Cummulative effects of land use practices on water quality. Swank, W. Pages 409-421 in N, 1994.
Cummulative effects of land use practices on water quality. [pdf]Paper  abstract   bibtex   
Trends in water quality parameters (ions, pH, turbility, conductivity, termperature, faecal and total bacteria, and streptococus within a Southern Appalachian stream-order gradient were related to cumulative changes in landscapes variables. Water samples collected bi-weekl at six stations along a first- to fifth order stream gradient, and landscape variables (hydrography, landcover, roads, slope, surficial, geology, bedrock geology, soils) were mapped for the contributing watersheds above each station. Water quality was high under baseflow conditions in the predominantly forested study area, with solute concentrations usually less than 1 mg l-1 and turbidity values less than 3 NTU, with small, consistent increases downstream. In contrast, large, steep gradients in water quality paramenters were observed under stormflow conditions, in some cases increasing three- to six- fold. A number of water quality parameters (Cl-, K+, Na+, Ca+, Mg+, SO42-,SiO2, turbidity, faecal streptococcus, and faecal coliform) exhibited significant linear relationships with a number of landscape variables (percent non-forest, structure density, and paved road density).

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