Authors: Marsalek J., Rochfort Q., Grapentine L.

Title: Aquatic habitat issues in urban stormwater management: challenges and potential solutions

Source: Ecohydrology and Hydrobiology
year: 2005, vol: 5, number: 4, pages: 269-279
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Keywords: AQUATIC HABITAT, COMMUNITY, MACROINVERTEBRATA, TOXICITY, URBANIZATION, POLLUTION

Discipline: ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY

Language: ENGLISH

Document type: ARTICLE

Publication order reference:
Jiri Marsalek, National Water Research Institute, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario, Canada L7R 4A6
Jiri.marsalek@ec.gc.ca

Abstract: Urban stormwater management practices impact existing aquatic habitats and create new ones in stormwater ponds and wetlands. The former case is reviewed and discussed with respect to habitat structure, flow regime, water quality, food sources, and biotic interactions. The latter case is documented by a case study of a stormwater management facility in the Toronto area. The study found that the quality of habitat created in the facility was poor, because of chemical contamination of water and sediment accumulated in the facility. Such contamination could have been avoided by the implementation of pollution source controls, which were recommended in the original design.