Education

Research Description

Water quality monitoring and modeling and BMP evaluation

Publications

Natural Infrastructure Practices as Potential Flood Storage and Reduction for Farms and Rural Communities in the North Carolina Coastal Plain

Hovis, M., Hollinger, J. C., Cubbage, F., Shear, T., Doll, B., Kurki-Fox, J. J., … Potter, T. (2021), SUSTAINABILITY. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169309

NUTRIENT EXPORT FROM AGRICULTURAL WATERSHEDS IN THE PIEDMONT AND COASTAL PLAIN, NORTH CAROLINA

Line, D. E., Osmond, D. L., & Childres, W. (2019), TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASABE, 62(5), 1135–1145. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.13052

A Bayesian total uncertainty analysis framework for assessment of management practices using watershed models

Tasdighi, A., Arabi, M., Harmel, D., & Line, D. (2018), ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE, 108, 240–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2018.08.006

Effectiveness of livestock exclusion in a pasture of Central North Carolina

Line, D. E., Osmond, D. L., & Childres, W. (2016), Journal of Environmental Quality, 45(6), 1926–1932. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2016.03.0089

Runoff and pollutant export from a LID subdivision in North Carolina

Line, D. E., & White, N. M. (2016), Journal of Environmental Engineering (New York, N.Y.), 142(1). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)ee.1943-7870.0001018

Effects of livestock exclusion and stream restoration on the water quality of a North Carolina stream

Line, D. E. (2015), Transactions of the ASABE, 58(6), 1547–1557.

Metrics for assessing thermal performance of stormwater control measures

Wardynski, B. J., Winston, R. J., Line, D. E., & Hunt, W. F. (2014), Ecological Engineering, 71, 551–562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.07.068

Estimating suspended solids from turbidity in the Robeson Creek, NC watershed

Line, D. E., Hall, K. R., & Blackwell, J. D. (2013), Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 49(6), 1412–1420. https://doi.org/10.1111/jawr.12094

Effectiveness of LID for commercial development in North Carolina

, (2012). Journal of Environmental Engineering (New York, N.Y.), 138(6), 680–688.

LID treatment train: Pervious concrete with subsurface storage in series with bioretention and care with seasonal high water tables

Brown, R. A., Line, D. E., & Hunt, W. F. (2012), Journal of Environmental Engineering (New York, N.Y.), 138(6), 689–697. https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)ee.1943-7870.0000506

View all publications via NC State Libraries

Grants

Characterizing Water Quality Status, Trends and Potential Watershed Management Opportunities from NPDES Stormwater Data

NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund(9/16/20 - 5/31/22)

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Characterizing Water Quality Status, Trends and Potential Watershed Management Opportunities from NPDES Stormwater Data

Sponsor: NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund

Start Date: 9/16/20

End Date: 5/31/22

Abstract

The proposed research will utilize geospatial and statistical analyses combined with water quality modeling to evaluate a large water quality database for streams located within the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. The data will be provided by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Stormwater Services (CMSWS) including 15 years of monthly grab samples, data from automated ISCO samplers, data collected at YSI monitoring stations and annual macroinvertebrate data. The overall goal of the proposed project is to identify future monitoring, management and planning decisions that North Carolina municipalities can employ to better protect and restore urban stream water quality. To achieve this goal, extensive statistical analyses and watershed modeling will be conducted. In addition, contemporary watershed models and watershed pollutant load estimation tools will be employed to individual sub-watersheds of specific stream sampling locations in order to identify which models and tools best predict water quality of Charlotte’s highly urbanized streams.

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Predicting Roadway Washout Locations During Extreme Rainfall Events

NC Department of Transportation(1/01/21 - 12/31/22)

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Predicting Roadway Washout Locations During Extreme Rainfall Events

Sponsor: NC Department of Transportation

Start Date: 1/01/21

End Date: 12/31/22

Abstract

Recent extreme rainfall events have revealed the transportation network’s vulnerabilities to road washouts. Currently, NC DOT reacts to these problems as are reported from the field. This inability to predict where washouts are likely to occur leads to long response times and inefficient positioning of resources. The availability of high quality statewide elevation data, historical rainfall records and advances in computer processing presents the opportunity to modify and develop programs to predict where washouts are likely to occur during extreme rainfall events. The purpose of this project is to develop models and test several approaches for predicting crossing washouts based on forecasted rainfall. A team of NCSU BAE engineers will first characterize and analyze historical washouts during extreme events. Then, detailed HEC-HMS models will be developed and calibrated and validated for one watershed in each physiographic region. A user interface will be created to run the models using forecasted rainfall, relate the predicted discharge to potential washouts using water surface elevation-discharge relationships, and then output the results for display in a GIS map. The model output for a large number of historical events will then be used to test different machine learning algorithms for their ability to predict discharge and potential washout locations. The information on historical washouts and the model predictions will be used to develop a network of “safe” routes for each watershed. The results will help determine if existing hydrologic models can be leveraged to accurately predict potential washout locations and to evaluate if machine learning technology can be employed for accurate flood prediction. This project has the potential to substantially enhance NC DOT’s ability to respond to storm events and position resources appropriately. Results will be disseminated in NC DOT meetings, a training workshop for NC DOT personnel, and through extension factsheets and academic publications.

