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Storm Water Runoff Analysis on the U of A Campus

 

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This project was developed through a collaboraive effort between CAST and Facilities Management at the University of Arkansas. Furthermore, it became also the research topic for a Honor's thesis by Keshia Koehn, one of CAST's student employee. The topic of this research focused on analyzing stormwater runoff using a combined GIS and Curve Number approach.

Stormwater runoff accumulates and transports nutrients, sediments, chemicals, and pathogens to surface water bodies. This study seeks to develop a methodology to study existing University of Arkansas campus stormwater drainage runoff by combining two widely-used prediction models.

The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Curve Number (CN) Method calculates quantitative runoff values for specified areas. The flow direction model, as defined here, integrates topographic, land-use, hydrography, and stormwater management infrastructure in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to produce a map of runoff flow direction. These two methods complement each other, and, when combined, would contribute to a better understanding of stormwater runoff.

This study uses the Curve Number method and flow direction models to develop a water flow rate/direction model. Results will help campus planners to better visualize localized runoff, adapt existing drainage networks to accommodate stormwater runoff, prevent flooding and erosion, and reduce pollutant loads in high runoff zones.

For a PDF presentation about this project, please click here.
For more information on this project please contact Turn on JavaScript!.