Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
Urbanization is a major factor impacting groundwater-surface water interactions in streams. Development of urban areas increases impervious surfaces leading to more surface runoff to small, concentrated areas. Retention ponds are one solution that collects surface runoff; however, the release of stormwater from retention ponds into small streams can often lead to substantial changes to the stream's structure and functioning. One impacted area due to a retention pond is Strawberry Creek located in Williamsburg, VA. Due to discharge from the retention pond, there is massive erosion that has created an incision of 25 feet over the last 20 years. Surface water temperature, streambed hydraulic conductivity, and vertical hydraulic gradient were measured to understand the impact of a retention pond on Strawberry Creek. Results were compared to Pogonia Creek, a healthy, unimpacted stream. Strawberry Creek displayed variable surface water temperatures of alternating sections of warming and cooling. Temperature was significantly warmer and had a larger temperature range at Strawberry Creek. The stream had more conductive streambed sediment ranging from 0.93 ft/day to 4 ft/day in comparison to Pogonia Creek with low conductive sediment of 0.16 ft/day to 0.43 ft/day. The vertical hydraulic gradient was more variable and larger at Strawberry Creek with more groundwater discharging back into the stream draining the underlying aquifer. The objective of this research is to better understand how and to what extent groundwater-surface water interactions are changing in urbanized watersheds.
Date Awarded
Spring 2023
Department
Geology
Advisor 1
Dominick M. Ciruzzi
Recommended Citation
Mullen, Jennie, "The Impact of a Retention Pond on Downstream Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions" (2023). Geology Senior Theses. William & Mary. Paper 53.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/geologyseniors/53
