with practice design assistance through our financial assistance programs including EQIP, Caribbean Partners for Conservation, CIG, and RCPP. CED also leads NRCS Caribbean’s watershed program implementation. Direct engineering assistance can be obtained from our 8 NRCS Caribbean field offices and State Office. We are also supported by our national centers and the Conservation Engineering Division in Washington, DC.
Our Caribbean Engineering Team provides technical guidance and support to our clients and programs in a wide range of specialties including:
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Civil Engineering –
- Design and construction project management and Statement of Work (SOW) definition.
- Preparing projects’ materials specifications and construction specifications.
- Design and construction contract administration.
- Watershed planning IDIQ A&E contractor selection
- Emergency streambank restoration
- Local NRCS dam safety inspections.
- Local engineering job approval.
- Structural engineering designs.
- Local professional practice compliance and certifications.
- Agricultural Engineering
- State Technical Committee – technical support and subcommittee
- Caribbean Area engineering conservation practices Field Office Technical Guide management and updates
- Caribbean Area engineering practices cost updates
- Energy efficiency - Agricultural energy conservation, efficiency, and alternative and renewable energy utilization
- Surveying data collection, equipment management and operations
- Environmental Engineering
- Agricultural manure and waste management, and planning support
- Agricultural water quality
- Mortality management
- Geology
- Sedimentation
- Groundwater
- Geomorphology
- Streams, Ponds and Channels
- Hydrology
- Hydrology and Hydraulics
- Climate and meteorology
- Stormwater management
- Water supply and conservation
- Water Management
- Irrigation Water Management
- Livestock Water Management
- Drainage Water Management
- Wetlands Restoration/Creation
- Water Quality and Availability
Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG)
The electronic Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) is NRCS's primary scientific reference. It contains technical information about practices to conserve soil, water, air, plant, animal and energy resources. The Caribbean Area FOTG has been localized with data and information specific to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It contains five sections with information about General Resource References (Section I), Natural & Cultural Resources (Section II), Resource Concerns and Planning Criteria (Section III), Conservation Practice Standards & Specifications (Section IV), and Conservation Effects (Section V).
Employee Directory
| Name | Position | Phone Number | |
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Lisbeth San Miguel-Rivera, PhD
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EWP Coordinator
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Alberto Atienza
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Civil Engineer - Arecibo Field Office
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Rolando Collazo
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Civil Engineer - Caguas & USVI Field Offices
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Celys Irizarry
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Civil Engineering Technician - Juana Díaz Field Office
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Yahaira Lugo
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Civil Engineer - Juana Díaz Field Office
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Yara Ortíz
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Civil Engineer - Mayagüez Field Office
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Gabriel Román
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Civil Engineer - Mayagüez Field Office
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Engineering Resources
Engineering Field Tools (EFT)
The Engineering Field Tools (EFT) is a framework of engineering tools for field office individuals to plan and design commonly applied conservation practices.
National Design, Construction, and Soil Mechanics Center
The National Design, Construction, and Soil Mechanics Centers (NDCSMC) for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are located in Fort Worth, Texas and Lincoln, Nebraska.
National Water Management Center
Bringing the landscape together: Local community goals and watershed scale planning solutions. The National Water Management Center (NWMC), located in Little Rock, Arkansas, serves as a focal point for water resources informa...
National Water and Climate Center
The National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) administers the Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program (SSWSF) and the Soil Climate Analysis Network, and manages the Water and Climate Information System.
