NAME: RACHELLE MAHABIR, KRYSTIN THOMPSON, KESARI

BABOOLAL

SCHOOL: FYZABAD SECONDARY SCHOOL

CANDIDATE NUMBERS: RACHELLE MAHABIR - 1601000895

KRYSTIN THOMPSON - 16010001522
KESARI BABOOLAL - 16010001263

SCHOOL CENTRE NUMBER: 160100

TOPIC: RIVER FLOODING IN WOODLAND, SOUTH TRINIDAD

SUBJECT: CSEC GEOGRAPHY 2023

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STRATEGY SHEET

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3
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPICS PAGE NUMBER

COVER PAGE 1

STRATEGY SHEET 2-3

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 5

AIM OF STUDY 6

INTRODUCTION 7

MAPS 1,2 & 3 8-10

METHODOLOGY 11-12

PRESENTATION OF DATA 13-20

ANALYSIS OF DATA 21-27

CONCLUSION 28

RECOMMENDATIONS 29

BIBLIOGRAPHY 30

APPENDIX- QUESTIONNAIRE, 31-35

ARTICLE

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 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

MAPS:
Map 1- showing Trinidad illustrating the study area
Map 2- Showing Woodland showing the study area
Map 3- Showing Woodland area

PHOTOGRAPHS:
Photo 1- Showing students of Fyzabad Secondary School interviewing a resident of
Woodland
Photo 2- Showing cow eating overgrown vegetation
Photo 3- Showing residents home being flooded
Photo 4- Showing poor drainage
Photo 5- Showing a resident that were home being flooded
Photo 6- Showing overgrown vegetation
Photo 7- Showing Woodland pump
Photo 8- Showing floodgate that are not working
Photo 9- Showing submersible pump
Photo 10- Showing rusting of metal caused by floodwaters

GRAPHS:
Figure 1- Showing the percentage of persons that are affected by flooding
Figure 2- Showing how long persons have been experiencing flood
Figure 3- Showing the percentage of factors that led to flooding
Figure 4- Showing the effects flooding has on the residents
Figure 5- Showing two effects of flooding on the environment
Figure 6- Showing the socio-economic impact of flooding
Figure 7- Showing the percentage of persons considering to migrate
Figure 8- Showing some strategies that can prevent flooding

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 AIM OF STUDY

To assess the socio- economic impacts of flooding in the community of Woodland, South
Trinidad.

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 INTRODUCTION

Floods are the most frequent type of natural disaster and occurs when water
overflows, the artificial or natural boundaries of a stream, river, or other body of water onto
normally dry land. Floods are often caused by excessive or heavy, continuous rainfall and
produces high volumes of water.

Woodland Community, South Trinidad was used as our study area, here flooding has
been a problem over the past few years. Some of the causes listed were: lack of maintenance
of the watercourses, poor maintenance and operations at the sluice gates causing longer
duration of flooding.

Flooding in Woodland affects the people tremendously causing losses to property

such as mattresses, stoves and refrigerators also losses to livestock and agriculture.

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Map # 1 of Trinidad showing the Study Area

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Map # 2 showing Woodland, South Trinidad

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Map # 3 Showing a cross section of Woodland

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 METHODOLOGY

To access the problem of flooding in the Woodland area, we visited the site and
collected data. To obtain information on the history of the river and its flooding events,
questionnaire and interviews were conducted to the residents in Woodland. In the village,
random sampling was used to conduct questionnaires and interviews as during the day
residents were absent from their homes due to work and school.

Interview being
conducted with a
retired teacher

Photo #1 showing students of Fyzabad Secondary School interviewing a resident of

Woodland.

Photographs and sketches were taken to support the responses from the residents based on the
observations, measurements and analysis of the three sites.
In addition, test was also taken:
1. River cross- section is used to examine features such as meander or riffle
2. Channel width (m)- a tape measure secured at zero to measure the width across the stream
at 90 to the course of the river.
3. Channel depth (m)- this should be taken at regular intervals across the river, dependent on
it’s stream width. In conducting the channel depth a metre stick was lowered onto the stream.
4. River velocity- the speed at which the water flows, this is determined by factors such as
gradient volume and shape of the river channel, as well as friction. E.g. if a float travels 10m
in 21 sec it’s velocity – 10 ÷21= 0.48m/sec.

