Development of Effective Procedures for Stormwater Thermal Pollution Potential Risk Mapping

Thermal pollution of waterbodies occurring from heated stormwater runoff in urban catchments is a growing concern among municipalities in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains regulatory criteria for temperature of waters of the U.S. as many species of aquatic life depend on an environment that maintains water temperatures below a certain threshold. Thermal pollution from urban stormwater runoff threatens the livelihoods of cold-water fish species, like trout, among other species of wildlife. In order to reduce thermal pollution loading to its streams, a municipality or regulatory authority must first identify the sources of thermal pollution in its waterbodies. This study predicts areas within an urban watershed in the Town of Blacksburg, VA that may be sources of thermal pollution in stormwater runoff by investigating indicators of thermal pollution potential (TPP) through and analysis of land cover types and runoff flow patterns in a geographic information system (GIS) environment. Results of the study provide a theoretical foundation for TPP risk mapping with recommendations for authorities interested in pursuing TPP risk mapping as a tool to guide and focus efforts toward reduction of thermal pollution and land planning.