Suburban Stormwater Runoff: The Sope Creek Case Study

Abstract

Storm runoff is a suburban basin is compared to stormwater runoff in a forested reference basin of comparable size. Elevated loads of nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, suspended sediment, dissolved solid load, two herbicides and a pesticide are seen in the suburban basin. Management strategies must focus on comprehensive land use controls to mitigate effects of storm runoff on water quality.