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Title: Impact of Natural and Anthropogenic Factors on the Water and Soil Quality in Urban and Rural Watersheds of Texas Gulf Coast

Citation Type: Dissertation/Thesis

Publication Year: 2020

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Abstract: The increase in population pressure and external influences, such as economic growth, urbanization have accelerated the urban sprawl within the Houston-Galveston metropolitan region along the Texas gulf coast resulting in substantial changes in land cover. Increase in human activities along with natural changes have impacted the water quality in the bayous and their associated watersheds which drain into Galveston Bay. The specific objectives of the study are (1) To analyze and monitor the soil and water characteristics along the urban and rural fringes in the Houston/Galveston region; (2) Monitor and map the spatial and temporal land cover changes in the identified watersheds;(3) Identify and analyze the impact of land cover on flooding in the region. A total of 236 Soil and 138 water samples were collected from at least three locations in the selected watersheds over 3 years. Samples were processed and analyzed for elemental concentrations using the Inductive Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS), Milestone Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA) 80 and a Total Carbon and Nitrogen (TCN) Analyzer. Spatial analysis was conducted using the Geographic information systems (GIS) and satellite remote sensing. Chemical analysis results indicate that TN and P exceeded the EPA criteria limit in water samples. The concentrations of Pb, Cu and Zn exceed the critical limits across 2 all bayous in both soil and water samples. Landsat satellite imagery of over four decades (1980-2019) were processed and analyzed for the land cover changes. The remote sensing analysis revealed that the Buffalo Bayou watershed (BBW), Brays Bayou watershed (BrBW), Lower Cypress Creek watershed (LCCW), Mustang Bayou watershed (MBW) & Dickinson Bayou watershed (DKBW) lost about 18.6%, 27%, 33.8%, 29.6% and 2.16% of vegetation respectively and 23%, 40%, 58%, 65% and 2% increase in impervious surface respectively. The vegetation loss in area statistics resulted in the increase of impervious surface areas in all the watersheds. This research is significant as it shows the impact of the natural and human activities on the Texas Bayous and the long-term consequences on the environmental health of the HoustonGalveston Region.

Url: https://www.proquest.com/docview/2418137804?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true

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Authors: Bukunmi-Omidiran, Titilope

Institution: Texas Southern University

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Data Collections: IPUMS NHGIS

Topics: Land Use/Urban Organization, Natural Resource Management

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