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Production of road born sediment of an agricultural road network in southeast Ohio

Silliman, Benjamin Afton

Abstract Details

2015, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Environment and Natural Resources.
Unbound gravel roads are thought to be one of the largest anthropogenic sources of fine sediments in the stream channels of small watersheds. Sedimentation can reduce water quality in streams; negatively impacting aquatic habitat as well as being a detriment to municipal drinking water sources. With the expansion of natural gas exploration and subsequent increase of the construction and use of rural roads along with the continued use of these roads for timber extraction and recreation, the relationship between rural gravel roads and surface water quality needs to be addressed. This study sought to quantify the mass of sediment a rural road can produce and identify the forces that drive the erosional losses by measuring the production of sediment from the road surface using controlled precipitation experiments. Rain events were simulated on eight road segments at an agricultural research station in eastern Ohio. The road surface produced an average of 42 g of sediment per m2 of road surface with a 30-minute, 1.6 cm precipitation event. Sediment production was shown to be driven by sediment availability but not related to road slope, strength, or drainage characteristics. The production of sediment from the road surface increased with wet traffic use. This study highlights the need to disconnect rural road networks from stream channels in order to prevent negative water quality impacts associated with sedimentation.
Roger Williams (Advisor)
Elizabeth Myers Toman (Advisor)
Kristin Jaeger (Committee Member)
Jonathan Witter (Committee Member)
87 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Silliman, B. A. (2015). Production of road born sediment of an agricultural road network in southeast Ohio [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1440161341

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Silliman, Benjamin. Production of road born sediment of an agricultural road network in southeast Ohio. 2015. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1440161341.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Silliman, Benjamin. "Production of road born sediment of an agricultural road network in southeast Ohio." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1440161341

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)