Impervious Surfaces and Water Quality

In collaboration with NEMO, UConn’s Dr. Jack Clausen conducted a study comparing water quality parameters with impervious surface % for 15 basins in Connecticut (right). Water quality data was compiled for the years 1994-1999 from USGS gauging station records (stations are blue dots on map, right). Impervious cover was estimated using Dan Civco’s subpixel classifier method. In addition, the 1995 land cover data was used to check correlations between water quality and both urban and agricultural land cover, and between impervious surface and the urban land cover class.

Significant correlations were found between various water quality parameters and urban land cover, urban and agricultural land cover and impervious cover. The plot of total nitrogen to % impervious surface for the 15 watersheds is shown here. For more information, read Jack’s report.