IMPACTS OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES IN WETLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES

The primary types of construction activity which severely impact wetland environments of the United States include: floodplain surfacing and drainage, mining, impoundment, canalization, dredging and channelization, and bank and shoreline construction. Each type of construction activity is attended by an identifiable suite of physical and chemical alterations of the wetland environment which may extend for many miles from the site of construction and may persist for many years. In turn, each type of physical and chemical modification has been shown to induce a derived set of biological effects, many of which are predictable, in general, if not in specific detail. The most environmentally damaging effects of construction activities in wetland areas, in order of importance, are: direct habitat loss, addition of suspended solids and modification of water levels and flow regimes. Major construction-related impacts also derive from altered water temperature, pH, nutrient levels, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and certain pollutants such as heavy metals, radioactive isotopes, and pesticides.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research was sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Corporate Authors:

  Tereco Corporation

  College Station, TX  United States  97331

  Environmental Research Laboratories

  Narragansett, RI  United States 
• Authors:
  • Darnell, R M
  • Pequegnat, W E
  • James, B M
  • BENSON, F J
  • Defenbaugh, R A
• Publication Date: 1976-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 426 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bank protection; Bridge construction; Bridges; Canals; Carbon dioxide; Channels (Waterways); Construction; Construction projects; Contaminants; Drainage; Dredging; Environmental impacts; Flood plains; Flow; Hydrogen sulfide; Improvements; Marshes; Mining; Pavements; Shore protection; Slopes; Soil stabilization; Streamflow; Streams; Swamps; Water; Water pollution; Water resources; Wildlife
• Uncontrolled Terms: Nutrients
• Old TRIS Terms: Water supply
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Environment; Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation; Pavements; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00143325
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: EPA/600-3-76/045
• Contract Numbers: EPA-68-01-2452
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 17 1977 12:00AM