Can changes in geomorphic responses to urbanisation be predicted from stormwater outfalls?

Abstract

Stormwater drainage is a primary pathway through which urbanisation degrades physical channel form and ecologically relevant in-stream attributes, such as the presence of large wood. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding methods or study designs that effectively isolate the specific effect of stormwater from those of catchment context, geology and other geomorphic controls. This study examines how stream geomorphology, characterised through variables such as bankfull cross-sectional area, pool-to-riffle spacing and large wood, relates to stormwater drainage inputs from urban areas. To achieve this, we employed historical data reviews, GIS techniques and field observations to as..