Spatial Analysis of Landscape Characteristics, Anthropogenic Factors, and Seasonality Effects on Water Quality in Portland, Oregon
Abstract
Urban areas often struggle with deteriorated water quality as a result of complex interactions between landscape factors such as land cover, use, and management as well as climatic variables such as weather, precipitation, and atmospheric conditions. Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) has been introduced as a strategy to reintroduce pre-development hydrological conditions in cities, but questions remain as to how GSI interacts with other landscape factors to affect water quality. We conducted a statistical analysis of six relevant water quality indicators in 130 water quality stations in four watersheds around the city of Portland, Oregon from 2015 to 2021. In the wet season across all stations, E. coli and zinc concentrations are negatively associated with distance to GSI and percent forested area, and positively associated with percent impervious surface and percent developed area. Nitrate is negatively associated with percent developed area, while orthophosphate is positively associated with percent impervious area. Future studies should include multi-level analysis at the census block group scale to include sociodemographic variables that demonstrate whether benefits from GSI are equally distributed. Our findings provide valuable insights to city planners and researchers seeking to improve water quality in metropolitan areas by implementing GSI.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021AGUFM.H35F1102G