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5. Friction- when two touching items move past each other there will be friction. Friction was
determined by how calm or rough the river flow seemed. Very calm flow indicated limited
friction whereas, fast flowing waters have high friction.
6. River gradient- the gradient of a river is a measure of how steep it loses height. Using two
ranging poles or metre sticks, local these either ends of the stretch in the middle of the river.
Place the clinometer at a comfortable height on the pole and point the clinometers at exactly
the same height on the other pole.
7. River discharge- the volume of water that flows through a measured cross-section is a
given time. To calculate discharge (m/sec) the cross-section area of the area is multiplied by
the velocity of the water.
8. Load analysis- insert a metre stick at intervals across the width of the river bed and select
stones which are touching the stick. Once the sample is obtained, measure the long axis,
shape and radius of curvature of each person and then derive the index of roundness.

9. Biological indicators-based on the nature, animals and plants, types, numbers and
distribution of these indicators tell us the gauge and quantity of water.

10. Population demographic- using a questionnaire, field study conducted and interviewed
the people of Woodland based on how they were affected by flooding on a yearly basis.

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 PRESENTATION OF DATA

Based on the field trip, a survey was conducted in the community of Woodland.
Information was collected and then further analysed. This information/data collected was
then placed in graphs, pie charts or line graphs. After these were drawn each graph was then
interpreted for the analysis of the data section.

Based on figure 1, there were more persons that said yes to be being affected by flooding
The number of people not affected is 10%. This is quite low.

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 Figure 2, showing how long the persons interviewed has been experiencing flooding.

It must be acknowledged that 15% of the people have been experiencing flooding for over 40
years.

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Figure 3, showing the percentage of factors that led to flooding in Woodland.

The highest contributor is poor drainage followed by pollution. This is of great concern.

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 Figure 4, showing the effects the flooding has on the residents.
Flooding has been severely destroying this community with 45% loss of property,
23% exposure to diseases and of course 15% loss of crops and livestock. Since Woodland is a
farming community this is a major loss to the people.

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 Figure 5, showing two effects of flooding on the environment of Woodland.

Over the years flooding has been a true devastation to the people of Woodland. 60% of the
effects are the disruption to the many habitats and niches of the people and home to animals.

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 Figure 6, showing some socio-economic impact of flooding in Woodland.

Flooding has been a continuous natural event happening at Woodland. The need to address
the concerns of prime agricultural lands has been severely damaged together with loss of
social infrastructure.

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Figure 7, showing there were more people considering to migrate due to the impact of
flooding in Woodland.

Flooding has always been of paramount importance to the villagers.

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 Figure 8, showing some strategies that can be used to prevent flooding in Woodland.
Some solutions that may prevent flooding would be prevent flooding, the flood gates must be
monitored and proper installation of drainage system and of course scheduling inspection of
pumps.

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 ANALYSIS OF DATA

Woodland, a community in South Trinidad have experienced a significant number of

floods over the years. There are 61,533 people living in Woodland, roughly. Between 2017
till the present, there has been a significant amount of flooding in this community. Flooding
occurs when there is a lot of rain or when the ocean waves come ashore.
In Woodland, the amount of rainfall has been greater than the capacity of the ground
to withstand it, leading to flash flooding. According to a field study that was conducted at
Woodland, flooding has a negative impact on the residents economic, environmental,
physical, social and health conditions. Some of the main causes of flooding are: poor
drainage or no drainage in some streets, population growth, home development, changes in
weather patterns, the absence of operational pumps at flood stations, low maintenance of the
pumps at flood stations, no monitoring of the people assigned to the gates, and too much
vegetation blocking. These causes are shown in the streets of Mungal Trace #2 and Tenant
Trace as they were some of the places visited on our field study.

