Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographies.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2006. / Principal faculty advisor: Gerald J. Kauffman, Institute for Public Administration. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 95, 55 p. : ill. (some col.), maps (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D. - Hydrology and Water Resources)--University of Arizona. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-128).

M.A. / The management of the stormwater flow and other related environmental issues within the catchment of the Fourways Spruit have been investigated against the background of accepted management practices in other countries throughout the world. The local conditions and aspects that had an influence on the stormwater flow patterns and an impact on the environment along the Fourways Spruit have been taken into account in the study. The research problem has been divided into three main categories, namely the stormwater flow in the Fourways Spruit and the management of it, the related urban environmental problems, and the social problems related to the urban development and stormwater flow in the Spruit. Each category has been divided further into sub-categories in order to obtain indepth information on every aspect and to conduct a proper evaluation of the main problem. The existing situation as well as the problems that can be expected in the catchment was analysed in order to confirm the exact nature of the problem. Apart from the general problems associated with urbanisation and an increase in stormwater flow patterns, a number of specific problems were identified for each category. It became evident that the increase in the stormwater flow patterns in the catchment area of the Fourways Spruit was not managed in terms of accepted stormwater management practices. Certain sections of the streambed has degraded to such an extent as a result of the erosion that took place over years, that serious rehabilitation and maintenance work will be necessary in an attempt to restore the functionality of the Spruit and also to manage the stormwater flow to a certain extent. In addition, a number of new attenuation structures and measures will have to be introduced to manage the anticipated stormwater flow volumes in the future. The degrading of the stream and the natural vegetated areas along it has resulted in an accumulation of problems, also affecting the environmental and social aspects. Natural floral and faunal habitats were destroyed as a result of the erosion of the streambed and the removal of natural vegetation by replacing it with cut lawns and landscaped gardens. The large commercial component in the catchment further contributed to the environmental and aesthetic problems due to the abnormally large areas of paved surfaces resulting in the inflow of high volumes of polluted water and litter into the Fourways Spruit. The Fourways Spruit has the qualities and capabilities to function as a drainage system where the stormwater flow can be attenuated to acceptable levels. The areas along the Spruit can also function as an open space system for formal and informal recreational purposes. Suitable areas should be demarcated where the natural and safe habitats can be preserved or restored to improve the abundance and diversity of bird and animal life. A number of proposals and recommendations have been made which will improve the current condition of the Fourways Spruit. In essence, it is recommended that all the various plans, proposals, and initiatives be integrated into one workable document, namely, a Stormwater Management Plan. The recommendations and proposals regarding the necessary rehabilitation and maintenance to the streambed will improve the physical condition of the Fourways Spruit and will have in immediate positive visual impact. As the majority of problems that have been identified can be related to environmental management, the impact of the recommendations on the surrounding environment and the effectiveness of the proposed management structures and control measures will only be visible over a longer term. Should a Stormwater Management Plan, as recommended, not be prepared and implemented, it will have a serious negative impact on the Fourways Spruit, the surrounding environment, and the community living in the area.

