Date of Award
2026
Type
Thesis
Major
Master of Science
Degree Type
Master of Science
Department
Earth & Space Science
First Advisor
Dr. Troy Keller
Second Advisor
Dr. Clifton Ruehl
Third Advisor
Dr. Chester Figiel
Abstract
Urban streams typically show "flashy” hydrographs, impaired water quality, and altered channel morphology. Urban watersheds typically have increased impervious surfaces, stream beds that are channelized, and added structures like culverts. In developed environments, culverts are widely used to transport rivers below human infrastructure. Although there is strong evidence that culverts cause downstream erosion and fragment populations of aquatic organisms such as fish, crayfish, and salamanders, there are few studies detailing how culverts impact water quality. To address this gap in the literature, this study measured the influence of culverts and land cover on turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, and temperature across 24 independent subwatersheds in Muscogee County, Georgia which is located in Southwest Central Georgia, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development. To account for seasonal variability in water quality, measurements were taken in the spring (n=12) and the summer (n=12). The watershed analysis revealed that urbanization had no impact on water temperatures, but temperatures were higher in the summer than in the spring. The analysis also revealed that urbanization was associated with lower turbidity but higher specific conductance in streams. Seasonal effects were detected for both of these parameters as well. Statistical results from a series of paired t-tests revealed that culverts reduced water temperature by 0.4°C on average, but had no detectable effect on turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH, or specific conductance. Longer culverts were positively correlated with larger temperature reductions but had no association with any other physical water quality parameters. This study found that urbanization, unlike culverts, had a large effect on physical water quality. These results were consistent with other published studies and strengthen the existing evidence that culverts are mostly a threat to stream biota as a physical barrier.
Recommended Citation
Streat, Mary Claire, "Land Cover and Culvert Effects on Stream Physical Water Quality in West Central Georgia" (2026). Theses and Dissertations. 784.
https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/784
