Title: Impact of Urbanization on Stormwater Runoff in Tidal Creek Headwaters
Abstract: Urbanization alters the hydrologic cycle of watersheds: as land becomes covered with surfaces impervious to rain, water is redirected from groundwater recharge and evapotranspiration to stormwater runoff. This is a critical issue considering that nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is the leading cause of water quality degradation, and stormwater runoff accounts for most NPS pollution (USEPA 2002). The human population in South Carolina coastal counties has increased by 30% since 1990, and growth is expected to continue at this rate. The urban sprawl type of development that characterizes most of South Carolina consumes land 3 to 6 times faster than the rate of population growth (Allen and Lu 2003). Within this context, researchers at NOAA's Hollings Marine Laboratory have adapted well-established methods for calculating stormwater runoff in order to quantify and to predict changes in runoff as urbanization increases. The resulting method is non-field based and leverages existing federal and state data sources.
Publication Year: 2008
Publication Date: 2008-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 1
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