Location
Parker-Reed, SSWAC
Start Date
1-5-2014 10:00 AM
End Date
1-5-2014 11:00 AM
Project Type
Poster- Restricted to Campus Access
Description
Natural resources such as land and waterways are often transformed by urban growth. Urban Stream Ecology is a new and growing field because of expanding urbanization and degradation of aquatic environments. Urban streams are facing a phenomenon called Urban Stream Syndrome that comes with many symptoms (Walsh et al. 2005). One of these sources of pollution comes from large-scale urban storm water runoff. Other sources include sewer overflows and waste water treatment plant effluents. Urban streams can also be negatively affected by physical changes made to the stream bed such as reduced access to riparian buffers, which allows more pollutants to enter the stream (Groffman et al. 2003). The effects of these stressors on urban streams include elevated nutrients, elevated contaminants, altered channel morphology, reduced biotic diversity, and increased dominance of tolerant species (Walsh et al. 2005). Ecologists and Limnologists are now studying the relationship of catchment impervious area to pollution inputs in streams. This type of management approach could be used to increase the health of the urban streams. Another method being employed is using advanced drainage designs that are effective in preventing waste water from reaching streams. In the end, urban streams are never going to be as healthy as remote forest streams because of their proximity to pollution and modified catchment. However, Limnologists are looking for ways to mitigate the stressors damaging urban streams.
Sponsoring Department
Colby College. Environmental Studies Program
CLAS Field of Study
Interdisciplinary Studies
Event Website
http://www.colby.edu/clas
ID
220
Recent Literature on the Causes and Consequences of Urban Stream Sydrome
Parker-Reed, SSWAC
Natural resources such as land and waterways are often transformed by urban growth. Urban Stream Ecology is a new and growing field because of expanding urbanization and degradation of aquatic environments. Urban streams are facing a phenomenon called Urban Stream Syndrome that comes with many symptoms (Walsh et al. 2005). One of these sources of pollution comes from large-scale urban storm water runoff. Other sources include sewer overflows and waste water treatment plant effluents. Urban streams can also be negatively affected by physical changes made to the stream bed such as reduced access to riparian buffers, which allows more pollutants to enter the stream (Groffman et al. 2003). The effects of these stressors on urban streams include elevated nutrients, elevated contaminants, altered channel morphology, reduced biotic diversity, and increased dominance of tolerant species (Walsh et al. 2005). Ecologists and Limnologists are now studying the relationship of catchment impervious area to pollution inputs in streams. This type of management approach could be used to increase the health of the urban streams. Another method being employed is using advanced drainage designs that are effective in preventing waste water from reaching streams. In the end, urban streams are never going to be as healthy as remote forest streams because of their proximity to pollution and modified catchment. However, Limnologists are looking for ways to mitigate the stressors damaging urban streams.
https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/clas/2014/program/178