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 Overview What is a watershed? What are the benefits of a healthy watershed? What are land uses? What types of pollution can come from different land uses? 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 watershed do you live in? 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 Grazing Farming Forestry (logging) Mining Wildlife habitat Recreation (motorized & non-motorized) Residential Commercial Preservation (wild & scenic) What are Land Uses? What are land uses? The ways that people use the land. o Nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) o Sediment (dirt) o Bacteria o Pesticides o Road salt o Toxic chemicals o Metals (mercury, copper, etc.) What are Types of Pollutants? 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 *Fill in your student sheet as you view the slides Identify the land use shown in the photo? Identify what type of pollutants might result from the land use (shown in the photo) and possibly affect the water quality of a nearby stream? Look at the following slides #1 Bill Taft #2 #3 #4 Dickinson Conservation District Michigan Department of Environmental Quality #5 #6 #7 #8 Michigan Department of Environmental Quality 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. Sediment 4. Industrial Point Source 5. Habitat modification (loss of streamside riparian vegetation) 6. Combined sewer overflows 7. Municipal Point Source 8. Construction Leading pollutants: organic compounds, pathogens, sediment, mercury, low dissolved oxygen, nutrients, metals (copper, chromium) * 2004 Water Quality and Pollution Control in Michigan: Sections 303(d) and 305(b) Integrated Report, MI DEQ Water Division, page34. Leading Sources of Water Quality Impairment to Rivers (U.S.*) 1. Agricultural runoff (farming and livestock) 2. Municipal point sources (sewage treatment plants) 3. Streamside habitat changes (channelization, dredging, flow modifications) 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. 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 stream o Sedimentation basin for parking lot runoff 2. Vegetative Practices o Cover crops o Leave tree and shrub buffer strips along streams 3. Management Practices o No till farming (dont plow) o Rotate pastures used for livestock grazing o No grazing, logging, or building houses right next to a stream