Assessing the Impacts of Stormwater Runoff from I-59 to a Headwater Stream in Central Alabama

Abstract

Some studies have shown that stormwater runoff may have constituents that cause adverse impacts to aquatic ecosystems. Vari- ous related studies have focused either on characterizing the runoff directly generated on roads or on the effectiveness of vari- ous pollutant removal techniques. This work presents and discusses the results of an ongoing investigation on the impact of stormwater runoff from an interstate highway measured at a receiving stream. Water samples were collected at selected points and hydrological and water quality parameters were continuously monitored in selected stations. Quality parameters included nitrogen and phosphorus species, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids and total solids, pH, turbidity, specific conductivity and temperature. Ongoing work attempts to establish a relationship between highway traffic, time between rain events, rainfall depth and changes in water quality parameters in the stream as a result of road runoff. The purpose of this study is to quantify and assess road impacts on a small Alabama watershed and how it differs from impacts caused by other land uses in watersheds, and whether traffic and the proximity of an interstate highway are related to such impacts