Watershed Health

What can I do to improve the health of this watershed?

We need your help!  Residents of a watershed have the potential to impact their watershed.  Their practices at their homes can improve or degrade the health of the watershed.

When it rains, storm water runs off roof tops, parking lots, streets, yards, sidewalks and fields, carrying pollutants with it.  This pollution can lead to the destruction of fish, wildlife, and aquatic life habitats; a loss in aesthetic value; and threats to public health.  Degradation to the watershed is common as a result of nonpoint source pollution.  Nonpoint source pollution comes from a multitude of sources from across the land. 

Nonpoint sources of pollution include:
  • The over-application of fertilizer, pesticide and herbicide on lawns and agriculture fields;
  • Oil and other fluid drippings from cars or the improper disposal of them;
  • Dog, horse, cattle and other animal waste;
  • Leaky septic tanks;
  • Soil erosion from bare soil, fields, construction, stream banks, and road ditches; and
  • Road salt.

Often one individual pollutant source does not contribute a large quantity of a pollutant, but collectively, the pollutants from these sources across the landscape have a large and negative impact on water quality.  For more information on nonpoint source pollution and its impacts to water quality read the brochure link on the right.

Improvements to the watershed can be made by partaking in some new habits.  Read the tips in the Homeowner and Agriculture tabs.
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We are part of the effort to keep our water clean. Click on the shareable to learn more.