A geographic region in which all the surface water flows toward
a particular river or other body of water. This geographic region
is determined by topographical boundaries. As water flows over land or
trickles through soils, it recharges surface and ground water. This process
filters out impurities. The concentration of these impurities, the
speed and amount of water, materials the water flows over or through, and
the grade of the land all contribute to the ability of a natural system
to regenerate itself and maintain good water quality. Human activity
has taxed this process by altering land cover thus increasing concentrations
of pollutants.
NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION (NPS)
NPS or "people pollution" is pollution that we generate
every day which is not discharged directly into a waterway.
Every chemical or waste product that can be carried by rainfall into storm
sewers and streams become part of NPS. Common examples of NPS include
fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, spilled motor oil, and animal wastes
from pets, wildlife, and farm animals. Other significant sources
include improperly operating septic systems, erosion from construction
sites and plowed fields, acid rain and runoffs from road ways, and
road salting activities.
When referring to water quality, chemical constituents are primarily
toxic or nutrient pollution.
Nutrient pollution is defined as the result of nutrient overloading.
Aquatic plants require nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus for growth,
but too much of these nutrients can result in excessive growth of algae.
An explosive growth of algae, termed an algal bloom, results in nutrient
overloading. In addition, an algal bloom will deplete the oxygen
supply in the water as it decomposes. Excessive nutrient pollution
may be the result of waste water discharges, improperly functioning septic
systems or storm water run off from agricultural and residential lands
using pesticides or fertilizers.
When referring to water quality, biological constituents are primarily
organic wastes.
Wastes containing organic material require oxygen to decompose.
Large accumulations of organic waste use large amounts of oxygen, leaving
little oxygen for aquatic wildlife. In addition, bacterial (coliform)
levels from human or animal waste can make water unsafe for swimming.
The major land uses in the area of the water shed are agricultural, 46%, urbanized, 42%, wetlands / forested , 12%. The variation in land usage across a watershed area is directly related to the the major issues facing watershed quality. These major issues include increase in population, an issue which applies additional pressure to bodies of water with in the watershed. Development of new housing areas and commercial endeavors takes land away from buffer zones necessary to protect streams and lakes from pollution sources. Leaky Septic systems can slowly discharge coliform and other organic material into the ground-which eventually ends up in the ground water and surface water supplies. Pesticides and fertilizers threaten to contaminate surface and ground water within the watershed. Without a stream corridor or buffer zone, these excessive fertilizers and pesticides can run directly into waterways. To see individual maps of the discussed types of land use and their correlation's to the test sites click on the appropriate land use type.
Agriculture
Urban
Wetlands
Forested
Environmentally
Sensitive