Activities That Negatively and Positively Affect Watershed

Activities that Negatively Affect Watershed

1.      Improper use of lawn or crop fertilizers and manure.

Environmental effect:

Improper use of fertilizers and manure stimulates algae blooms. This may result to sunlight reduction that reaches the bottom of the stream, limiting plant growth. Rapid accumulation of dead algae decomposes aerobically, robbing other stream animals of oxygen.

2.      Various underground storage tank leakage, surface spills, illegal discharges, chlorine from swimming pool drainage.

Environmental effect:

Various leakage, spills, and discharges can have an immediate effect on stream biota at high enough levels. This activity may be chronic, eliminating the more sensitive species and disrupting ecosystem balance over time.

3.      Poorly managed construction sites, winter road sand, instream erosion, bare soils, improper agricultural practices, overgrazing.

Environmental effect:

            Clogs gills of fish and insects, embeds substrate, reducing available habitat and potential fish spawning areas.

4.      Sewage leaks, domestic and livestock wastes, yard wastes dumped into streams.

Environmental effect:

            Human health hazard (pathogens), similar oxygen depletion situation as Nutrients. Causes Benthic community shift to favor filter feeders as well as organisms with low oxygen requirements.

5.      Water impoundments (lakes or ponds). Industrial discharges and power plants.

Environmental effect:

            Biological community structure altered, shift to species tolerant of higher temperatures, sensitive species lost.

6.      Removal of riparian tree cover along streams. Runoff from hot paved surfaces.

Environmental effect: Dissolved oxygen depleted.

7.      In very urban areas, concrete, metal, and riprap stabilization of stream banks. Stream channelization, flood erosion control.

Environmental effect:

Major habitat reduction/elimination, changes flow regime dramatically. Dramatic alteration of biological communities can cause thermal loading and sediment problems. Transfer erosion potential downstream.

8.      Conversion of forested/ natural areas to impervious surfaces. Increases amount and rate of surface runoff and erosion.

Environmental effect:

            Overall channel instability, habitat degradation or loss.

9.      Clearing or mowing of vegetation all the way up to stream banks.

Environmental effect:

            Increase water temperature, greater pollution input, less groundwater recharge, greater erosion potential from stream banks. Alters community composition.

10.  Deforestation

Environmental effect: Deforestation increases soil erosion, leading to an increase of sediments in waters.

 Activities That Promote the Health of Watershed

1.      Help young trees grow, and reforest areas that have few trees, especially close to water sources.

In case of low rainfall, the soil can retain moisture for a long time thereby benefiting plants and animals alike. Plants exhibit transpiration which is a way in which they release excess water into the atmosphere. This also offers a cooling effect in the environment around thereby reducing the buildup of heat. This further leads to more soil water retention.

2.      Conserve water every day.

Saving water means having water available in the future. Conservation helps to preserve our environment. It reduces the energy required to process and deliver water, which helps in reducing pollution and in conserving fuel resources.

3.      Fix leaks & turn off the water when not in use.

Having regular maintenance of the plumbing at your house helps you eliminate the possibility of experiencing unexpected burst pipe or other plumbing failure which results to wastage of water resources.

4.      Don’t pour toxic household chemicals down the drain; take them to a hazardous waste center.

Pouring hazardous household products down the sink or flushing them down the toilet harms the water systems. Toxic materials in that wastewater can kill the helpful bacteria and the system will not operate properly. Some toxic materials move through the soil untreated or unchanged. When this happens ground water or surface waters may become contaminated.

5.      Use hardy plants that require little or no watering, fertilizers or pesticides in your yard.

Some plants require frequent mowing and maintenance, resulting in toxic emissions and are a total water guzzler, where most lawns require about 1.5 inches of water per week just to survive. In this sense we can see how hardy plants that require little or no watering, fertilizers or pesticides in our yard beneficial in conserving water resources.

Also, consider using organic or slow release fertilizers instead.

6.      Recycle yard waste in a compost pile & use a mulching mower.

Solid waste management is everyone’s responsibility. Each person should be able to find new and more effective ways to lessen the community’s dependence on landfills. An important area in which we can reduce waste is in our own back yard. Yard waste can represent up to 20% of the solid waste stream. Gardening practices which can be used to reduce yard waste include leaving grass clippings on the lawn, mulching and composting.

7.      Use surfaces like wood, brick or gravel for decks & walkways.

Allows rain to soak in & not run off.

8.      Never pour used oil or antifreeze into the storm drain or the street.

Motor oil or antifreeze can damage or kill underwater plants animals. Put used oil or antifreeze in a sturdy container and take it to a local service station or other approved center. Polluted stormwater runoff can harm plants, fish, animals, people, and it can even pollute our drinking water sources.

9.      Dispose pet waste properly.

Pet waste left on the street or lawn does not just go away or fertilize the grass. Rain washes pet waste down storm drains and into waterways like rivers, bays, and beaches. This can make people sick from salmonella, E. coli, and other infections. Pet waste also provides a nitrogen source for algae blooms, which deplete the water of oxygen and can make people and animals sick.

10.  Drive less - walk or bike

Many pollutants in our waters come from car exhaust and car leaks. Oil that leaks from our cars onto roads and driveways is washed into storm drains, and then usually flows directly into a lake or stream. Oil, antifreeze, and break fluids contain heavy metals that can harm aquatic wildlife.

REFERENCES:

Human Impacts Upon Watersheds. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://loudounwildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/SM_Human_Impacts.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0s9-ljOlXEgki9L5PI16quy34uY2IBY3bFTjUnVRuKflYXZ4jo9ML7lc0

Journey with Nature: Watersheds 101. (n.d.). Retrieved from The Nature of Cpnservancy: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/indiana/stories-in-indiana/watersheds-101/?fbclid=IwAR2Z3bWGO3Xn619E_f2dY1v7qPeiq7ADJwtSL03o2XHYI6S4LhS-CkQREhk

The Effects of Human Activity on Surface and Ground Water in a Watershed. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.allenisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001197/Centricity/Domain/1400/Watershed%20Kiser%202015.pdf?fbclid=IwAR39JyFHqnk3KzW0hpHkRDwqretTSzHKme0lOSFAh3Sj55Yk7s26CXbIGQM