Description:

Agricultural landscapes are being urbanized throughout the United States, resulting in the degradation of aquatic systems. Fundamental changes in watershed hydrology result from the construction of impervious surfaces (roofs, streets, sidewalks). As impervious surface area expands, runoff peaks and volumes increase, and water quality and groundwater levels decline. Increased runoff peaks cause channel erosion and habitat degradation. Increased erosion of soil and associated nutrients cause sedimentation and eutrophication of lakes and wetlands. Diminished groundwater levels desiccate wetlands and reduce the discharge of high quality groundwater to springs, streams, and lakes. Wetland bio-diversity declines. These hydrologic and ecological impacts of urbanization are exacerbated in regions where groundwater is pumped for domestic use and irrigation.

Objectives: We propose to evaluate alternative management practices and patterns of urbanization by considering a range of urban development issues, including storm runoff, groundwater depletion, wastewater treatment, eutrophication, and wetland degradation. We will also address the interaction among these issues and the social and political opportunities for, and constraints on, effective management. Our goal is to fill critical knowledge gaps and extend (or develop) analytical and modeling tools that will minimize the hydrologic and ecological impacts of urbanization.

URLs/Downloads:

2002 Progress Report

Final Progress Report

2000 Progress Report

lathrop99.html

2001 Progress Report

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT( ABSTRACT )

Start Date:01/15/2000

Completion Date:01/14/2003

Record ID: 52659

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Related Organizations:

Role :OWNER

Organization Name :UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON

Mailing Address :500 Lincoln Dr

Citation :Madison

State :WI

Zip Code :53706



Role :OWNER

Organization Name :WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Mailing Address :P.O. Box 7921

Citation :Madison

State :WI

Zip Code :53707

Project Information:

Approach :We will apply this new knowledge and our enhanced modeling tools to a case study of the North Fork of Pheasant Branch near Madison, Wisconsin. An abundance of data, several ongoing research projects, and a high level of public interest make this an excellent research site. We will construct comparable land use/water management scenarios for this watershed, including "low-impact development" designs, and evaluate their approximate economic costs, social/political acceptability, and hydrologic and ecological impacts. We will use extant groundwater and surface water models calibrated for the region and structurally modified by the research team to correctly simulate the infiltration practices, thermal pollution, well locations and pumping schedules, and wastewater treatment options. We will examine urban impacts on wetlands, especially their bio-diversity, and determine which native species can thrive in constructed urban bio-retention wetlands. We will evaluate farmer behaviors needed to reduce high soil P concentrations in agricultural lands that are likely to be converted to urban development. We will model water clarity and algal bloom responses to scenarios of P loading changes downstream in Lake Mendota. Finally, we will evaluate the social and institutional barriers to low-impact development through interviews and focus groups with engineers, planners, homeowners and other key players.

Cost :$886,105.00

Research Component :Water and Watersheds

Project IDs:

ID Code :R828010

Project type :EPA Grant