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. OIt is the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place. OEverywhere you stand on the earth can be divided by different watershed boundaries.

OThey can be broken down into smaller and smaller increments. OWatersheds come in all shapes and sizes. OThey cross county, state, and national boundaries.

GIS Map of school’s watershed inserted here.

OCaused by rain and flood water washing over our nations landscapes, picking up pollutants such as dirt, oil, fertilizer, pesticides, animal waste and other substances OSubstances are then deposited into our rivers, lakes, bays, coastal waters, ground water, and even drinking water supplies. O88% of the impairment of our streams and rivers are caused by polluted runoff.

OAcid Mine Drainage O Agriculture O Urban Runoff

OCaused when water and oxygen flow over iron-bearing minerals such as pyrite or iron-sulfide and form acid. OThen dissolves other minerals and rocks, which contaminate surface and groundwater sources OCaused mainly as a result of abandoned coal mines and currently active mining. ODegrades more than 4,500 stream miles in Region III causing loss of aquatic life, and restricting stream use for recreation, public drinking water and industrial water supplies.

OContaminated drinking water ODisrupted growth and reproduction of aquatic plants and animals OCorroding effects of acid on parts of infrastructure such as bridges

Treatment Pond

OIncludes nutrients, sediment, pathogens and toxics. OIs the leading source of water quality problems in lakes and rivers. OAgricultural Activities That Cause Polluted Agricultural Runoff: O Grazing O Plowing O Pesticide spraying O Irrigation O Fertilizing O Planting O Harvesting

OSedimentation clouds water, reduces the amount of sunlight reaching aquatic plants; covers fish spawning areas and food supplies; and clogs the gills of fish. ORunoff from confined animal facilities carries pathogens (bacteria and viruses), nutrients, and oxygen-demanding substances that contaminate fish and cause other major water quality problems. OPesticides, herbicides, and fungicides can enter and contaminate water through direct application, runoff, wind transport, and atmospheric deposition. OThey can kill fish and wildlife, poison food sources, and destroy the habitat that animals use for protective cover.

OIs the third largest source of water quality impairments to surveyed rivers ONonporous urban landscapes like roads, bridges, parking lots, and buildings don’t let runoff slowly percolate into the ground. OWater remains above the surface, accumulates, and runs off in large amounts. OUrban areas attract large amounts of traffic on roadways OGreat deal of waste created Independence Mall

OBecause of impervious surfaces such as pavement and rooftops, a typical city block generates 9 times more runoff than a woodland area of the same size. OContaminants in urban runoff include: OSediment OOils and Greases OHeavy Metals ODebris ORoad Salts OFertilizers, Pesticides, and Herbicides

O Lower water depths during non-storm periods O Higher than normal water levels during wet weather periods O Increased sediment loads O Higher water temperatures O Native fish and other aquatic life are stressed by run off

OConserve water – inside and out ODo not fertilize your lawn before a rain storm or over-fertilize it so that the excess runs off into the streets OTake your car to a car wash where the water is treated and recycled. ODo not pour anything down your storm drain OLook for alternative forms of transportation, i.e.car pool, public transportation, bike, etc.

OClean up after your pets OSmart waste disposal, i.e. recycling, using proper receptacles to dispose of waste and hazardous waste, i.e. car batteries, solvents, pesticides, etc. OBecome involved, join your local watershed group or volunteer monitoring organization OGet informed, learn all you can about your local watershed and about NPS pollution, with knowledge, we can make a difference

Or else…