Temperature Mitigation of Urban Stormwater Discharge via Construction Aggregates

to all who are wondering what the hell I'm doing in grad school, I decided to edit a recent abstract of my research in the blog editor...perhaps I can be the first one to blog my thesis? I'd be the first one then to close the browser window and lose it all at once, too.

Above: Kraut Creek on the campus of Appalachian State. This is indeed a state designated trout stream. Daily thunderstorms due to orographic effects May - July regularly transfer to this creek all the day's heat of urban surfaces (sidewalk, roofs, street, etc) creating temperature spikes downstream of 17 F within minutes of precip onset. Point source temperature measurments at stormwater discharge locals has been measured as high as 145 F. Coffee anyone?
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Temperature analysis in upland watersheds has demonstrated that urban stormwater discharge presents significant thermal pollution concerns. High mountain streams are characteristically lower in volume and higher in flow rate compared to lowland creeks and rivers. These and other characteristics specific to upland streams implies a much stronger influence from discharge sources. As urban development continues to pervade mountainous regions, thermal pollution concerns due to profoundly high stormwater discharge temperatures are mounting.

Construction aggregates are commonly implemented as a point source stormwater mitigation agent to aid in sediment filtration and thermal damping. This research is an evaluation of how specific arrangements of aggregates, such as gravel or concrete, actually effect the discharge temperatures before final release into the watershed. Initial results from this experimentation are indicating positive results for thermal sink capacities of various aggreate materials. It appears likely that many thermal concerns can be resolved through proper implementation of aggregate thermal sinks, even given strict confined space conditions. It is intended that results or conclusions from this experiment will contribute to a reformulation of upland construction codes to better differentiate and accomodate location specific methods of development and to recommend specific engineering guidelines.