Can unpaved roads and watersheds co-exist? Researchers wade into the question
Why it matters: 13 tons of sediment from a single storm threatens northwest Arkansas' primary drinking water source, Beaver Lake.
- Researchers measured 13 tons of soil and sediment entering Brush Creek from unpaved road runoff during one large storm.
- Brush Creek is a waterway that directly feeds Beaver Lake, the main drinking water source for northwest Arkansas.
- Unpaved roads are a major contributor to sediment runoff, posing a threat to water quality in regional watersheds.
Researchers are investigating the significant environmental impact of unpaved roads on watersheds, revealing that a single major storm event can deposit 13 tons of soil and sediment into waterways like Brush Creek, a critical feeder for northwest Arkansas' primary drinking water supply, Beaver Lake.
