Before you can effectively understand the transport of water quality constituents through the natural environment, an understanding of how water moves within and through the watershed is essential. Human activities, vegetation cover and local geology all affect how precipitation is distributed throughout a watershed and back into aquifers, rivers and streams. This presentation will describe an ongoing USGS watershed modeling project designed to understand and identify key hydrologic processes in the Pomperaug River watershed located in western Connecticut. The model will be used to simulate the affects of local land and water use changes, and how these changes affect stream flows, aquifer recharge, and overall water availability. This information can then be used to help understand the potential water quality effects of land use, and the transport of contaminants through the environment. The model results will serve as the basis for developing a comprehensive watershed management strategy by providing a tool to evaluate the effectiveness of various management scenarios to meet watershed management goals.
Back to Environmental Chemistry Session
Back to The 33rd Northeast Regional Meeting (July 14-17, 2005)