Research Alert: Thermal Impacts of Stormwater Practices

A new University of New Hampshire research study investigated the comparative water temperature in stormwater as it passed through a dozen different stormwater practices. Past research has show that some surface stormwater practices such as dry ponds and wet ponds can significantly heat up water, often to levels that are harmful to trout and other aquatic life that inhabit cold-water streams. The new research reinforced that finding for test sites in Durham, New Hampshire. On the positive side, the research team discovered that some stormwater practices were thermally neutral, and could protect cold-water fisheries. These practices all featured sub-surface discharges, such as bioretention, infiltration and submerged gravel wetlands. For more details on the study, led by Dr. Rob Roseen of UNH, view the full report: Examination of Thermal Impacts From Stormwater Best Management Practices.