Run-off and Land use Change
21, 27, 31, 33/35, 39 Loomis Street
I chose this area because behind 21 Loomis St, there is the dead-end street Converse Ct. At the end of Converse Ct there is a shortcut through the backyard of 21 Loomis and out the driveway. I use this shortcut not infrequently, and I know that others do too. I had never thought of the geomorphological impacts of using this shortcut, I only was concerned about the loitering aspects of cutting through private property. I had expected that there would be disruption to the grass areas along this path, however, observing this area with geomorphology in mind, I was surprised by the lack of evidence of foot/bicycle traffic.
citations:
2018 photograph (north): http://www.uvm.edu/~geomorph/geol151/2020/VT_44372206_20180422.jpg
2020 photograph: Google Images (supposedly shot in 2020)
Discussion
On the properties of 21, 27, 31, 33/35, 39 Loomis Street (left to right in images), there has not been a very dramatic change in land use. In 1999, it appears that there was an additional building at the back of 31 Loomis Street. At some point in the last 19 years, that building as well as grass space, was replaced with a parking lot that could fit about 3-5 cars. Many of the driveways in 1999 were smaller than they are now, and many buildings have concrete pathways that were not present in 1999. Although the sidewalks and roads have primarily remained the same, there is a clear expansion of urbanization. Based of observation, a couple of the concrete driveway have eroded and crumbled. It seems as if people and cars are spilling into any space possible.
The total run-off in inches was calculated using the curve number for the specific surface, the percent of area of that surface, and the quantity of rainfall in a specific storm event. This data indicates that of the four storm events, in 1999 there was an average total run-off of 2.12 inches and in 2018 an average of 2.25 inches. This is about a 6% increase in total run-off in the last 19 years. Comparitively, in 1600 CE before European colonizers came in and stole the land, the average of total run-off from the four storms was 0.774 inches. The urbanization of this area has caused nearly a 200% increase of total run-off and dramatic decrease in infiltration rates.
Results and Calculations
Landuse change in neighborhoods around UVM has very likely affected the water quality in Lake Champlain. The increase in impermeable surfaces causes an increase in the speed of runoff. This could cause an increase in peak discharge and erosion of land. As less water is infiltrating into the ground, it instead travels toward the surface and is more likely to transport undesirable debris and fluids, such as animal feces and gas/oil from vehicles. This decrease in infiltration rates can also cause an exaggerated flow into storm sewers and the potential for sewers to overflow. In my time in Burlington, I have heard of e-coli in the Lake Champlain water, wastewater plant malfunction, and last winter, an advisory to boil water due to a water main break. Contaminated beaches and brown faucet water is no foreign to Burlington residents and undoubtedly a causitive factor are the changes in landuse, increased run-off, decreased infiltration rates, and increased urbanization and impermeable surfaces. It is unfortunate that humans feel a sense of entitlement and need to expand and make land accomodate for our lifestyles. With that being said, I am guilty of enjoying the environmentally harmful luxiouries of being a car-owning, UVM student, Burlington resident.