With the increasing importance of network planning for water resource management and inventory of supply of water there is need for new analytical methods of estimating flows from sparsely gauged regions. A new approach to estimating mean annual runoff was proposed by Solomon et al. and reported in "Water Resources Research" journal, Volume 4, October 1968. In this technique both meteorological and hydrological information are used to assess the mean annual precipitation, temperature and runoff distribution over large areas. The study area is broken up into a large number of squares and physiographic parameters are determined for each square; available meteorological data are used to derive multiple linear regression equations which relate precipitation and temperature to physiographic parameters and from these equations precipitation, temperature and evaporation are estimated for each square; runoff is obtained by subtracting evaporation from precipitation for each square and the runoff from all the squares is summed to obtain an estimate of the runoff for the entire basin; if the computed runoff disagrees with the recorded runoff, the precipitation for each square is adjusted and the procedure is repeated until the computed runoff approaches the observed runoff to the desired degree. The method has already been applied to a region in British Columbia with promising results. In the following study, use of the available basic data have been made to develop a seasonal estimate approach to the "grid square" method and in particular to consider the evaporation component and the possible incorporation of snow course data, two components which have not yet been adequately developed for use in the method under British Columbia conditions. Considering the evaporation component, it was found that apart from Turc's formula, used in the original grid square method, the Thornthwaite evapotranspiration method was the only other practical method for estimating evapotranspiration over wide areas as required by the grid square method. An attempt at an independent comparison of the two methods on an evaporation basis alone proved to be inconclusive due to the lack of adequate data but a comparison in actual computer trials of the grid square method showed that on basis of the first estimate of runoff distribution the Thornthwaite approach gave significantly better results. To incorporate the snow course data into the grid square method several approaches were taken in which an attempt at estimating on a seasonal basis the melt prior to April 1st, the date of snow surveys, was unsuccessful but showed insignificant melt which was subsequently ignored and an attempt at estimating annual precipitation at snow courses to supplement the meteorological station data was also unsuccessful. However, an attempt in which the snow course data was added to a segregated winter precipitation estimate at the meteorological stations proved to be successful and gave a small but significant improvement to the first estimate of regional precipitation and runoff distribution thus amplifying the potential use of snow course data in supplementing meteorological data for defining more clearly the regional variation of precipitation. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

Unit hydrographs are derived for four watersheds in the Lower Fraser Valley using a computerized least squares technique. These unit hydrographs are then related to specific basin characteristics so that synthetic unit hydrographs can be constructed for the ungauged basins in the area. After attempting several techniques to relate the unit hydrographs to basin characteristics both the time-to-peak and the peak flow were related to the basin slope, shape, channel length and degree of urbanization. To more fully define the synthetic unit hydrograph shape, the unit hydrograph widths at 50 per cent and 75 per cent of the peak flow were related to the peak flow. In this way five points can be used to establish the unit hydrograph shape (one for the peak and four for the widths). Other results included estimates of average infiltration rates for each basin calculated from rainfall and runoff data. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

Microtopography is an important factor in hydrologic processes. The purpose of this research was to study the effects of microtopography on runoff generation. Specifically, this was performed through an array of physical experimentation comparing “rough” and “smooth” surfaces under natural and simulated rainfall. Utilizing these types of rainfalls required experimentation to take place in both field and laboratory settings. The range of control factors in this study varied from surface microtopography to soil type, rainfall intensity/pattern, and ambient moisture content. The recorded results of the laboratory study were further compared with the output of a puddle-to-puddle (P2P) overland flow model. The physical experiments showed a trend initially favoring neither the rough nor smooth surface in runoff production. However, in subsequent experiments the rough surface appeared to substantially increase runoff production relative to the smooth surface. Additionally, good agreement was found between the results of the physical experimentation and the model.

No description available.

Polyacrylamide (PAM) is often used a part of a treatment train for the treatment of stormwater to reduce its turbidity. This study investigated the application of PAM within various treatment systems for a construction site environment. The general concept is to introduce hydraulic principles when placing PAM blocks within an open channel in order to yield high mixing energies leading to high turbidity removal efficiency. The first part of the study observed energy variation using a hydraulic flume for three dissimilar configurations. The flume was ultimately used to determine which configuration would be most beneficial when transposed into field-scale conditions. Three different configurations were tested in the flume, namely, the Jump configuration, Dispersion configuration and the Staggered configuration. The field-scale testing served as both justification of the findings within the controlled hydraulic flume and comprehension of the elements introduced within the field when attempting to reduce the turbidity of stormwater. As a result, the Dispersion configuration proved to be the most effective when removing turbidity and displayed a greater energy used for mixing within the open channel. Consequently, an analysis aid is developed based on calculations from the results of this study to better serve the sediment control industry when implementing PAM blocks within a treatment system. Recommendations are made for modification and future applications of the research conducted. This innovative approach has great potential for expansion and future applications. Continued research on this topic can expand on key elements such as solubility of the PAM, toxicity of the configuration within the field, and additional configurations that may yield more advantageous energy throughout the open channel.