Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Haney, Christa

Committee Member

Dyer, Jamie L.

Committee Member

Paul, Varun G.

Date of Degree

11-25-2020

Original embargo terms

Visible to MSU only for 1 Year

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Geosciences

Degree Name

Master of Science

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Geosciences

Department

Department of Geosciences

Abstract

As land cover throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed is modified and climate patterns alter, changes in runoff occur which can impact water quality. A study was conducted using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for the James River watershed in Virginia, the southernmost tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, for 1986 to 2018. A comparison of land cover changes throughout that time frame was included in the analysis. Land cover data was derived from satellite imagery with values extracted using Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis. The SWAT model was run within the web-based Hydrologic and Water Quality System (HAWQS). The research focuses on land use, precipitation, and water quality indicators. Findings suggest links between land cover modification, such as residential development, to degraded water quality indicators. Also denoted are direct improvements in water quality when forest land areas are preserved throughout the watershed terrain.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/20835

Comments

Runoff||Water Quality||SWAT||Geographic Information Systems||Chesapeake Bay||Hydrology||Land Use

Download

Share

COinS