Photo #2 showing cow eating overgrown vegetation

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Photo #3 showing residents home being flooded after hours of rain in Mungal Street

Photo #4 showing poor drainage

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 Over the years the residents have experienced numerous negative disruptions, such as
infrastructure and property damage, blocked roads, erosion landslides. The issue of flooding
has grown of importance in this rural area. Since most of the people in this town are farmers,
the flooding however is having an adverse effect on their crops and livestock, which
eventually results in financial loss. Due to its location to the Gulf of Paria, Woodland is one
of the regions that floods the most frequently (see map #1). Experts have determined that
Woodland are one of the lowest areas where storm surges and flood waters are stored until
they may be artificially pumped into the Gulf of Paria. Over the years the residents have been
suffering immensely. For eg. One resident could not have left her house to get supplies.

Photo #5 showing a resident that were interviewed home being flooded

The flooding has been worse since 2017 for a variety of reasons. On the 18th of
October, 2017, there were an excessive amount of rainfall that flooded numerous homes. The
trash produced by manufactures, such as Hakim Kanal, a dog factory on Pluck Rd,
Woodland, damages rivers and even marine life, it enters into rivers and drains and obstructs

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water flow. The water in the rivers has been stopped due to excessive vegetation overgrew and
was not cleaned during the dry season.

Picture #6 showing overgrown vegetation

Picture #7 showing Woodland Pump

Most individuals build their homes right up to the boundaries and leave no room for
drainage and floodwater simply enters the homes because there are little to no drainage.
Another factor is lack of maintenance of the floodgates that control the flow of water. Also, it

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was mentioned that one of the primary causes of flooding in Woodland is that it is a very flat
relief area that is close to a major river into which the other rivers flow.

Photo #8 showing floodgate that are not working.

Many people in Woodland experience severe emotional grief when they lose their
personal items in the flood waters such as birth certificates, Identification and even
medication. Individuals who are seriously ill experience hardship on both a financial and
physical level since they must acquire new medications, which are very costly and if not
purchased will only make their condition worse. As a result of being compelled to stay home
during floods rather than attend school, children become more susceptible to illnesses and
diseases. Adults have a loss of income because they are not able to get to work, due to how
severe the flooding has been. Some families have even moved out of their homes in order to
feel safe and the fact that they would not have to worry about being flooded. In the case that
homes are flooded out there were very few lives lost. For instance, if there is an emergency
and the flooding is so bad it is difficult for an ambulance or any other emergency service to
reach the patients that are in desperate need of medical attention.
Due to these effects, solutions must be put into place, such as monitoring,
maintaining, and operating the floodgates to manage the floodwaters flow. Pumps can be
used to help drain water from houses as well as it is important to maintain and keep rivers and
drains clean. The residents of the community came up with strategies to prevent certain
things from being destroyed, such as installing ball valves to protect their bathrooms from
floodwaters and storing electrical equipment in sheds to prevent it from deteriorating. The
residents are tired of waiting for the government to answer their appeal for assistance, they
formed the South Oropouche Riverine Flood Action Group. This group is trying to make a
difference in the Woodland community by clearing up the rivers and drains, supporting the
people that are continuously affected by the flooding and have still been attempting to attract

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the government’s attention to assist with the fixing of flood gates and extending the river
banks. A few more solutions are raising awareness and building levees along river banks to
allow the river to hold more water and enforcing fines for improper garbage disposal.

Photo #9 showing a submersible pump

Photo #10 showing where the water reaches causing rust on the metal.

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When assessing the rate of flooding in Woodland, the following results were produced using
the data retrieved from WASA(see in appendix). The discharge was founded at Sites 1-0.88,
Site 2 -1.42 and Site 3-0.48. this reflected a high discharge of water from other nearby
streams (first, second and third order streams).

