What is a Watershed? (or Drainage Basin) … the land area that drains runoff (rain or snow) into a lake, stream or river. The boundaries of a watershed, are hilltops and ridges. REVIEW! Source: Doppelt, Bob, Mary Scurlock, Chris Frissell, and James Karr. (1993: xiv). Entering the Watershed: A new approach to save America's River Ecosystems. Washington, DC: Island Press. Copyright: Pacific Rivers Council.
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What is a Watershed? (or Drainage Basin) … the land area that drains runoff (rain or snow) into a lake, stream or river. The boundaries of a watershed,
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What is a Watershed? (or Drainage Basin)
… the land area that drains runoff (rain or snow) into a lake, stream or river.
The boundaries of a watershed,
are hilltops and ridges.
REVIEW!
Source: Doppelt, Bob, Mary Scurlock, Chris Frissell, and James Karr. (1993: xiv). Entering the Watershed: A new approach to save America's River Ecosystems. Washington, DC: Island Press. Copyright: Pacific Rivers Council.
How Does Your Watershed connect
to the Great Lakes Watershed?
REVIEW!
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
What are the Benefits of a Healthy Watershed
Clean water Flood control Good fish & wildlife habitat Greater biodiversity More productive for timber & grazing Higher property values More attractive
Land Uses & Water Pollution Sources
By Joan Schumaker Chadde, Western U.P. Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education. All photos by Chadde, unless otherwise noted.
Christopher Gale
Bill Taft
Land Uses & Water Pollution Sources
Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper:
1.How does what we do on land affect water quality?
2.How does pollution get from one place to another?
What are point and non-point sources of pollution?
Point and Non-point Sources of Water
Pollution
Point = water pollutants discharged from a pipe into lakes and rivers.
Nonpoint = water pollutants carried by runoff over land and into lakes and rivers.
Point source pollution = water pollutants discharged from a pipe
Nonpoint Source Pollution = pollutants carried by water as it runs off over the land. The type of pollutant (sediment, fertilizer, nutrients, pesticides, etc.) depends upon the type of land use.
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Water Quality & Possible Pollutants (Page 69)
•Work with a partner on Pg. 69 to brainstorm at least two possible sources of pollution for each type of pollutant.
•Do this in pencil. We will go over the correct answers before the end of class.
Water Quality & Possible Pollutants (Page 69)
Pollutant Possible Sources
1. Nutrients •Livestock (animal wastes) too close to stream•Fertilizer used on crops or lawns•Human wastes from failing septic systems
2. Sediment •Road crossing a stream•Eroding stream banks•Livestock too close to stream•All-terrain vehicles driving through a stream
3. Bacteria •Failing septic systems•Wastewater treatment plant overflows•Livestock waste too close to stream•Wildlife and pet wastes
Pollutant Possible Sources
4. Pesticides •Residential lawns and gardens•Golf courses and city parks•Crop land
Leading Sources of Water Quality Impairment to Rivers (MICHIGAN*)
1. Physical stream alterations (e.g. channelization or straightening)
2. Agriculture (crop runoff and animal feedlots)3. Sediment4. Industrial Point Source5. Habitat modification (loss of streamside riparian vegetation)6. Combined sewer overflows7. Municipal Point Source8. Construction
Leading pollutants: bacteria, nutrients, metals (primarily mercury), sediment
* 2000 National Water Quality Inventory (EPA report). Data received on 33% of U.S. waters were assessed for this report. http://www.epa.gov/305b/2000report/factsheet.pdf
How can we reduce or prevent pollution ?
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPs)
…are designed to control, prevent, remove, or reduce pollution. Three BMP categories:1. Structural Practices
o Grass or rock-lined drainage ditches.o Fence livestock away from streamo Sedimentation basin for parking lot runoff
2. Vegetative Practiceso Cover crops o Leave tree and shrub “buffer strips” along streams
3. Management Practiceso No till farming (don’t plow)o Rotate pastures used for livestock grazing o No grazing, logging, or building houses right next to a stream
Land Use and Water Quality (pg. 71)
Go back to Page 71 and complete the Best management practices section with the people at your table.
Do this in pencil. We will correct it before the end of the class.
Land Use and Water QualityPhoto Best Management Practice (BMP)
1 •Porous asphalt of pervious concrete•Vegetated islands in parking lot•Runoff retention pond to collect runoff and allow time for infiltration•Reduce parking lot size•Create vegetated or rock-lined drainage channel for storm water runoff to slowly seep into the ground
2 •Maintain vegetated buffer along stream to filter out sediment•Do not locate roads immediately adjacent to streams
3 •Use minimal amounts of pesticides and fertilizers on lawns•Pick up and dispose of pet wastes•Maintain areas of native vegetation to promote infiltration•Irrigate lawn sparingly
4 •Maintain vegetative buffer along streams to slow and filter runoff
Land Use and Water Quality
Photo Best Management Practice (BMP)
5 •Use erosion control fabric to prevent disturbed soil from moving off-site
6 •Maintain vegetative buffer along streams to slow and filter runoff
7 •Maintain vegetative buffer along lake to slow and filter runoff
8 •Maintain vegetative buffer along lake to slow and filter runoff