Date of Award:

5-2026

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Committee Chair(s)

James A. Bay

Committee

James A. Bay

Committee

John D. Rice

Committee

Blake Tullis

Abstract

Stormwater from Utah’s roadways often carries pollutants such as oil, metals, and sediments, especially during small storms when runoff is not diluted. Vegetated filter strips—areas of soil and vegetation placed alongside roads—are one of the most effective ways to capture and clean this runoff before it reaches rivers and lakes. However, choosing the right combination of topsoil and base soil for these filter strips is difficult, expensive, and traditionally requires multiple field visits.

This thesis introduces a laboratory device that allows engineers to test how different soil combinations absorb and filter water without having to go to the field each time. The device simulates rainfall and measures how water moves through layers of soil using sensors that record moisture over time. By testing six soil configurations and repeating each test three times, the study provides reliable data on how quickly water infiltrates, how much stays stored in the soil, and how much moves downward into deeper layers.

The results show that certain soils—especially those with added compost—hold more water and slow down runoff, which can help prevent polluted water from flowing into natural waterways. Mixed base soils performed particularly well, allowing more water to infiltrate and supporting better long-term stormwater management.

This work helps the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and other agencies make better decisions when designing roadside filter strips. By offering a faster and more affordable testing method, the project contributes to cleaner waterways, improved stormwater practices, and a more sustainable approach to managing runoff in Utah’s dry climate.

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

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