Publication Details
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Exploring impacts of development and climate change on stormwater runoff
Author(s): Blair, A.; S. Lovelace; D. Sanger; A.F. Holland; L. Vandiver; S. White
NCCOS Center: HML
Publication Type: Journal Article
Journal Title: Hydrological Processes
Date of Publication: 2014
Reference Information: 28(5):
2844-2854
Keywords: climate change; coastal resource management; development; land use change; modeling; southeast coastal plain; stormwater runoff
Abstract: Stormwater runoff is a leading cause of non-point source pollution in urbanizing areas, and runoff effects will be exacerbated by climate's changing patterns of precipitation. To enhance understanding of impacts of development and climate change on stormwater runoff in small watersheds (< 6500?ha), we developed the Stormwater Runoff Modeling System (SWARM), a simple modeling system based on U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service curve number and unit hydrograph methods. The objective of this paper is to describe the applications possible with SWARM and to demonstrate its usefulness in exploring the impacts of development and climate change on runoff. Results encompass a range of impact scenarios. One development scenario shows that the amount of rainfall converted to runoff is 27% for an undeveloped area and 67% for a highly developed area. A climate scenario shows that the amount of rainfall converted to runoff in a medium developed area is 25% in drought conditions and 76% in wet conditions. User-friendly templates make SWARM a good tool for scientific research, for resource management and decision making, and for community science education. The modeling system also supports the investigation of social and economic impacts to communities as they adapt to increased development and climate change. Although we calibrated SWARM specifically to the southeast coastal plain, it can be applied to other regions by recalibrating parameters and modifying calculation templates.
Availability: Anne.Blair@noaa.gov
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