Intra-Annual Variations in Streamflow and Urbanization Effects on Watersheds

Learn about the impact of urbanization on watershed hydrology through a 20-minute conference talk from the Georgia Water Resources Conference that analyzes streamflow variations between urban and rural watersheds. Examine seven years of daily streamflow data from 90 watersheds in the Atlanta region, focusing on how urban development affects maximum flow, mean flow, median flow, and minimum flow patterns throughout the year. Discover how urban watersheds experience up to four times higher maximum flows during late summer and early fall compared to rural areas, while showing reduced baseflows during winter and spring months. Understand the role of wastewater treatment plants and their seasonal discharge patterns, as well as the significant impact of inflow and infiltration in urban sewer systems on watershed hydrology. Gain insights into how different types of urban development (open space vs. high-intensity) influence streamflow characteristics and how soil-water storage affects seasonal variations in watershed behavior.