Record Display for the EPA National Library Catalog

RECORD NUMBER: 2 OF 2

Main Title Screening to identify and prevent urban storm water problems : estimating impervious area accurately and inexpensively.
Author Bird, Sandra. ; Harrison, J. ; Exum, L. ; Alberty, S. ; Perkins, C.
Other Authors
Author Title of a Work
Harrison, Jim.
Exum, Linda.
Alberty, Stephen.
Perkins, Christine.
CORP Author Environmental Protection Agency, Atlanta, GA. Region IV.
Publisher U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development,
Year Published 2002
Stock Number PB2003-106604
Subjects Urban runoff--Measurement ; Urban runoff--Georgia--Measurement
Additional Subjects Water quality ; Surface water ; Urban areas ; Hydrology ; Storm water ; Monitoring ; Local planning ; Urban hydrology ; Impervious area estimates
Holdings
Library Call Number Additional Info Location Last
Modified
Checkout
Status
NTIS  PB2003-106604 Some EPA libraries have a fiche copy filed under the call number shown. 07/26/2022
Collation 17 unnumbered pages : illustrations ; 28 cm
Abstract
Complete identification and eventual prevention of urban water quality problems pose significant monitoring, 'smart growth' and water quality management challenges. Uncontrolled increase of impervious surface area (roads, buildings, and parking lots) causes detrimental hydrologic changes, stream channel erosion, habitat degradation and severe impairment of aquatic communities. Existing aerial photography (digital orthophoto quarter quadrangles - DOQQ's), sampled statistically using desktop GIS tools, was used to evaluate impervious area estimates based on readily available landscape data including: categorized land-cover data (National Land Cover Data - NLCD); block-level census data; and road networks. Models linking the photo interpretation and wide area estimation techniques provided: (1) cheap estimates of impervious cover with known accuracy at the watershed and subwatershed scales; (2) a comprehensive state -wide ranking of Georgia waters likely impaired or threatened by urban storm water; and (3) characterization of change in imperviousness over time. Multiple data source estimation of imperviousness provides improved accuracy compared to the use of land-use/land- cover alone, especially for the 5-10% impervious range where prevention of storm water problems is critical. Estimated imperviousness change from 1993 to 1999 revealed 51 Georgia watersheds defined by 12-digit hydrological unit codes (HUCs) with substantial impervious area increases (class changes) during this short, 6-year period. For 1999, 92 HUCs were estimated to be more than 10% impervious with potentially detrimental aquatic impacts, and 137 in the 5 to 10% range with detrimental aquatic impacts likely with future growth unless preventive actions are taken. Similar analyses will be expanded to the 8 Southeastern states of EPA Region 4. These screening results can guide in-situ monitoring to confirm problems, aid listing of impaired waters under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act and total maximum daily load (TMDL) development, provide reliable scientific information to energize sound local planning and land-use decisions, and promote protection and restoration of urban streams.
Notes
"904-A-02-001." Published in Proceedings of the National Water Quality Monitoring Council Conference, held May 19-23, 2002, in Madison, WI. Includes bibliographical references (pages 9-13). Microfiche.