Using the data, we were able to intercept the size of the basin to be small where the lag time
was found to be a smaller basin. In reality, the basin shape was found to be circular with high
peak flow. Incidentally based on the amount of sediment load found on the sites(site 1-0.37
g/l, site 2-0.50 g/l, site 3-1.32 g/l). It reflected there’s a lot of erosion occurring on the higher
grounds that have now slowly moved (via soil creep or landslides) to the valley’s lower
grounds where the Woodland community is located.

Engineers have now been applying the Bifurcation Ratio to the rivers in Trinidad. This is the
relationship between the number of streams of one order and those of the next highest order.
It is obtained by dividing the number of streams in one order by the number in the next
highest order.

N1 number of first order streams

= 26 =4.33
6
N2 number of second order streams
N1 number of second order streams

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 =6 = 3.00
N2 number of third order streams 2

And the finding the mean of all the ratios in the basin being studied

4.33 + 3.00
= 7.33 = 3.665
2 2

The human significance of the bifurcation ratio is reduced so the risk of flooding within the
basin increases. It also indicates the flood risk for part, rather than the entire basin. Also, to
understand flooding finding the drainage density was necessary. This is calculated by
measuring the total length of all the streams within the basin(L) and dividing the area of the
entire basin(A).

L 15.32 = 2.5114km per km

A 6.1

Wetted perimeter was calculated for the stream, it is the total length of the bed and bank sides
in contact with the water in the channel.
Stream A – 4+4+8 = 16m
Stream B – 2+2+11 = 15m
Hydraulic Radius:
Stream A: 40m = 2.5m

16m

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 CONCLUSION

A conclusion was drawn to the point that Woodland floods in excessive way due to
poor construction, lack of box drain and relatively flat land. These factors have affected
transportation, livestock, resident from their daily life and valuable items are also lost It also
increases diseases such as dengue and cholera and has affected animals and their habitat. The
flooding process have been occurring over 15 years it hopes that the current government
intervention flooding can minimize or strategies can be implemented to help the individuals
of Woodland. In 2022 the flooding situation was so bad that it was impossible to carry out
our primary work on the river and depended on the information during our interviews.
According to the South Oropouche group President, Adesh Singh it is far too dangerous for
students as the river banks are very unpredictable at this time. It is hoped that this SBA can
be used to assist the people of Woodland so that this rainy season in 2023 can be a better one
for them.

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 RECOMMENDATIONS

Floods and flood damage could be avoided through initiatives to raise public awareness of the
issue and what the residents should do to prepare for it. These initiatives would make
individuals more conscious of the risks they encounter, especially those who reside in high-
risk areas.
Make proper policies for land use and pollution and put them into effect. Given that policies
will reduce the quantity of deforestation. Develop strategies that promote sustainable growth.
Rivers and waterways can be cleared regularly so that excess silt and soil sediment build up is
removed.
Establish efficient drainage systems. To ensure that there is appropriate drainage when
constructing new communities or structures, or enhance the ones that already exist.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Longman. (1994). The Longman ATLAS FOR CARIBBEAN EXAMINATIONS.

HONG KONG: Longman Group LTD.
Rahil, V. (2005). New Caribbean Geography (with map reading and CXC questions).
Caribbean Education Publishers.
Warm, D.H. Fieldwork Investigations-A self-study guide-,
http:/www.odpm.gov.tt/node/401. (2010, November 27th). Retrieved January 10th,2012
http;/www.trinidadexpress.com/new/30_homes_hit_by_flooding_in_San Francique-
113250939.htm/. (2011, January 10th). Retrieved February 5th, 2012
Loney, O (2009,FebruaryThursday).
http:/www.newsday.co.tt/news/0, 95018.html. Retrieved January Monday, 2012

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 APPENDIX

QUESTIONNAIRE

Good day everyone. We are a group of students from Fyzabad Secondary School; Rachelle Mahabir,
Krystin Thompson and Kesari Baboolal and we are pursuing our studies in the subject of Geography.
The topic is flooding in the Woodland area, South Trinidad. Would it be okay to ask you a few
questions?

1. Do you live in this community {Yes/No}

2. How old are you {20-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, below 20, above 60/other}?

3. Are you and your family affected by flooding? {Yes/No}

4. How long have you been experiencing flooding {Less than 10 years, 10-20 years, 21-30
years, 31-40 years, 41-50 years}?

