What is a Watershed??? A watershed can be found almost anywhere. It is defined as the flow of water from a high to low place, over or under land.A watershed.

What is a Watershed???What is a Watershed???

• A watershed can be A watershed can be found almost anywhere. found almost anywhere. It is defined as the flow It is defined as the flow of water from a high to of water from a high to low place, over or under low place, over or under land.land.

• Whenever you see a Whenever you see a creek, stream, river, creek, stream, river, delta, lake or ocean you delta, lake or ocean you see a part of the see a part of the watershed.watershed.

Processes like Acidic Mine Drainage only further the problem, while utilizing products such as Bio-diesil will slow it down.

What’s happening to the What’s happening to the Watershed?Watershed?

Local watersheds are in Local watersheds are in danger from many danger from many threats such as threats such as agricultural runoff, acid agricultural runoff, acid rain, development and rain, development and more. more.

This usually means that actions taken by local politicians reflect a view that nothing is wrong because they can not see anything on their doorstep.

The kinds of dangers created result in problems that can only be seen down stream.

Agricultural RunoffAgricultural Runoff

• Agricultural runoff Agricultural runoff is one of the is one of the leading causes of leading causes of bad water quality bad water quality that affects our that affects our lakes, rivers, and lakes, rivers, and other waterways.other waterways.

Why Is Agricultural Runoff A Why Is Agricultural Runoff A Problem?Problem?

• Runoff can pick up various substancesRunoff can pick up various substances• These pollutants flow directly into sewer These pollutants flow directly into sewer

systems, lakes, streams, and rivers.systems, lakes, streams, and rivers.• During storm water overflow, anything During storm water overflow, anything

that enters a storm sewer system is that enters a storm sewer system is discharged untreated into the water discharged untreated into the water bodies we use for swimming, fishing, and bodies we use for swimming, fishing, and providing drinking water.providing drinking water.

• It can take centuries for some water It can take centuries for some water bodies to recover.bodies to recover.

There Are Four Main Pollutants There Are Four Main Pollutants Entering Our Waterways Entering Our Waterways because of Agricultural Activitybecause of Agricultural Activity

• NitrogenNitrogen

• PhosphorusPhosphorus

• SedimentsSediments

• Fecal MatterFecal Matter

Agriculture Contributes Agriculture Contributes Pollutants To WaterwaysPollutants To Waterways

• Overgrazed pasturesOvergrazed pastures• Excess fertilizers and Excess fertilizers and

pesticides pesticides • Livestock in streams Livestock in streams • Other ContributorsOther Contributors

Solutions to Agricultural RunoffSolutions to Agricultural Runoff

• Keep livestock away from stream banks and provide Keep livestock away from stream banks and provide them a water source away from water bodies.them a water source away from water bodies.

• Store and apply manure away from water bodies and Store and apply manure away from water bodies and in accordance with a nutrient management plan.in accordance with a nutrient management plan.

• Rotate animal grazing to prevent soil erosion in Rotate animal grazing to prevent soil erosion in fields.fields.

• Apply fertilizers and pesticides according to label Apply fertilizers and pesticides according to label instructions to save money and minimize pollution.instructions to save money and minimize pollution.• Use water and sediment control basins.Use water and sediment control basins.• Keep nearby waterways grassy to prevent the amount Keep nearby waterways grassy to prevent the amount of runoff that enters water bodies.of runoff that enters water bodies.

The Fuel of the Future

BiodieselBiodiesel

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that is Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that is created with corn and soybean oils created with corn and soybean oils

This is a cleaner burning fuel compared to This is a cleaner burning fuel compared to fossil fuels and it’s non-toxic, about 10 less fossil fuels and it’s non-toxic, about 10 less toxic than table salttoxic than table salt

Biodiesel can be used in everyday diesel Biodiesel can be used in everyday diesel cars and trucks with slightly lower energy cars and trucks with slightly lower energy output, but it increases the lubricity of the output, but it increases the lubricity of the engine engine

Petroleum UsagePetroleum Usage Fossil fuels – coal, oil and Fossil fuels – coal, oil and

natural gas -- currently natural gas -- currently provide more than 85% of provide more than 85% of all the energy consumed in all the energy consumed in the United States, nearly the United States, nearly two-thirds of our electricity, two-thirds of our electricity, and almost all of our and almost all of our transportation fuels. transportation fuels. 

