Date Presented
Spring 5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Dr. David Perault
Second Advisor
Dr. Brooke Haiar
Third Advisor
Dr. Paul McClure
Abstract
Dam removal in the United States has become a common practice for stream restoration and community safety. Studies have shown removals to restore an ecosystem to its natural flow, but in urban environments, dams can serve as a retention basin that help to mitigate increased amounts of stormwater and high pollution loads from increased percentages of impervious surfaces. A central Virginia watershed located in an urbanized community recently experienced a low-head dam removal and its conversion to a constructed wetland. This study assesses the short-term impacts of the dam removal through water quality sampling based on its chemical, biota, and habitat properties. A statistical analysis was used to determine if the impacts being observed at the site downstream of the dam is experiencing dam or urban degradation through the comparison of five selected stream sites. Results indicated that one form of degradation is present with both urban and dam impacts merging together creating an enhanced level of urbanization on the stream ecosystem. Insights to the short-term response of a dam are provided in this study, but a necessity for long-term monitoring can determine if the constructed wetland and downstream environment will ecologically recover the affected areas.
Recommended Citation
Upton, Lorraine L., "The Short Term Water Quality Impacts of a Low-Head Dam Removal on Urban Stream Water Quality in Central Virginia, USA: Is It the Dam or the Urban Environment?" (2026). Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects. 391.
https://digitalshowcase.lynchburg.edu/utcp/391