Juan Camacho / Earth & Environmental Sciences / Faculty Mentor: Ricardo Sanchez-Murillo
Urban streams in Texas are shaped by complex interactions between natural and engineered flow paths, influenced by droughts and extreme rainfall. This study focuses on the hydrological processes affecting solute transport in Rush Creek, Arlington, TX, using Bayesian endmember mixing analysis and concentration-water level relationships. We sampled water chemistry during six peak flow events and multiple baseflow periods, finding that stormwater contributions ranged from nearly 100% at peak flow to 17.7% during baseflow, with an average of 55.9 ± 22.1%. Results showed rapid travel times and continued subsurface interflow after peak flows. We identified mobilization of phosphate, total organic carbon (TOC), turbidity, iron, and tannins & lignin increased with rising water levels, while nitrate remained stable. These patterns are influenced by storm intensity, catchment wetness, season, and stormwater contributions.
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