WETLANDS FOR STORMWATER TREATMENT. FINAL REPORT

Results of a study of the effects of highway runoff on the chemical quality of water and bed sediments of a cypress wetland and a freshwater marsh in central Florida indicate that detention of the runoff prior to release into the wetland reduces concentrations of automobile-related chemicals in the water and bed sediments in the wetland. Detention of highway runoff for the cypress wetland occurs in a 68 by 139 foot detention pond, and in a 12 by 25 foot trash retainer for the freshwater marsh. The analysis of the chemical data for water and bed sediments indicates that many of the observed differences in chemistry are due to the difference in detention facilities. Results from this study indicate that detention structures, larger than the trash retainer at the freshwater marsh, may cause sufficient sorption and settling of substances contained in highway runoff to minimize the transport and deposition of some undesirable chemicals into wetlands.

• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. Geological Survey

  F Street Between 18th and 19th Street, NW
  Washington, DC    20244

  Florida Department of Transportation

  P.O. Box 1029
  Gainesville, FL  United States  32602

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • SCHIFFER, D M
• Publication Date: 1990-1

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 69 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Catch basins; Chemicals; Detention basins; Drainage; Marshes; Runoff; Sediments; Water quality; Wetlands
• Geographic Terms: Florida
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00491885
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FL/DOT/SMO/90-377
• Contract Numbers: Study E-16-83
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 31 1990 12:00AM