FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 4, 2008

DRI hires a Surface Water Hydrologist
Li Chen's focus is surface flow and related material transport

LAS VEGAS - Li Chen has been hired as an Assistant Research Professor, specializing in Surface Water Hydrology, at the Desert Research Institute.

"All of us who have lived in the desert for any amount of time understand how much water moves along the surfaces during a rainstorm, transporting sediment along the way," said Stephen Wells, DRI President. "Li's research is vital and DRI is proud to have him working on such critical water issues."

Chen is currently working on a research project on the Walker River in Nevada to develop a set of recommendations to minimize further sediment and salt loading to Walker Lake and degradation to the lower Walker River under increased flows. His longtime research interest has been in flow and transport modeling in watersheds, open channels, lakes and estuaries. He has done extensive work in modeling of the polyacrylamide (PAM) process in irrigation canals. By better understanding natural water interaction with irrigation systems, Chen believes this research could have environmental ramifications leading to benefits such as habitat restoration.

Chen received his doctorate in Fluid Mechanics from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mechanics in 2001. He received both bachelor's and master's degrees in Hydraulic Engineering from Wuhan University of Hydraulic and Electric Engineering in China.

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