Papers by Madeline McIntosh
Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement
Urban landscapes have serious impacts on water quality through the disruption of the hydrologic c... more Urban landscapes have serious impacts on water quality through the disruption of the hydrologic cycle. The Purdue University course, Environmental and Ecological Engineering 49500: Urban Water Projects, seeks to use student-led service-learning projects to improve both water quality and quantity in the Wabash River water-shed. This year, students investigated and implemented strategies to guarantee that previous implementations succeed well into the future. Two students, Victoria Chillscyzn and Madeline McIntosh, were part of a team working with the local nonprofit Home with Hope. Through interviews, a survey, and site visits, the team determined action items to improve the form and function of the installations. A grant was submitted and accepted through Purdue Student Service-Learning Grant Program for Community Service/Service-Learning Projects to fund an additional rain barrel and an edible garden at the nonprofit. Additionally, educational materials and a maintenance schedule w...
Storm events and soil erosion can adversely impact flood control, soil conservation, water qualit... more Storm events and soil erosion can adversely impact flood control, soil conservation, water quality, the recreation economy, and ecosystem biodiversity in urban systems. Urban Low Impact Development practices (LIDs) can manage stormwater runoff, control soil losses, and improve water quality. The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model has been widely applied to assess the responses of hydrology and soil losses to conservation practices in agricultural and forested areas. This research study is the first to calibrate the WEPP model to simulate streamflow discharge in the Brentwood watershed in Austin, Texas and apply the calibrated WEPP model to assess the impacts of LIDs. The costs and impacts of various LID scenarios on annual water balance, and monthly average, and daily runoff volumes, and sediment losses at hillslopes and at the watershed outlet were quantified and compared. The LID scenarios identified that native planting in Critically Eroding Areas (CEAs), native planti...
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Papers by Madeline McIntosh