Current Research

Research conducted in the BAE department at NC State University examined the effect of urban stormwater BMPs on runoff temperature in trout sensitive waters

Research Sites

Six urban stormwater BMPs in Western North Carolina were monitored to establish the effect they have on runoff temperature. Each monitoring site was paired with a nearby BMP in order to better compare monitoring results.

UNC-A Stormwater Wetland

This site receives runoff from a large parking lot on UNC-Asheville's campus. Runoff is carried to the site by an open channel and a buried pipe. The BMP effluent is discharged directly into a creek.

Botanical Garden Bioretention Area

This site receives runoff from a small visitor parking lot just down the road from the UNC-A campus. The BMP effluent is discharged directly into the same creek as the UNC-A wetland.

Caldwell County Bioretention Area

This bioretention area is located outside of the Caldwell County Library and Extension Office. It receives runoff from a relatively shaded parking lot and contains dense vegetation.

Lowe's Wet Pond

This wet pond receives runoff from a large Lowe's parking lot located in Caldwell County.

Brevard East Bioretention Area

This bioretention area is one of many nearby cells receiving runoff from a shopping center parking lot. This BMP is vegetated, but has a relatively shallow soil depth.

Brevard West Bioretention Area

This bioretention area is located immediately adjacent to the Brevard east bioretention area.

Monitoring Strategy

Monitoring data collected included:

  • Flow rates at all inlets and outlets
  • Water temperature at all inlets and outlets
  • Rainfall
  • Ambient air temperature
  • Water temperature of receiving creek
  • Temperature at different depths in the water or soil column

Researchers Involved

  • Matthew Jones (Ph.D. Student-BAE Department)
  • Dr. Bill Hunt (Project Advisor-BAE Department)
  • Dr. Dan Willits (BAE Department)
  • Eric Caldwell (Transylvania County Extension)
  • Allen Caldwell (Caldwell County Extension)
  • Seth Nagy (Caldwell County Extension)
  • Jon Calabria (BAE Extension Specialist)
  • Jason Zink (BAE Extension Specialist)
  • NC DENR - Division of Water Quality