In 2004, the U.S. was In 2004, the U.S. was

using 19.4 million barrels using 19.4 million barrels of petroleum per day which of petroleum per day which is about 3 gallons of gas is about 3 gallons of gas everyday per personeveryday per person

Biodiesel BenefitsBiodiesel Benefits

78% less carbon dioxide 78% less carbon dioxide than normal petroleum than normal petroleum diesel and approximately diesel and approximately 50% less carbon monoxide50% less carbon monoxide

5% less methane which is 5% less methane which is another cause of the another cause of the “Greenhouse Effect”“Greenhouse Effect”

Compared to petroleum, Compared to petroleum, Biodiesel emission of Biodiesel emission of particulates 65 %, which particulates 65 %, which are small particles of solid are small particles of solid combustion products combustion products

According to the According to the Department of Energy, this Department of Energy, this reduces cancer risks by up reduces cancer risks by up to 94 % to 94 %

Availability Availability

Refueling sites are all over Refueling sites are all over the countrythe country

Many concentrated in the Many concentrated in the mid-west in such states as mid-west in such states as Indiana, Iowa, and Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska Nebraska

The use of these plants The use of these plants has driven up the prices of has driven up the prices of grain, helping the farms in grain, helping the farms in that area.that area.

Acid Mine Drainage is the number one cause of water pollution in every single Appalachian coal mining state in the US.

A mine with acid mine drainage has the potential for long-term damage and devastating impacts on rivers, streams, and aquatic life.

What is Acid Mine Drainage What is Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)?(AMD)?

Drainage flowing from or caused by surface mining, deep mining or coal refuse piles that is typically highly acidic

with elevated levels of dissolved metals.

How is AMD formed?How is AMD formed?

AMD is formed by a series of complex chemical reactions that occur when water comes in contact with pyrite (iron disulfide minerals) in coal. Exposed pyrite reacts with air

and water to form sulfuric acid and dissolved iron.

Impacts of AMDImpacts of AMD

Effects aquatic life by eliminating most of Effects aquatic life by eliminating most of algae, macroinvertebrates, and fish algae, macroinvertebrates, and fish

Causes water to be unfit for drinking and Causes water to be unfit for drinking and household purposes (ex: unpleasant household purposes (ex: unpleasant tastes, laxative effects, laundry staining, tastes, laxative effects, laundry staining, and scum in sinks and tubs)and scum in sinks and tubs)

Leads to corrosion of navigation locks and Leads to corrosion of navigation locks and dams, ships and barges, bridges, pipelines dams, ships and barges, bridges, pipelines and plumbingand plumbing

Approaches for Treating AMDApproaches for Treating AMD

Active Chemical Active Chemical TreatmentTreatment

treatment uses treatment uses chemicals to neutralize chemicals to neutralize the acidity the acidity

Chemicals used are Chemicals used are hydrated lime, pebble hydrated lime, pebble quicklime, caustic quicklime, caustic soda, soda ash soda, soda ash briquettes, and briquettes, and ammonia ammonia

Passive TreatmentPassive Treatment

do not require continuous do not require continuous chemical inputs because chemical inputs because they are based on naturally they are based on naturally occurring chemical and occurring chemical and biological processes biological processes

technologies include technologies include constructed wetlands, constructed wetlands, anoxic limestone drains, anoxic limestone drains, successive alkalinity successive alkalinity producing systems, producing systems, limestone ponds, and open limestone ponds, and open limestone channels. limestone channels.

What they’re doing nowWhat they’re doing now

Since 1977 Coal Operators have been required to contribute $.35 per ton of coal mined to a Trust Fund that is to be used for reclamation of abandoned coal mines. This fund’s balance in 1998 is estimated at $1.36 Billion.

In West Virginia alone, 2 sites that pose public health and property hazards costs around $2.5 billion to reclaim.

Over 12,000 miles of streams in the US are poisoned by acid mine drainage and only $204 million per year is being released by the federal government to all of the country to clean up the pollution.

Is this enough?Is this enough?

What can we do?What can we do?

Contact your Federal Legislators and ask Contact your Federal Legislators and ask them to put pressure on the federal them to put pressure on the federal government to release it to the states to government to release it to the states to create jobs and clean up the streamscreate jobs and clean up the streams

Volunteer with your local watershed Volunteer with your local watershed coalition or donate money to help keep coalition or donate money to help keep your local streams cleanyour local streams clean

Acid Rain in Acid Rain in generalgeneral

• Acid Rain is caused mainly by two different Acid Rain is caused mainly by two different pollutants.pollutants.

• Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides.Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides.• It occurs when these pollutants enter into It occurs when these pollutants enter into

the atmosphere.the atmosphere.• Once they are in the atmosphere, they mix Once they are in the atmosphere, they mix

with the moisture and falls as acidic rain. with the moisture and falls as acidic rain.

The specificsThe specifics• The pH of average water is at 6 or a little below.The pH of average water is at 6 or a little below.• Acid Rain is very destructive and is classified Acid Rain is very destructive and is classified

with a pH below 5.6.with a pH below 5.6.• Since Acid Rain has such a low pH, it can Since Acid Rain has such a low pH, it can

destroy trees, pollute water, and kill animals in destroy trees, pollute water, and kill animals in the environment.the environment.

• It is also harmful to humans because it can It is also harmful to humans because it can severely burn the skin.severely burn the skin.

Why we should save Why we should save energyenergy

• We need to save energy to prevent acid rain. If We need to save energy to prevent acid rain. If everyone in Jefferson County turned off a light everyone in Jefferson County turned off a light when it wasn’t being of use, the power plants when it wasn’t being of use, the power plants would put off less harmful pollutants because of would put off less harmful pollutants because of the drop in energy usage.the drop in energy usage.

• So if we all use less energy, then it will So if we all use less energy, then it will significantly prevent acid rain occurrence.significantly prevent acid rain occurrence.

The Suburban Sprawl The Suburban Sprawl EffectEffect

This is the World…

This is the World…On Suburban Sprawl!

The Damaging EffectsThe Damaging Effects

Houses are built for people to live in.

•Lower water table =

plant life suffers(roots can’t reach water)

•Lower water table = locals have to dig deeper wells

•Reduced permeable surface area = lower water table

There are nice rural areas.

•Run off from vehicles and acid rain =

more toxins in local water supply

•Lower water table =

plants die, mud slides and flooding occur

Why me?

The Humanity factorThe Humanity factor In the city, it’s an accepted belief that one In the city, it’s an accepted belief that one

does not have to interact with their does not have to interact with their neighbors; this spreads to the country.neighbors; this spreads to the country.

These cookie cutter neighborhoods don’t These cookie cutter neighborhoods don’t always pay taxes to their local area always pay taxes to their local area reducing the outlying community’s ability reducing the outlying community’s ability to provide for their children.to provide for their children.

4 hour commute + 8 hour work day = 4 hour commute + 8 hour work day = tired individuals with little time for their tired individuals with little time for their families.families.

Threats like those produced from Threats like those produced from agricultural runoff and suburban agricultural runoff and suburban sprawl are destroying our and sprawl are destroying our and

our children’s chances for saving our children’s chances for saving this world or even maintaining its this world or even maintaining its

current status.current status.

What can be done?What can be done?

From picking up trash, using better fuel From picking up trash, using better fuel sources and reducing toxic emissions to sources and reducing toxic emissions to

passing laws that support saving the passing laws that support saving the environment, you can help!environment, you can help!

Jefferson County Jefferson County Watershed CoalitionWatershed Coalition

We would like to see our group have We would like to see our group have more hours earlier in the year so that our more hours earlier in the year so that our group can gain a more full experience group can gain a more full experience under this organization. under this organization.

We would also like to see more We would also like to see more communication between our advisor and communication between our advisor and out group. (possibly replace a shepherd out group. (possibly replace a shepherd advisor with a member of the community)advisor with a member of the community)

By:

Watershed!Stephanie SudduethDemetrius Exum

Patrick NolandRex Barkdoll

Matt Benjamin

That’s watershed folks!That’s watershed folks!