Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2018ND341B

Implications of Stormwater Control Measures on Hydrology of an Urban Watershed in the Fargo, ND Area

Institute: North Dakota
Year Established: 2018 Start Date: 2018-03-01 End Date: 2019-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $2,900 Total Non-Federal Funds: $5,800

Principal Investigators: Stephanie Day

Abstract: The growth of urbanization due to an increase in population causes deterioration of rivers and streams at multiple scales through an increase in runoff, subsequently increasing potential for erosion and transportation of pollutants to natural waterways. Utilization of multiple infiltration and retention type stormwater control measures (SCM) that are both centralized and distributed within the catchment area have the ability to mitigate the effects of urbanization on flow regime at the site and sub-catchment level. The growth of the Fargo-Moorhead urban sprawl necessitates a better understanding of how increasing impermeable surface affects the water quality and quantity within the Red River, and the management techniques that can better reduce these affects. An 18-acre stormwater drainage basin, that controls flooding of a highly urbanized mall area in Fargo, ND, will be monitored to determine the affects of various SCM’s based on type, location, and distribution in comparison with models of a non-urbanized catchment and an urbanized catchment with limited or no SCM’s. Known as “The Fargo Project”, this stormwater drainage basin provides multiple types of SCM’s as well as an increased use to the public through trails and biodiversity. Modeling approaches will also be made in order to determine how implementation of various SCM’s, and projects similar to “The Fargo Project” throughout the Fargo-Moorhead area will help mitigate the role that urbanization plays on hydrology of the Red River.