This study explores the current state of knowledge with respect to the effects of wet weather flows from urban areas on the physical character of aquatic habitat. It identifies knowledge gaps with respect to our ability to define the cause-effect relationships, examines the comprehensiveness of the data used in support of the published literature in the subject area, and makes a qualitative determination of the usefulness of those data for further analysis to increase our knowledge in the subject area. Finally, it recommends further research studies that will increase our knowledge in the...

A large portion of impaired waterways are located in or near urban areas and are adversely influenced by stormwater-borne solids. The solids have negative impacts on receiving water systems including loss of aquatic habitat, channel instability, and the transport of harmful pollutants potentially hazardous to human and ecosystem health. The current methods for sampling, handling, and analyzing stormwater solids don't lead to a good understanding of these effects on receiving waters.
The purpose of the study is to develop a draft protocol addressing sampling, analysis, and reporting...

This research study explores the relationship of urbanization to ecology in the wadeable streams of developing watersheds and describes a protocol, which urban stormwater management agencies can apply in their jurisdiction, to prevent the severe ecologic deterioration that presently occurs in urban streams as a watershed develops. The protocol comprises an 8-step process that involves data collection and analysis integrated with mathematical modeling of runoff from existing and proposed urban development to determine how biologic health indices such as the benthic index of biotic integrity...