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Evaluating the Capacity of Natural Infrastructure for Flood Abatement at the Watershed Scale

Environmental Defense Fund(5/20/19 - 2/19/20)

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Evaluating the Capacity of Natural Infrastructure for Flood Abatement at the Watershed Scale

Sponsor: Environmental Defense Fund

Start Date: 5/20/19

End Date: 2/19/20

Abstract

Upper Coastal Plain communities have been plagued by flooding. Flash flooding along tributaries of the major rivers is an issue along with riverine flooding. NC Sea Grant and the Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department will conduct a study to identify and evaluate potential mitigation measures that could be taken to lessen the impacts of flooding across a range of storm event return periods. The objective of the proposed work is to evaluate the capacity of the large-scale implementation of natural infrastructure projects to mitigate flooding. This will be completed by conducting modeling case studies in two small Coastal Plain watersheds in the City of Goldsboro to evaluate the potential to decrease peak flow and lower water surface elevation (WSE) by converting agricultural land to timberland and restoring floodplains. Specifically, this project will seek to identify how much land conversion and restoration is needed to have a significant reduction in tributary flow and associated flood stage, and to identify the largest storm event at which these efforts can be expected to have a significant impact.

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City of Greensboro Stream and Lake Protection Project: Part II

Withers & Ravenel(6/07/18 - 9/30/19)

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City of Greensboro Stream and Lake Protection Project: Part II

Sponsor: Withers & Ravenel

Start Date: 6/07/18

End Date: 9/30/19

Abstract

Project is to monitor discharge and sediment load in a stream and lake in Greensboro.

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Stormwater Runoff Monitoring and Analysis for Aviation Mode Facilities

NC Department of Transportation(8/01/18 - 9/30/20)

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Stormwater Runoff Monitoring and Analysis for Aviation Mode Facilities

Sponsor: NC Department of Transportation

Start Date: 8/01/18

End Date: 9/30/20

Abstract

Airports in North Carolina are currently considered as industrial sites for stormwater permits by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). This can lead to costly expenses incurred by airports to meet federally-mandated, state-administered stormwater requirements. Preliminary data collected at Wilmington International Airport (ILM) suggest that the air side of airports may, in fact, behave much more similarly to a residential Low Impact Development (LID) than an industrial facility. This is due to the disconnection of impervious surfaces (namely, the runway and taxiway), where runoff flows over large swaths of turf (or other) grass. This project proposes to examine a pair more airports located in a non-sandy part of the state (tentatively: BUY, Burlington, and INT, Smith-Reynolds in Winston-Salem), to determine if (at least a portion of) the air side of airports can be exempt from stormwater industrial permits. The assessment will be based upon hydrology (volume and peak rates) and water quality (pollutant concentrations and loads) leaving different air side landuses (ramp, taxi way, vegetated treatment areas, e.g.). The results collected herein would be compared to LID projects monitored in the Piedmont of NC and would provide NCDOT the necessary information and data to argue for a potential re-classification of airports from a stormwater permit perspective. This would, in the end, provide potentially substantial financial relief to many aviation facilities across North Carolina.

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Upper Durant Lake Retrofit Alternatives Analysis

Raleigh, NC(1/19/18 - 12/31/19)

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Upper Durant Lake Retrofit Alternatives Analysis

Sponsor: Raleigh, NC

Start Date: 1/19/18

End Date: 12/31/19

Abstract

NC Sea Grant and NC State University’s Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department (BAE) will evaluate alternatives for the best long-term management and use of Upper Durant Lake within the City of Raleigh's Durant Nature Preserve. Because of the significantly reduced capacity of the lake due to decades of sedimentation, a failing outlet structure, and the structurally compromised spillway and embankment, the City recognizes the need identify opportunities for repairing and modifying the existing lake to improve water quality protection, ecosystem services, flood control, recreational and educational opportunities. NCSU BAE will thereby conduct a watershed and site assessment and develop engineering alternatives for the Lake.

