Poster Abstract Details

Author(s):
James E. Gleason B.G. Lockaby

Affiliation:
School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Auburn University Auburn, Alabama

Presentation Type:
Poster

Topic Area:
Alteration of natural disturbances due to urbanization

Abstract Text:
An Analysis of Urban Development and Its Impact on the Apalachicola Bay Watershed, Franklin County, Florida Twelve sampling locations are currently being monitored in Franklin County as part of an ongoing research project to quantify water quality inputs to Apalachicola Bay along a gradient of urbanization. Biological, chemical and hydrological measurements are being conducted at all sampling locations biweekly during winter and then monthly during the remainder of the year. The research goals for this project include (1) monitoring pollutant concentrations and loads and instream hydrological conditions (ions, sediment, fecal coliforms, stream discharge) from contributing land areas to determine if a relationship exists between current land cover/land use and instream water quality conditions, (2) using regression and correlation analyses to assess variation in instream water quality conditions across multiple land use/land cover categories, and (3) developing tools for watershed managers to better predict potential water quality impacts and mitigation strategies in urban settings. This project seeks to build upon established scientific understanding of the relationship between instream hydrological, chemical, and biological conditions and current conditions in the surrounding landscape using geographical information systems technology and remotely-sensed data. Preliminary results, based on significant regressions of percent impervious surface and water quality variables, indicate statistically significant positive relationships between impervious surface and nitrate, ammonium, calcium, potassium and sulfate concentrations, total carbon and pH within watersheds. These types of assessments will help to mitigate future development impacts in an effort to preserve water quality in coastal watersheds along Apalachicola Bay under increasing development pressure.