IMPACT OF HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENT ON WATER FEATURES OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

This paper provides a means of appraising the potential effects of highways on surface water, groundwater resources, aquatic organisms and aquatic ecosystems, giving examples of procedures to identify and assess potential impacts and minimise damage. To assess the effect of a new highway, each of the impact categories should be initially examined on a broad regional scale to identify likely interaction. The information can be presented in a matrix relating characteristics of the proposed development (and alternative) to the characteristics of the site. Potential environmental impacts identified in the matrix can then be assessed using a "screening test" to isolate those aspects upon which there may be an important impact. Subsequent assessment may then be focused on those aspects to decide if alternative plans should be re-studied in detail to minimise potential adverse impacts. The detailed studies should then be undertaken by experts to produce a baseline summary table. The potential impact of the project activity on each environmental element should also be assessed. The most effective method of minimising impacts is to avoid areass critical to normal functioning of aquatic ecosystems. However, as this is not always possible, the author suggests planning measures for a variety of problems. (TRRL) (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01426168
• Corporate Authors:

  Embankment Press Limited

  Building 59, GEC Estate, East Lane
  Wembley, Middlesex HA9 7TQ,   England 
• Authors:
  • REES, C
• Publication Date: 1980-7

Media Info

• Features: Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 7-10
• Serial:
  • Highways and Public Works
  • Volume: 48
  • Issue Number: 1844
  • Publisher: D.R. Publications Limited
  • ISSN: 0142-6168

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aquatic life; Ecology; Environmental impacts; Groundwater; Highway planning; Matrices (Mathematics); Water areas; Water pollution
• Uncontrolled Terms: Surface waters
• Old TRIS Terms: Groundwater effects
• ITRD Terms: 2894: Alignment; 3655: Construction; 2455: Environment; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 4383: Ground water; 6494: Matrix; 143: Planning; 2453: Pollution; 378: Region; 3665: Road construction; 4329: Run off; 6438: Surface; 4355: Water
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00325198
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 15 1981 12:00AM