As land cover throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed is modified and climate patterns alter, changes in runoff occur which can impact water quality. A study was conducted using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for the James River watershed in Virginia, the southernmost tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, for 1986 to 2018. A comparison of land cover changes throughout that time frame was included in the analysis. Land cover data was derived from satellite imagery with values extracted using Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis. The SWAT model was run within the web-based Hydrologic and Water Quality System (HAWQS). The research focuses on land use, precipitation, and water quality indicators. Findings suggest links between land cover modification, such as residential development, to degraded water quality indicators. Also denoted are direct improvements in water quality when forest land areas are preserved throughout the watershed terrain.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MSSTATE/oai:scholarsjunction.msstate.edu:td-5001 |
| Date | 25 November 2020 |
| Creators | Delia, Kristina |
| Publisher | Scholars Junction |
| Source Sets | Mississippi State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
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