Hydrologic Response from a Developed Piedmont Watershed
Date
2013
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Abstract
Stormwater runoff has the ability to erode Earth’s surface, causing channels to form along its path from impervious areas to streams, rivers, etc. Large channels, known as gullies, can be examined to determine the extent of the effects of stormwater. This type of investigation can provide insight into the implementation of appropriate stormwater management practices. Therefore, the objectives of this analysis are to (1) quantify total suspended solids loads received over time and (2) determine temporal probable peak flow for gullies located in a Piedmont watershed. These aims were addressed by first delineating three sub-watersheds boundaries and land uses in a Piedmont region of Newark, Delaware where erosion due to stormwater runoff has caused the formation of gullies. Next, this land use data, along with additional known and calculated parameters, was subjected to models used to predict the temporal pollutant load and flow data experienced within the gullies. Through the investigation in the accompanying paper, it was determined that (1) increases in predicted loading and flow are resultant of increases in the appearance of specific high nutrient- and/or high metal-containing land cover and (2) as functions of land use, graphical results depicting pollutant load and flow over time were found to exhibit the same shape.