Coles, J., Cuffney, T., McMahon, G., Beaulieu, K. 2004. The Effects of Urbanization on the Biological, Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Coastal New England Streams. Professional Paper 1695. U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO.

biological, chemistry, habitat, impacts, stream, urban

Responses of biological communities , physical habitat, and water chemistry to urban intensity were compared among 30 streams within 80 miles of Boston, Massachusetts by the U.S. Geological Survey. The degree of urban intensity for each drainage basin was characterized with a standardized urban index derived from land cover, infrastructure, and socioeconomic variables. The responses generally were higher between the urban index values of 0 to 35, indicating that the greatest change in aquatic health may occur between low and moderate levels of urban intensity.