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ARS Home » Plains Area » El Reno, Oklahoma » Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center » Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #414367
Research Project: Development of a Monitoring Network, Engineering Tools, and Guidelines for the Design, Analysis, and Rehabilitation of Embankment Dams, Hydraulic Structures, and Channels

Location: Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit

Title: Impacts of land use and land cover change on the hydrology and water quality of the Ohio River Basin

Author
item GUPTA, MEETA - University Of Missouri
item PRASAD, GOKUL - University Of Missouri
item STEWARD, CHRISTOPHER - University Of Missouri
item ALOYSIUS, NOEL - University Of Missouri
item Hunt, Sherry
item CHINNASAMY, PENNAN - Non ARS Employee

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/29/2024
Publication Date: 4/9/2024
Citation: Gupta, M., Prasad, G., Steward, C.A., Aloysius, N., Hunt, S., Chinnasamy, P. 2024. Impacts of land use and land cover change on the hydrology and water quality of the Ohio River Basin. [abstract]. 2024 Show Me Research Week - University of Missouri Research Forum, April 8-12, 2024, Columbia, Missouri.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The deterioration of water quality is becoming an increasingly pressing global issue due to the expansion of economic activities, growing human population, and the significant impacts of climate change on hydrological cycle. While changes in the land use and land cover (LULC) have long been recognized as key drivers of water quality decline, the specific effects vary depending on the type and intensity of LULC. Moreover, these relationships between LULC and water quality can vary across different spatial and temporal scales. The shifting LULC patterns in the eastern part of the Mississippi River basin underscore the urgency of protecting water quality to meet immediate human needs and ensure the long-term sustainability of water supplies. This study investigates the spatial and statistical connections between LULC and water quality, and assesses the consequences of LULC changes on runoff, sediment load, and water quality data within the Ohio River basin. The LULC change detection was carried out for three timescales 1980, 2000, and 2020 using the Landsat satellite imagery. The trends in the water quality in the streams, lakes, and estuaries, over the period 1980-2020, were identified using the daily concentration observations downloaded from the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) National Water Information System (NWIS). The preliminary assessment of the study shows that agriculture to forest and agriculture to urban transitions were the most common land use changes. These shifts have altered the hydrological behavior of the Ohio River basin, leading to increased runoff. Through the spatial and statistical analysis, it was possible to observe that the water quality was influenced by the anthropogenic changes. Through this research, understanding the hydrological impacts of land use on water quality provides invaluable information for ecosystem restoration efforts, guidance on the local watershed development plans, and aid policymakers in evaluating land management decisions that promote ecological sustainability. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.