{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/64179"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/64179","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Basin-scale spatiotemporal analysis of hydrologic floodplain connectivity","abstract":"Floodplain inundation often provides water quality benefits by trapping sediment and biogeochemically transforming other pollutants. Hydrologic floodplain connectivity is a measure of water exchanges and interactions between the main channel and the floodplain via surface (inundation) and subsurface (groundwater) connections. Using an automated model combining GIS and numerical analysis software, this study examined floodplain inundation patterns and measured floodplain connectivity for the Mahantango Creek watershed (Pennsylvania, USA). Connectivity was quantified by developing a metric that included inundation area and duration. Long-term hydrographs at each reach in the watershed were developed via QPPQ (Flow-Percentile-Percentile-Flow) methodology using regional regression analysis to calculate the ungauged flow duration curves (FDC). Inundation area (normalized to stream length) was found to increase with drainage area, suggesting larger streams have more area available for biogeochemical activity. Annual connectivity increased with drainage area, suggesting larger streams, having higher connectivity, should be the focus of individual reach restoration projects due to higher potential for water quality benefits. Across the watershed as a whole, however, the total annual connectivity across first order streams was greater than higher order streams, suggesting the collection of small streams in a watershed may have a stronger effect on outlet water quality. Connectivity was consistently higher during the non-growing season, which was attributed to higher flows. Despite higher connectivity during the non-growing season, increased floodplain biological activity may be negated by low temperatures, reducing microbial activity. Correlations between land use and connectivity were also found, emphasizing dynamics between flow, channel morphology, and floodplain inundation.","abstract_html":"Floodplain inundation often provides water quality benefits by trapping sediment and biogeochemically transforming other pollutants. Hydrologic floodplain connectivity is a measure of water exchanges and interactions between the main channel and the floodplain via surface (inundation) and subsurface (groundwater) connections. Using an automated model combining GIS and numerical analysis software, this study examined floodplain inundation patterns and measured floodplain connectivity for the Mahantango Creek watershed (Pennsylvania, USA). Connectivity was quantified by developing a metric that included inundation area and duration. Long-term hydrographs at each reach in the watershed were developed via QPPQ (Flow-Percentile-Percentile-Flow) methodology using regional regression analysis to calculate the ungauged flow duration curves (FDC). Inundation area (normalized to stream length) was found to increase with drainage area, suggesting larger streams have more area available for biogeochemical activity. Annual connectivity increased with drainage area, suggesting larger streams, having higher connectivity, should be the focus of individual reach restoration projects due to higher potential for water quality benefits. Across the watershed as a whole, however, the total annual connectivity across first order streams was greater than higher order streams, suggesting the collection of small streams in a watershed may have a stronger effect on outlet water quality. Connectivity was consistently higher during the non-growing season, which was attributed to higher flows. Despite higher connectivity during the non-growing season, increased floodplain biological activity may be negated by low temperatures, reducing microbial activity. Correlations between land use and connectivity were also found, emphasizing dynamics between flow, channel morphology, and floodplain inundation.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["McCann, David Michael"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Biological Systems Engineering","degree_department":"Biological Systems Engineering","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Scott, Durelle T."],"committee_members":["Easton, Zachary M.","McGuire, Kevin J."],"year":2014,"date_issued":"2014-05-30","date_published":"2014-05-30","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:18:49Z","subjects":["floodplain connectivity","Geographic Information Systems (GIS)","inundation area","flooding","regional regression"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:2874"],"render_values":[{"text":"vt_gsexam:2874","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10919/64179","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Scott, Durelle T."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Easton, Zachary M.","McGuire, Kevin J."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Biological Systems Engineering"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["McCann, David Michael"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2015-11-22T07:00:34Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2015-11-22T07:00:34Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2014-05-30"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Biological Systems Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["floodplain connectivity","Geographic Information Systems (GIS)","inundation area","flooding","regional regression"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:2874"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/64179"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Floodplain inundation often provides water quality benefits by trapping sediment and biogeochemically transforming other pollutants. Hydrologic floodplain connectivity is a measure of water exchanges and interactions between the main channel and the floodplain via surface (inundation) and subsurface (groundwater) connections. Using an automated model combining GIS and numerical analysis software, this study examined floodplain inundation patterns and measured floodplain connectivity for the Mahantango Creek watershed (Pennsylvania, USA). Connectivity was quantified by developing a metric that included inundation area and duration. Long-term hydrographs at each reach in the watershed were developed via QPPQ (Flow-Percentile-Percentile-Flow) methodology using regional regression analysis to calculate the ungauged flow duration curves (FDC). Inundation area (normalized to stream length) was found to increase with drainage area, suggesting larger streams have more area available for biogeochemical activity. Annual connectivity increased with drainage area, suggesting larger streams, having higher connectivity, should be the focus of individual reach restoration projects due to higher potential for water quality benefits. Across the watershed as a whole, however, the total annual connectivity across first order streams was greater than higher order streams, suggesting the collection of small streams in a watershed may have a stronger effect on outlet water quality. Connectivity was consistently higher during the non-growing season, which was attributed to higher flows. Despite higher connectivity during the non-growing season, increased floodplain biological activity may be negated by low temperatures, reducing microbial activity. Correlations between land use and connectivity were also found, emphasizing dynamics between flow, channel morphology, and floodplain inundation."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["ETD"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Basin-scale spatiotemporal analysis of hydrologic floodplain connectivity"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Scott, Durelle T."],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Easton, Zachary M.","McGuire, Kevin J."],"dc:contributor.department":["Biological Systems Engineering"],"dc:creator":["McCann, David Michael"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2015-11-22T07:00:34Z"],"dc:date.available":["2015-11-22T07:00:34Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2014-05-30"],"dc:description.abstract":["Floodplain inundation often provides water quality benefits by trapping sediment and biogeochemically transforming other pollutants. Hydrologic floodplain connectivity is a measure of water exchanges and interactions between the main channel and the floodplain via surface (inundation) and subsurface (groundwater) connections. Using an automated model combining GIS and numerical analysis software, this study examined floodplain inundation patterns and measured floodplain connectivity for the Mahantango Creek watershed (Pennsylvania, USA). Connectivity was quantified by developing a metric that included inundation area and duration. Long-term hydrographs at each reach in the watershed were developed via QPPQ (Flow-Percentile-Percentile-Flow) methodology using regional regression analysis to calculate the ungauged flow duration curves (FDC). Inundation area (normalized to stream length) was found to increase with drainage area, suggesting larger streams have more area available for biogeochemical activity. Annual connectivity increased with drainage area, suggesting larger streams, having higher connectivity, should be the focus of individual reach restoration projects due to higher potential for water quality benefits. Across the watershed as a whole, however, the total annual connectivity across first order streams was greater than higher order streams, suggesting the collection of small streams in a watershed may have a stronger effect on outlet water quality. Connectivity was consistently higher during the non-growing season, which was attributed to higher flows. Despite higher connectivity during the non-growing season, increased floodplain biological activity may be negated by low temperatures, reducing microbial activity. Correlations between land use and connectivity were also found, emphasizing dynamics between flow, channel morphology, and floodplain inundation."],"dc:description.degree":["Master of Science"],"dc:format.medium":["ETD"],"dc:identifier.other":["vt_gsexam:2874"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/64179"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["floodplain connectivity","Geographic Information Systems (GIS)","inundation area","flooding","regional regression"],"dc:title":["Basin-scale spatiotemporal analysis of hydrologic floodplain connectivity"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Biological Systems Engineering"],"thesis:degree_level":["masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:18:49Z"}