Effects of Urbanization and Land-Use Changes on Low Streamflow

摘要

Historical low-streamflow data were analyzed for a number of gaging stations onstreams in and around various urban areas in North Carolina in an attempt to find and document effects of urbanization and land-use changes on low streamflows. Records for streams within each urban area were compared with streams outside (but nearby) the urban area by two statistical methods. It was concluded from the study that there is some support for the premise that urbanization causes a decrease in low streamflow over time, but statistically the results are inconclusive. It appears more likely that most small streams--both urban and rural--are experiencing decreasing low flows over time.