5. How are you and your family affected by flooding?

6. What kinds of strategies do you have in place to prevent your home from being flooded?

7. How close do you live from the main river? 1-3 feet, 4-7 feet, 8-12 feet, 13 feet and
more?

8. Is that the reason why you are affected in your area?

9. How long does it take for the area to be inundated by water?

10. Explain the impact that flooding has on the people, environment and the socio-
economic sector.

11. What other factors are present to influence the river flooding?

12. Which time of the year is the flooding the worse?

13. Have you considered moving away from the community due to the impacts of the
flooding?

14. What cost is placed on you after the river floods?

15. How long does it take to clean up after the flood?

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Worst flooding ever in Woodland
• Nikita Braxton-Benjamin
Nov 16, 2018 Updated Nov 16, 2018
A resident of Woodland wades through flood water holding a keg of cooking oil on Friday
following heavy rain fall in the area.
DEXTER PHILIP

DEVIKA SINGH stood in rising floodwaters on Friday morning as she washed clothing for
her 13-yearold differently-abled grand-daughter.
This after the Oropouche River overflowed its banks, flooding her home along with dozens of
others.
Many residents said it was the worst floods they have ever experienced, with flood waters
rising higher that the disaster of 2017.
As of Friday afternoon, Singh was marooned at the home she shares with her husband, a 68-
year-old pensioner, and her two grandchildren including 13-year-old Kavina Singh who is
unable to function without assistance.
The driver of this BMW X5 had to abandon his vehicle at Rahamut Trace, Woodland due to
wide spread flooding in the area on Friday.
DEXTER PHILIP
Her ten- year-old grandson was unable to access the house after school on Thursday and has
been staying with relatives.
Singh, 60, said before the water rose, she contacted councillor for the area, Vijay Rampersad,
asking for sandbags. She intended to place them at her front gate. She was directed to call the
Disaster Management Unit and was able to make her request. But Singh said no bags were
delivered. She believed they would have greatly assisted to prevent her home, including
Kavina’s room, from being flooded.
Singh said the kitchen, living room and washroom were also affected.

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She said they received no help following last years’ flood. “Last time I lost everything. This
time we were able to raise the bed and fridge but the water keeps rising. With the volume of
water here, we are marooned,” Devika Singh who said.
With nowhere to go, she started washing her granddaughter’s clothing. “She needs a lot of
clothes but at my age to stand in this water, it is not easy … I suffer from rheumatoid arthritis
and high blood pressure.”
A woman sits on higher ground as she waits for the flood waters to subside at her Woodland
home on Friday.
DEXTER PHILIP
A frustrated Singh said, “Every year around this time, it is the same thing. What’s next?”
Another Woodland resident, Fazada Jhagroo said around 2 a.m. she and her family had to flee
their home. She said husband and their four-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter awoke to
find their household items floating in water. They had earlier raised these items to a higher
height but this did not help when the water came.
“Right now, everything is just floating,” Jhagroo said. The family has since been staying by
relatives.
Krishna Dwarpaul, 55, told the Express that he fell off his bed and into flood waters which
entered the bedroom at his Woodland home around midnight.
Dwarpaul also said he lost his livestock and 500 peas trees from the flood. He said last year
he suffered losses but was never compensated.
Bobby Balgopaul said this was the third time his Woodland home was flooded. “I tried to
move everything to higher ground when water started coming up last evening. The water
reached about three feet inside the house.”
Balgopaul said he was awaiting assistance.
Two men tries to capture a duck in flooded waters in Woodland following heavy rainfall in
the area.
DEXTER PHILIP
On Friday morning, Haniff Ali Bocus, 56, and his wife sat in their car in a dry elevated area
twenty feet away from their home, watching as the water continued to rise. “We can’t do
anything,” he told the Express.
A man bails water from his boat at the New Cut Channel River in Woodland on Friday.
DEXTER PHILIP
They were affected by flood waters last year and classified this flooding as one of the worst.
His daughter and son-in-law have been staying by relatives.
Councillor Rampersad said he plans to visit the families in the area.
He told the Express that all the vehicles were at different sites when Singh called and they
were unavailable to deliver the bags to her when she contacted them. He was also unable to
gain access to her.
When the Express spoke to him he was making his way to Gopie Trace to help evacuate a
family of three including a 13-year old child from their home.
Rampersad said they would be taken to the home of their relative in Debe.
Animals seek shelter after wide spread flooding in Woodland on Friday.
DEXTER PHILIP
https://trinidadexpress.com/news/local/worst-flooding-ever-in-woodland/article_308fddc0-
e9c8-11e8-9309-a33800d228ff.html

