Poteet, Dixie L., authorBhaskar, Aditi, advisorMorrison, Ryan, advisorKampf, Stephanie, committee memberGrigg, Neil, committee member2024-01-012024-01-012023https://hdl.handle.net/10217/237375Urbanization has widely recognizable impacts on stream morphology and flow patterns. Predicting and quantifying these impacts can be difficult, especially for non-perennial streams in semi-arid rangelands. Non-perennial streams tend to lack a historical baseline with complete records of streamflow presence and absence. A historical pre-development baseline allows for better consideration when making development and infrastructure decisions as well as post-development comparison to quantify urbanization-driven impacts. This project focuses on a non-perennial stream channel in West Stroh Gulch, located in Parker, Colorado south of Denver, U.S.A. A historically semi-arid rangeland area slated to undergo housing development in the next few years, West Stroh Gulch is a unique opportunity to establish a historical baseline for a non-perennial stream. Streamflow presence and absence was recorded at multiple locations along the stream network with time-lapse photography. Photo observations and precipitation data were reviewed to determine what storm events did, or did not, trigger a flow response. After over two years of stream channel monitoring, one precipitation event with a total depth of 92-mm and maximum 60-minute intensity of 50-mm per hour triggered streamflow. Additionally, a hydrodynamic model was built in SRH-2D to compare the impacts of predicted flows through a reach of interest. Topographic pre-development data and Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) generated peak flows were used to simulate impacts of different sized storms. Peak flows varied both by storm and development scenario: existing undeveloped, traditional centralized post-development detention, and post-development distributed detention. Boundary shear stresses were used to compare the different simulations. Overall, the pre-development existing scenario had the lowest flows shear stresses for the two smallest storm scenarios (water quality capture volume and 2-year storms). For the 5-, 10-, 50-, and 100-year storms, the proposed post-development scenarios that incorporated distributed detention had the lowest flows and shear stresses. The traditional centralized detention post-development stormwater strategy had the highest flows, shear stresses, velocities, and water depths for all storm sizes. The simulation results indicate that the post-development distributed detention strategy will be effective at reducing stream channel stresses and erosion for larger storm events.born digitalmasters thesesengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.rangelandSRH-2Dtime-lapse photographysemi-aridnon-perennialstreamflow monitoringText