A study of more than 2,000 streams around North America supervised by a Waterloo Engineering professor found that those altered by human activity are at greater risk of flooding.
The study analyzed the seasonal flow patterns of 2,272 streams in Canada and the U.S. and found that human-managed streams – those impacted by developments like dams, canals, or heavy urbanization – had significantly different flow patterns compared to streams in natural watersheds.
Greater flow increases in managed watersheds indicates more severe flooding — possibly as a result of the increased paved surfaces in urban regions. Flow dampening on the other hand can lead to water shortages and a loss in biodiversity in managed streams.
“It is important to recognize human modifications of the landscape often amplify the effects of climate change on streamflow,” said Nandita Basu, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, and earth and environmental sciences. “We need to take responsibility to manage our landscape sustainably, because it’s not just climate that is changing it.”
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