HR: 09:00h
AN: NB21F-03 [Abstracts]
TI: Urbanization and Water Quantity: Impacts and Mitigation
AU: * Potter, K W
EM: kwpotter@wisc.edu
AF: Kenneth W. Potter, 1261C Engineering Hall
1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706 United States
AB:
Urban and suburban development adversely impacts both surface and ground water resources by profoundly altering the
hydrologic cycle. Conventional storm water management practices rely on storage to reduce runoff peaks and trap pollutants,
but do not address impacts due to changes in the partitioning of water. The introduction of impervious surfaces increases
the amount of storm runoff and decreases the amount of ground water recharge. Ground water pumping reduces the amount of
ground water. Increased storm runoff causes channel enlargement and increased flood peaks, even when mitigation storage is
employed. Reduced ground water results in decreased ground water discharges to aquatic systems.
Enhancing the infiltration of storm runoff appears to be a feasible way to address the hydrologic alterations that usually
accompany urban and suburban development. Practices that focus infiltration, such as rain gardens and bioretention
facilities, appear to be particularly effective. Modeling indicates that a properly designed bioretention facility can
preserve natural runoff amounts and increase ground water recharge amounts well above natural levels, perhaps even
compensating for ground water pumping. Remaining research issues involve subsoil characterization, vegetation selection,
ground water contamination, regulatory strategies, and long-term performance.
DE: 1803 Anthropogenic effects
DE: 1821 Floods
DE: 1829 Groundwater hydrology
DE: 1836 Hydrologic budget (1655)
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly