College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Term of Award

Spring 2026

Degree Name

Master of Science, Civil Engineering

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Civil Engineering and Construction

Committee Chair

George Yuzhu Fu

Committee Member 1

L. Stetson Rowles

Committee Member 2

Francisco Cubas Suazo

Abstract

Roadway runoff from Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) highway infrastructure poses measurable, but temporally constrained threats to cold-water trout ecosystems in northern Georgia. This study investigates temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) dynamics in three secondary trout streams receiving GDOT roadway discharges, with the primary objective of evaluating compliance with Georgia Rule 391-3-6-.03(6)(ii),(v) under the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit framework. Field monitoring was conducted from April 2024 through October 2025 across two consecutive summer seasons using a tiered, multi-instrument approach: YSI ProDSS handheld grab sampling provided regulatory-grade reference measurements; HOBO MX-801 optical DO dataloggers recorded continuous 5-minute-interval temperature and DO records; and custom ESP32-based Internet of Things (IoT) sensors captured high-frequency rainfall-event responses at the outfalls. Study sites included Site 1 on the Chattahoochee River at GA State Route 141, Site 2 on Powder Springs Creek at GA State Route 120, and Site 3 on Two-Run Creek at GA State Route 293, each instrumented at three GDOT outfall positions located at the bridge crossing, 0.5 mile upstream, and 1.0 mile upstream of the stream. Supplementary datasets included USGS stream temperature records from nearest gauge stations to each site used to assess sensor accuracy and characterize background hydrologic conditions. Spatial gradients in runoff water quality (temperature, DO) were documented at each outfall and at the mixing point with the trout stream. Results demonstrated strong site-specificity: Site 1 exhibited transient downstream temperature increases beyond 2 °F of upstream baseline during rainfall events exceeding 0.5 inch per day, with brief exceedances of the 2 °F regulatory threshold resolved within 6 to 8 hours. Site 2 displayed smaller rainfall-driven temperature perturbations of 1 to 2 °F, rarely approaching the regulatory threshold. Site 3 showed no measurable temperature or DO response attributable to roadway runoff, owing to long vegetated flow paths and dense riparian canopy that dissipated heat before runoff reached the creek. DO concentrations remained compliant with the 5.0 mg/L instantaneous minimum at all sites throughout both monitoring seasons. Findings support site-specific best management practice recommendations and establish a scalable, sensor-based monitoring framework applicable to GDOT MS4 compliance programs statewide.

Research Data and Supplementary Material

No

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