Bioretention Performance – Multi-year Analysis of Hydrological and Water Quality Performance

Skorobogatov, Anton

Bioretention Performance – Multi-year Analysis of Hydrological and Water Quality Performance

dc.contributor.advisor	He Jianxun
dc.contributor.advisor	Chu Angus
dc.contributor.author	Skorobogatov, Anton
dc.contributor.committeemember	Hettiaratchi Patrick
dc.contributor.committeemember	Johnson Edward
dc.contributor.committeemember	Black Kerry
dc.contributor.committeemember	Zhang William
dc.date	2023-11
dc.date.accessioned	2023-05-23T16:55:16Z
dc.date.available	2023-05-23T16:55:16Z
dc.date.issued	2023-05-09
dc.description.abstract	Low Impact Development (LID) aims to mitigate and prevent the negative impacts of urbanization on the hydrology and water quality of the natural water bodies. Bioretention systems are some of the most popular LID systems that offer various benefits, including reduction of peak runoff, attenuation of excess runoff volume, retention of various pollutants, as well as aesthetic and habitat benefits. This research provides a comprehensive investigation of bioretention performance using mesocosms and controlled runoff application. The research site for this project was constructed in the Town of Okotoks, Alberta, in 2016/2017. The site consists of 24 lined mesocosms that were designed to receive no natural runoff and were drained by pumping through a perforated standpipe. There were three different bioretention media and three different vegetation types. Among the media, there was a unique mix of clay-loam and wood chips, as an alternative to the conventional sand-based bioretention media. The mesocosms were analyzed for their hydrologic and water quality performance using 72 simulated runoff events over four growing seasons. The mesocosms with different media exhibited significant differences in water retention at the onset of the study period yet became increasingly similar over time, whereas the differences in vegetation impacts increased over time. The water quality analytes include Total Phosphorus (TP), Reactive Phosphorus (RP), Total nitrogen (TN), Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO¬¬3-N), and Total Organic Carbon (TOC). The research revealed significant leaching of nutrients and organics over four years. The leaching of nitrogen and organic compounds decreased over time, whereas phosphorus leaching persisted. This research also monitored the infiltration rate of the mesocosms, and an overall increasing trend in the infiltration rate was observed. Among the three media types, the clay-loam media had the highest infiltration rates, showing promise for future implementation. Soil respiration was measures as an indirect method of quantifying root activity, where the greatest respiration was associated with the clay-loam media. This research showcased the variability and changes in bioretention performance over time, as well as highlighted the role of the media and vegetation in various aspects of performance.
dc.identifier.citation	Skorobogatov, A. (2023). Bioretention performance – multi-year analysis of hydrological and water quality performance (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/1880/116566
dc.identifier.uri	https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/dspace/41409
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher.faculty	Graduate Studies
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject	bioretention
dc.subject	green infrastructure
dc.subject	nature-based solutions
dc.subject	low impact development
dc.subject	stormwater management
dc.subject	urban hydrology
dc.subject	water resources
dc.subject.classification	Landscape Architecture
dc.subject.classification	Soil Science
dc.subject.classification	Biogeochemistry
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Engineering--Environmental
dc.subject.classification	Engineering--Civil
dc.title	Bioretention Performance – Multi-year Analysis of Hydrological and Water Quality Performance
dc.type	doctoral thesis
thesis.degree.discipline	Engineering – Civil
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary
thesis.degree.name	Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudent	I do not require a thesis withhold – my thesis will have open access and can be viewed and downloaded publicly as soon as possible.