Document Type

Honors Thesis

Semester of Graduation

Spring 2026

Abstract

Rapid urbanization is an ongoing challenge to the natural ecosystem across Louisiana as the state invests in development to accommodate the challenges of flooding in nearby towns and cities. Across Louisiana waterways, flooding from urban developments along with coastal subsidence and relative sea level rise increase the transport of complex organic matter into local water channels. These events lead to higher concentrations of nutrients, specifically bioavailable carbon which can be lost from breakdown of soil organic matter in water. To better understand and predict organic matter transportation due to flooding events caused by urbanization, we studied the availability of organic carbon across four different soil types under the International Humic Substances Society, namely: Suwannee, Pahokee Peat, Leonardite, and Elliott, which provide a range of soils for comparisons. Many of which the organic content mimics that of natural Louisiana soils. Using these standards, we mimicked the runoff effects of urbanization on carbon availability through a comparative model with fluorescent indicators like biological and humification indices. This project found that soils highest in hydrogen and oxygen contents, characteristics attributed to Suwannee soils, are more likely to have a gradual breakdown of their complex structure prolonging the environmental impact. In future studies, we can use the knowledge of persistence and soil characterization to detail the potential behaviors of products that leach into the ecosystem, leading to downstream impairments from the source of increased urbanization.

Awardee Name

Madison Woodson

Academic Major

Environmental Management Systems

Project Mentor

Michael (M.P.) Hayes

Download

Share

COinS