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Flood Abatement for Neuse, Tar, and Lumber Rivers

NC Department of Transportation(2/01/18 - 6/30/20)

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Flood Abatement for Neuse, Tar, and Lumber Rivers

Sponsor: NC Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2/01/18

End Date: 6/30/20

Abstract

Recent major flooding events of the Neuse, Tar, and Lumber Rivers have highlighted the need to identify the causes of the flooding and to assess potential abatement and mitigation measures. The purpose of this project is to apply hydrologic, hydraulic and geospatial modeling and analyses to the Neuse, Tar, and Lumber River Basins to better understand the source(s) and nature of flooding in the Basins and assess potential abatement measures. The NC State University Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department (NCSU BAE) is currently conducting a flood assessment study for the Town of Windsor and the Cashie River in Bertie County. Processes, methods and lessons learned from the Cashie River study will be applied to the Neuse, Tar, and Lumber River Basins. NCSU BAE will use a team of engineers and an integrated approach to model and evaluate landuse changes, extreme flood events, structures and floodplain encroachments. Model results will be used to document the relative contributions of subwatersheds within the basin, landuse changes, precipitation patterns, structures and floodplain encroachments to downstream flooding and to assess the effectiveness of potential abatement measures. The study will include analysis of historical, current and future hydrologic, hydraulic and geospatial conditions within the three river Basins.

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Evaluation of Nutrient Reduction Crediting Strategies for Stream Restoration

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)(10/01/17 - 8/31/18)

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Evaluation of Nutrient Reduction Crediting Strategies for Stream Restoration

Sponsor: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Start Date: 10/01/17

End Date: 8/31/18

Abstract

The NC Division of Water Resources (DWR) has developed draft standards for awarding nutrient credits for stream restoration efforts. The proposed guidance borrows heavily from the current Chesapeake Bay Protocol (CBP). The credit considers three potential nutrient credit elements for stream restoration projects including 1) prevented sediment during storm flow, 2) instream denitrification during base flow and 3) floodplain reconnection. The first element concerns lowering nutrients by reducing stream bank and bed erosion, the second by enhancing the hyporheic zone of the stream and the third by reducing channel size and/or increasing floodplain area. NC Sea Grant and NC State University Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department will review and refine the draft protocol in an effort to assist DWR in developing a practical and appropriate nutrient crediting framework for eligible stream restoration projects with a goal of acheiving nutrient reductions in Nutrient Management Strategy watersheds. Specifically, Sea Grant and NCSU will conduct a review of the draft standards and test the proposed nutrient credit calculation methods on four case study restoration projects in order to: 1) quantify the level of effort necessary to prepare nutrient credit estimates, 2) identify opportunities to address shortcomings and simplify the proposed credit standards and 3) where appropriate, develop modified nutrient credit standards for improving application and accuracy of reduction estimates. In addition, USGS gage station data analysis will be conducted at five streams in order to evaluate relationships in channel size, hydrology, watershed size and floodplain flow frequency. Field survey, assessment and modeling of case study restored streams and modeling of USGS gaged streams will be conducted for this effort.

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Town of Windsor Flood Reduction Feasibility Study

Bertie County(6/01/17 - 6/30/18)

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Town of Windsor Flood Reduction Feasibility Study

Sponsor: Bertie County

Start Date: 6/01/17

End Date: 6/30/18

Abstract

The Town of Windsor has recently experienced severe flooding from several large hurricane and tropical storm events that has resulted in substantial structural flooding and associated damage. The town is actively mitigating the damage through buyout and retrofitting programs. However, due to the historic significance of the town combined with serving as the economic center of Bertie County, there is also a strong desire to protect the future of the town by reducing the frequency and magnitude of future flood events. This proposal outlines a flood reduction feasibility study that is intended to identify appropriate engineering options and best management practices targeted at reducing runoff and surface flow reaching the Cashie River from the watershed and its tributaries and for reducing the direct flow of water into the town during river flooding events. The study will help Windsor and Bertie County to prioritize appropriate approaches for reducing flooding.

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Demonstration and Evaluation of Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance (RSC) as a BMP to Reduce Nutrient Pollution from Agricultural Sources to Surface Waters

NC Department of Justice (NCDOJ)(6/01/17 - 12/31/21)

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Demonstration and Evaluation of Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance (RSC) as a BMP to Reduce Nutrient Pollution from Agricultural Sources to Surface Waters

Sponsor: NC Department of Justice (NCDOJ)

Start Date: 6/01/17

End Date: 12/31/21

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate and evaluate a regenerative stormwater conveyance (RSC) practice on a swine and beef farm in Randolph county. Discharge from two similar streams will be monitored prior to and following the installation of an RSC on one of the streams. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment loading in each stream will be statistically compared to determine the effectiveness of the RSC. Results will be presented in research articles and fact sheets.

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