Centennial Honors College
Western Illinois University
Undergraduate Research Day 2014
Poster Presentation
Stream Characteristics of a Watershed-A Study of Sugarland Watershed in
Loudon and Fairfax Counties, Virginia
James Cundiff
Faculty Mentor: Ranbir Kang
Geography
This project analyzes the climatic, hydrological and geomorphic changes in Sugarland
Run watershed due to rapid urbanization in Fairfax and Loudon Counties, Virginia. It is
anticipated that increasing urbanization leads to increase in impervious areas such as
parking lot, roof tops, and drive ways. Such increased impervious cover further leads to
increase in stream runoff and food events. In order to accommodate the increased
runoff and more frequent flood events, the channel capacity increases by eroding
stream bed and banks. As anticipated the increased urban sprawl in Sugarland Run
Watershed has significantly altered the morphology of the channel in order to
accommodate the increased runoff. The results of this study offer a better
understanding of how a stream channel responds to increasing urban sprawl. Such an
understanding also is useful for city planners and various environment organizations.