Stormwater Management
↑ Impervious Cover → ↓ Permeable Surfaces → ↑ Rainwater to waterways
↑ Fertilizer use → ↑ Input to groundwater & runoff → ↑ Nutrients to waterways
↓ Human & animal waste management → ↑ Input into groundwater & runoff → ↑ Pathogens & bacteria to waterways
↑ Fertilizer use → ↑ Input to groundwater & runoff → ↑ Nutrients to waterways
↓ Human & animal waste management → ↑ Input into groundwater & runoff → ↑ Pathogens & bacteria to waterways
Tributary water quality is largely linked to stormwater runoff and discharge. Stormwater runoff is water from rain and snowmelt that cannot be absorbed by the ground and accumulates on streets, parking lots, and other hard surfaces, causing flooding. To reduce flooding, storm drains are installed on roadsides and parking lots as a place for water to flow down, through pipes underground, and out outfall pipes into local waterways. Stormwater is problematic because it flows over the ground, collecting and carrying with it chemicals, trash, nutrients, and other pollutants along the way. Stormwater drains are not filtered because they need to quickly remove water and prevent flooding, so these pollutants are not removed and easily make their way into our local waters. Stormwater is a significant source of pollution to our waterways.
Stormwater pollution and amount is directly related to the Impervious Cover (IC) of the watershed, or surrounding area. IC, like pavement, parking lots, and other hard surfaces, are unable to absorb stormwater and can lead to flooding. Increased IC also reduces the amount of permeable surfaces that can naturally absorb and filter the stormwater as well as increases the area that stormwater travels over, increasing chances of washing pollution down the storm drains.
Additionally, when stormwater runs off impervious surfaces, it can be heated and cause increases in temperature of surface waters in our bays. This can affect species that have lower temperature limits or can stimulate algal growth. Also, stormwater is freshwater and is generally warm, which makes it more buoyant than salty, cold bay water. When stormwater enters bays or oceans, it floats on top of the saltier water, causing stratification or layering of the water. These layers don't mix well, which causes a problem for distribution of oxygen to the bottom or flushing out turbid, sediment-filled water that can accumulate at the bottom. This can be especially problematic for benthic species like crabs and shellfish and any SAV present in the area, as well as species that rely on these.
Stormwater pollution and amount is directly related to the Impervious Cover (IC) of the watershed, or surrounding area. IC, like pavement, parking lots, and other hard surfaces, are unable to absorb stormwater and can lead to flooding. Increased IC also reduces the amount of permeable surfaces that can naturally absorb and filter the stormwater as well as increases the area that stormwater travels over, increasing chances of washing pollution down the storm drains.
Additionally, when stormwater runs off impervious surfaces, it can be heated and cause increases in temperature of surface waters in our bays. This can affect species that have lower temperature limits or can stimulate algal growth. Also, stormwater is freshwater and is generally warm, which makes it more buoyant than salty, cold bay water. When stormwater enters bays or oceans, it floats on top of the saltier water, causing stratification or layering of the water. These layers don't mix well, which causes a problem for distribution of oxygen to the bottom or flushing out turbid, sediment-filled water that can accumulate at the bottom. This can be especially problematic for benthic species like crabs and shellfish and any SAV present in the area, as well as species that rely on these.
The map to the right shows the respective watersheds of the tributaries we studied. All three (Patchogue River, Tuthill's Creek, Corey Creek) drain into Patchogue Bay. The intensity of red indicates the Impervious Cover (IC) percentage of the region, with the dark red areas having all impervious cover and no permeable surfaces. Patchogue River (PR) has the largest watershed and covers 36 sq km and has 31% IC. Tuthill's Creek (TC) is a has a smaller watershed with 7.0 sq km but has the greatest IC percentage at 41%. Corey Creek (CC) has the smallest watershed in this study, covering only 2.9 sq km, with a similar IC as PR with 35% IC. These differences in watershed size and IC percentage likely relate to the overall health of these tributaries. |
Percent Impervious Cover or the three tributaries in the Patchogue region, Patchogue River (PR), Tuthill's Creek (TC), and Corey Creek (CC).
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