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 Distance Width Mean Mean Mean Discharge Amount
downstream (m) water perimeter flow (cumecs) of load in
from site 1 depth (m) Velocit suspensio
(km) (m) y n
(m/sec)

Site 1 -------- 1.7 0.24 2.58 0.44 0.18 0.37

Site 2 0.2 0.96 0.26 1.48 0.46 0.11 0.23

Site 3 2.2 1.60 0.29 2.30 0.04 0.02 0.50

Site 4 3.8 2.30 0.32 3.10 0.23 0.17 0.67

Site 5 4.1 2.10 0.46 3.00 0.42 0.41 0.62

Site 6 4.9 3.90 0.57 5.20 0.64 1.42 0.95

Site 7 6.1 3.30 0.44 4.25 0.61 0.89 0.15

Site 8 6.4 3.70 0.46 4.65 0.73 1.24 1.12

Site 9 7.8 4.10 0.49 5.10 0.70 1.41 0.98

Site 10 8.2 3.80 0.58 5.15 0.66 1.45 0.85

Site 11 9.0 2.00 0.41 2.63 0.58 0.48 0.44

Site 12 11.0 3.90 0.43 4.80 0.46 0.77 1.32

Table 1 showing River studies

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 Measuring and cross-section

Width of stream = 5.6 (m)

Depth of stream at equal spaced intervals.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

4 (m) 4.3 (m) 4.5 (m) 4.8 (m) 4.9 (m) 5.1 (m) 5.6 (m) 5.7 (m) 5.8 (m) 5.9 (m)

Measuring the speed of velocity

Time taken for float to travel a distance

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

15 sec 14 sec 12 sec 11 sec 11 sec 8 sec 7 sec 7 sec 6 sec 6 sec

Friction

Visual score for external and internal friction: fast flowing and low friction (points)

Calculations

Average depth: 3.6 (m)

Hydraulic radius: 1.66 (points)

Cross-sectional area: 15 (m)

Average velocity: 15 (m/sec)

Discharge: 40 (cumecs)

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 Distance Width Mean Mean Mean Discharge Amount of
downstream (m) water perimeter flow (cumecs) load in
from site 1 depth (m) velocity suspension
(km) (m) (m/sec) (g/l)
Site 1 --- 1.7 0.24 2.58 0.44 0.18 0.37
Site 2 0.2 0.96 0.26 1.48 0.46 0.11 0.23
Site 3 2.2 1.60 0.29 2.30 0.04 0.02 0.50
Site 4 3.8 2.30 0.32 3.10 0.23 0.17 0.67
Site 5 4.1 2.10 0.46 3.00 0.42 0.41 0.62
Site 6 4.9 3.90 0.57 5.20 0.64 1.42 0.95
Site 7 6.1 3.30 0.44 4.25 0.61 0.89 0.15
Site 8 6.4 3.70 0.46 4.65 0.73 1.24 1.12
Site 9 7.8 4.10 0.49 5.10 0.70 1.41 0.98
Site 10 8.2 3.80 0.58 5.15 0.66 1.45 0.85
Site 11 9.0 2.00 0.41 2.63 0.58 0.48 0.44
Site 12 11.0 3.90 0.43 4.80 0.46 0.77 1.32

Provided by WASA 2004

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NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

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