Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration in North Carolina Catchments: Small Ponds and Artificial Drainage

Alterations to stream hydrology, which include changes in stream geomorphology, are primary impacts of anthropogenic disruption. In North Carolina, hydrological alterations lead to environmental impacts through degraded ecosystems and water quality. In collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Mitigation Services (DMS), the USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center datasets are proxy measurements of the extent of altered hydrology in riverine systems across the State of North Carolina. The datasets consist of an inventory and characterization of small scale (mostly agricultural) ponds and artificial drainages, which are both significant hydrologic modifications in the region. Ponds are impoundments [...]