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Hydrologic changes in two river basins in Connecticut : a comparative study on the effects of urbanization in the Pequabuck sub-regional river basin and the Pomperaug regional river basin / Paul Joseph Albert

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Identifier	Thesis 1514
Author	Albert, Paul Joseph
Title	Hydrologic changes in two river basins in Connecticut : a comparative study on the effects of urbanization in the Pequabuck sub-regional river basin and the Pomperaug regional river basin / Paul Joseph Albert
Publisher	Central Connecticut State University
Date	1999
Resource Type	Master's Thesis
Notes	The effects of impervious surfaces on river systems as a result of urbanization are well documented and include such changes as increases in the magnitude and frequency of peak discharge, diminishing lag times, decreases in base flow and the degradation of water quality. Such changes can have adverse effects on property owners who reside on or near the affected floodplains, as the risk from flooding becomes more likely and the water quality deteriorates, thus lowering the esthetics of the river as well as damaging its habitats. This thesis is a comparative study that investigates the effects of impervious surfaces (such as roads, parking lots, sidewalks and buildings) on two Connecticut River basins between 1965-1995. The Pomperaug Regional River Basin near Southbury is predominantly rural and serves as an experimental control to the more urbanized Pequabuck Sub-Regional River Basin near Bristol. The parameters studied in this research are land changes, peak discharge, lag time between peak precipitation and peak discharge, recurrence interval, base flow and water quality. To study these parameters land use changes were documented and analyzed with the aid of aerial photos to assess increases in the percentage of impervious surfaces throughout the study basins. Records of peak streamflow from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and National Climatic Data Center hourly precipitation data were evaluated to examine changes in the recurrence interval of peak flows and lag time. Ratios of peak discharge to base flow, and peak discharge to total storm precipitation were calculated to determine changes in both base flow and peak discharge. Surface water quality data from the USGS helped determine trends in pollutant concentrations. The findings of this research indicate a change flow regime due to urbanization matching expectations with regard to peak discharge, lag time and recurrence interval. Peak discharges typically increase in magnitude and occur more frequently as urbanization proceeds, because runoff from precipitation is more concentrated over impervious surfaces and infiltration is impeded. Lag time is likely to decrease, as runoff is effectively transported through a system of storm sewers and discharged directly into the Pequabuck River. Also, base flow usually declines from the effect of impervious surfaces reducing storage and hindering the recharge of groundwater. Peak discharges in the Pequaback Basin have increased over time, lag time has decreased as well as the recurrence interval of peak flows, thereby indicating more frequently occurring large flows. Base flow, however, was found to increase, but further determination of base flow changes was difficult to assess due to the anthropogenic effects of pumping. However, water quality was better than expected with improvements in the concentrations of organic carbon, phosphorus, lead, zinc and dissolved oxygen; and is likely attributable to policies such as the Clean Water Act and environmental public interest groups. The exceptions are chloride, which is ever more present in urban runoff as a product of street salting during winter storms, and nitrogen, which may be attributable to its increased use in fertilizers. The results from the Pomperaug Basin are similar to those of the more urbanized Pequabuck Basin, particularly as in the case of peak discharge and recurrence interval. Therefore, it is proposed that a new regional flow regime has developed in response to increases in precipitation totals, pattern, intensity, storm severity and duration making the Pomperaug Basin behave like an urban one. Such precipitation changes would not likely affect the Pequabuck Basin, because the effects of urbanization outweigh those of climatic changes.
Subject	Watersheds -- Research -- Connecticut Hydrology -- Research -- Connecticut Pequabuck River (Conn.) Pomperaug River (Conn.)
Department	Department of Geography
Advisor	Millar, Susan W.
Type	Text
Digital Format	application/pdf
Language	eng
OCLC number	42412167
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Hydrologic changes in two river basins in Connecticut : a comparative study on the effects of urbanization in the Pequabuck sub-regional river basin and the Pomperaug regional river basin / Paul Joseph Albert

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