Thesis
Optimizing Placement of Bioretention Systems in the Us Puget Sound Region
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005247
Abstract
The Puget Sound Basin, Washington State, USA, is experiencing rapid population and urban growth in recent decades. The rapid population growth and urbanization has measurable effects on local ecosystems and natural resources, especially the streams and wetlands that are the vital spawning and rearing habitat for various species of salmons. Sustainable management practices and water-sensitive urban design strategies such as Green Stormwater Infrastructures (GSI) are being implemented to reduce the stormwater effect and protect the ecosystem. Among various types of GSI, bioretention systems are most widely adopted GSI as they mimic the pre-developed hydrologic condition and can be incorporated into diverse climatic and geologic situations with only minor design modifications. My thesis research focuses on developing a method for systematic, optimal placement of bioretention systems. The effectiveness of any GSI is dependent on its location. For optimal placement of the bioretention systems, I aimed to identify hydrologically sensitive areas to inform the decision making, specifically in the study area of the lower Puyallup River watershed. A Hydrologic Sensitivity Index (λ_HSI) approach was adapted, which indicates the likelihood of a location in a landscape to generates runoff. λ_HSI, in combination with the feasibility criteria specified by federal and state regulations, was used to develop the GIS-based framework that identifies suitable locations for siting bioretention systems. The suitability of identified sites was verified through ground-truthing. This study provides a systematic and transferable approach for optimal placement of bioretention systems to mitigate urban stormwater effects on the environment and ecosystems. ecosystems.
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Details
- Title
- Optimizing Placement of Bioretention Systems in the Us Puget Sound Region
- Creators
- Anish Mahat
- Contributors
- Joan Qiong Wu (Advisor)Anand Jayakaran (Committee Member)Troy Peters (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Biological Systems Engineering, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 63
- Identifiers
- 99901019940201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis