OA watershed is an area of ground where precipitate falls, which will ultimately runoff to a nearby body of water, be it a river, lake, stream, or creek.

A watershed is an area of ground where A watershed is an area of ground where precipitate falls, which will ultimately runoff to precipitate falls, which will ultimately runoff to a nearby body of water, be it a river, lake, a nearby body of water, be it a river, lake, stream, or creek.stream, or creek.

It is the area of land where all of the water It is the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place.same place.

Everywhere you stand on the earth can be Everywhere you stand on the earth can be divided by different watershed boundaries.divided by different watershed boundaries.

They can be broken They can be broken down into smaller down into smaller and smaller and smaller increments.increments.

Watersheds come Watersheds come in all shapes and in all shapes and sizes. sizes.

They cross county, They cross county, state, and national state, and national boundaries. boundaries.

GIS Map of school’s watershed inserted here.

Caused by rain and flood water washing over Caused by rain and flood water washing over our nations landscapes, picking up pollutants our nations landscapes, picking up pollutants such as dirt, oil, fertilizer, pesticides, animal such as dirt, oil, fertilizer, pesticides, animal waste and other substances waste and other substances

Substances are then deposited into our Substances are then deposited into our rivers, lakes, bays, coastal waters, ground rivers, lakes, bays, coastal waters, ground water, and even drinking water supplies.water, and even drinking water supplies.

88% of the impairment of our streams and 88% of the impairment of our streams and rivers are caused by polluted runoff.rivers are caused by polluted runoff.

Acid Mine DrainageAcid Mine Drainage AgricultureAgriculture Urban RunoffUrban Runoff

Caused when water and oxygen flow Caused when water and oxygen flow over iron-bearing minerals such as over iron-bearing minerals such as pyrite or iron-sulfide and form acid. pyrite or iron-sulfide and form acid.

Then dissolves other minerals and Then dissolves other minerals and rocks, which contaminate surface rocks, which contaminate surface and groundwater sourcesand groundwater sources

Caused mainly as a result of Caused mainly as a result of abandoned coal mines and currently abandoned coal mines and currently active mining. active mining.

Degrades more than 4,500 stream Degrades more than 4,500 stream miles in Region III causing loss of miles in Region III causing loss of aquatic life, and restricting stream aquatic life, and restricting stream use for recreation, public drinking use for recreation, public drinking water and industrial water supplies.water and industrial water supplies.

Contaminated drinking waterContaminated drinking water

Disrupted growth and reproduction of Disrupted growth and reproduction of aquatic plants and animalsaquatic plants and animals

Corroding effects of acid on parts of Corroding effects of acid on parts of infrastructure such as bridgesinfrastructure such as bridges

Treatment PondTreatment Pond

Includes nutrients, sediment, Includes nutrients, sediment, pathogens and toxics. pathogens and toxics.

Is the leading source of water Is the leading source of water quality problems in lakes and quality problems in lakes and rivers. rivers.

Agricultural Activities That Agricultural Activities That Cause Polluted Agricultural Cause Polluted Agricultural Runoff:Runoff: GrazingGrazing PlowingPlowing Pesticide sprayingPesticide spraying IrrigationIrrigation FertilizingFertilizing PlantingPlanting HarvestingHarvesting

Sedimentation clouds water, reduces the amount of Sedimentation clouds water, reduces the amount of sunlight reaching aquatic plants; covers fish spawning sunlight reaching aquatic plants; covers fish spawning areas and food supplies; and clogs the gills of fish.areas and food supplies; and clogs the gills of fish.

Runoff from confined animal facilities carries Runoff from confined animal facilities carries pathogens (bacteria and viruses), nutrients, and pathogens (bacteria and viruses), nutrients, and oxygen-demanding substances that contaminate fish oxygen-demanding substances that contaminate fish and cause other major water quality problems.and cause other major water quality problems.

Pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides can enter and Pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides can enter and contaminate water through direct application, runoff, contaminate water through direct application, runoff, wind transport, and atmospheric deposition.wind transport, and atmospheric deposition.

They can kill fish and wildlife, poison food sources, and They can kill fish and wildlife, poison food sources, and destroy the habitat that animals use for protective cover.destroy the habitat that animals use for protective cover.

Is the third largest source of Is the third largest source of water quality impairments to water quality impairments to surveyed riverssurveyed rivers

Nonporous urban landscapes Nonporous urban landscapes like roads, bridges, parking lots, like roads, bridges, parking lots, and buildings don’t let runoff and buildings don’t let runoff slowly percolate into the ground.slowly percolate into the ground.

Water remains above the Water remains above the surface, accumulates, and runs surface, accumulates, and runs off in large amounts.off in large amounts.

Urban areas attract large Urban areas attract large amounts of traffic on roadwaysamounts of traffic on roadways

Great deal of waste createdGreat deal of waste created

Independence Mall

Because of impervious surfaces such as Because of impervious surfaces such as pavement and rooftops, a typical city block pavement and rooftops, a typical city block generates generates 9 times9 times more runoff than a woodland more runoff than a woodland area of the same size.area of the same size.

Contaminants in urban runoff include:Contaminants in urban runoff include: SedimentSediment Oils and GreasesOils and Greases Heavy MetalsHeavy Metals DebrisDebris Road Road SaltsSalts Fertilizers, Pesticides, and HerbicidesFertilizers, Pesticides, and Herbicides

Lower water depths during non-storm Lower water depths during non-storm periodsperiods

Higher than normal water levels during wet Higher than normal water levels during wet weather periodsweather periods

Increased sediment loadsIncreased sediment loads Higher water temperaturesHigher water temperatures Native fish and other aquatic life are Native fish and other aquatic life are

stressed by run offstressed by run off

Conserve water – inside and outConserve water – inside and out Do not fertilize your lawn before Do not fertilize your lawn before

a rain storm or over-fertilize it so a rain storm or over-fertilize it so that the excess runs off into the that the excess runs off into the streetsstreets

Take your car to a car wash Take your car to a car wash where the water is treated and where the water is treated and recycled.recycled.

Do not pour anything down your Do not pour anything down your storm drain storm drain

Look for alternative forms of Look for alternative forms of transportation, i.e.car pool, transportation, i.e.car pool, public transportation, bike, etc.public transportation, bike, etc.

Clean up after your petsClean up after your pets Smart waste disposal, i.e. recycling, Smart waste disposal, i.e. recycling,

using proper receptacles to dispose of using proper receptacles to dispose of waste and hazardous waste, i.e. car waste and hazardous waste, i.e. car batteries, solvents, pesticides, etc.batteries, solvents, pesticides, etc.

Become involved, join your local Become involved, join your local watershed group or volunteer monitoring watershed group or volunteer monitoring organizationorganization

Get informed, learn all you can about Get informed, learn all you can about your local watershed and about NPS your local watershed and about NPS pollution, with knowledge, we can make pollution, with knowledge, we can make a differencea difference

Or else…Or else…