Quantifying Rainfall Interception in the Urban Canopy
August 14, 2019
Jon Hathaway, University of Tennessee
Urban stormwater is a major contributor to surface water degradation in the United States, prompting cities to invest in green infrastructure - methods that naturally capture, store, and slowly release runoff, such as urban trees. While rainfall interception for full canopy environments is well studied, limited research is available that characterizes the interception of open-grown trees, which are commonly found in urban areas. In this webinar, Jon Hathaway will share preliminary results of his research that studies the effect of rainfall event duration, intensity, and seasonal variations on the interception potential of urban trees in Knoxville, TN.
Presentations
Rainfall Interception of Urban Trees in the Knoxville Area
Jon Hathaway
Assistant Professor
University of Tennessee
Resources
Resources Mentioned in the Webinar
Quantifying the Benefits of Urban Forest Systems as a Component of the Green Infrastructure Stormwater Treatment Network
This article, published in Ecohydrology, highlights existing research, documents areas of need for quantifying the benefits of urban trees for stormwater management, and provides a basis for providing credits for trees in stormwater designs.
Making Urban Trees Count
This website provides downloads of products related to two urban tree planting credits developed by the Center for Watershed Protection with funding from the U.S. Forest Service.
US Forest Service Resources
Trees & Stormwater
Developed in partnership with the Ohio Kentucky Indiana Regional Council of Governments and other partners, this interactive guide informs local decision makers of options and best practices for including trees in stormwater facility design regulations and policies. It includes case studies, methods, benefit calculators, and guidance on how adding trees can boost overall system performance, often at lower costs.
More Than Good Looks: How trees influence urban stormwater management in green infrastructure practices
This Urban Forest Connections webinar presents recent research results from studies designed to characterize the health of trees in bioretention practices and shares observations from managing bioretention and detention ponds, noting how design, installation, and maintenance practices affect tree health and water quality function.