What is a Watershed? (or Drainage Basin) REVIEW! 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. 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! How Does Your Watershed connect to the Great Lakes Watershed? U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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

Land Uses & Water Pollution Sources Christopher Gale Bill Taft By Joan Schumaker Chadde, Western U.P. Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education. All photos by Chadde, unless otherwise noted.

Land Uses & Water Pollution Sources Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper: How does what we do on land affect water quality? 2.How does pollution get from one place to another?

What are land uses? The ways that people use the land. Brainstorm

What are Land Uses? Grazing Farming (Agriculture) Forestry (logging) Mining Recreation (motorized & non-motorized) Residential Commercial Industry Wildlife habitat Preservation (wild & scenic)

What types of pollutants might enter our watershed through land use?

Types of Pollutants? Nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) Sediment (dirt) Bacteria Pesticides Road salt Toxic chemicals Metals (mercury, copper, etc.)

What are point and non-point sources of pollution? http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=60452CEE-1927-475A-A92D-12891E712DD7&blnFromSearch=1

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

Water Quality & Possible Pollutants (Page 78) Work with a partner on Pg. 78 to brainstorm at least two possible sources of pollution for each type of pollutant. Do this in pencil. We will go over the correct answers before the end of class.

Water Quality & Possible Pollutants (Page 78) Possible Sources 1. Nutrients Livestock (animal wastes) too close to stream Fertilizer used on crops or lawns Human wastes from failing septic systems 2. Sediment Road crossing a stream Eroding stream banks Livestock too close to stream All-terrain vehicles driving through a stream 3. Bacteria Failing septic systems Wastewater treatment plant overflows Livestock waste too close to stream Wildlife and pet wastes

Water Quality & Possible Pollutants (Page 78) Possible Sources 4. Pesticides Residential lawns and gardens Golf courses and city parks Crop land 5. Oil, gas, metals Parking lot runoff Leaking underground gasoline storage tanks 6. Salt Highways Industry 7. Toxic materials Land fill Businesses (dry cleaners, etc.)

*Fill in your student sheet (Pg. 80) as you view the slides. Land Use and Water Quality *Fill in your student sheet (Pg. 80) 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?

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#2 Bill Taft

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#4 Dickinson Conservation District Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

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#8 Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

Land Use and Water Quality Photo Land use Possible Pollutants 1 Parking Lot Urban Commercial Development Road salt Sediment Automotive fluids (toxic chemicals) Motor oil (toxic chemicals) 2 Forest management Logging road 3 Homes Neighborhood Residential Pesticides (toxic chemicals) Fertilizers (nutrients) Pet wastes (bacteria & nutrients) 4 Agriculture Livestock grazing Animal feedlot Animal wastes (bacteria & nutrients)

Land Use and Water Quality Photo Land use Possible Pollutants 5 New Construction Sediment 6 Stream channel (straightened due to urban development) Road salt Automotive fluids (toxic chemicals) Motor oil (toxic chemicals) Waterfowl wastes 7 City Urban area 8 Agriculture Cropland Fertilizer Pesticides

Leading Sources of Water Quality Impairment to Rivers (MICHIGAN*) Physical stream alterations (e.g. channelization or straightening) Agriculture (crop runoff and animal feedlots) Sediment Industrial Point Source Habitat modification (loss of streamside riparian vegetation) Combined sewer overflows Municipal Point Source Construction Leading pollutants: organic compounds, pathogens, sediment, mercury, low dissolved oxygen, nutrients, metals (copper, chromium) * 2004 Water Quality and Pollution Control in Michigan: 20004 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. http://www.epa.gov/305b/2000report/factsheet.pdf

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 Grass or rock-lined drainage ditches. Fence livestock away from stream Sedimentation basin for parking lot runoff 2. Vegetative Practices Cover crops Leave tree and shrub “buffer strips” along streams 3. Management Practices No till farming (don’t plow) Rotate pastures used for livestock grazing No grazing, logging, or building houses right next to a stream

Land Use and Water Quality (pg. 80) Go back to Page 80 and complete the Best management practices section with the people at your table. Do this in pencil. We will correct it before the end of the class.

Land Use and Water Quality Photo Best Management Practice (BMP) 1 Porous asphalt of pervious concrete Vegetated islands in parking lot Runoff retention pond to collect runoff and allow time for infiltration Reduce parking lot size Create vegetated or rock-lined drainage channel for storm water runoff to slowly seep into the ground 2 Maintain vegetated buffer along stream to filter out sediment Do not locate roads immediately adjacent to streams 3 Use minimal amounts of pesticides and fertilizers on lawns Pick up and dispose of pet wastes Maintain areas of native vegetation to promote infiltration Irrigate lawn sparingly 4 Maintain vegetative buffer along streams to slow and filter runoff

Land Use and Water Quality Photo Best Management Practice (BMP) 5 Use erosion control fabric to prevent disturbed soil from moving off-site 6 Maintain vegetative buffer along streams to slow and filter runoff 7 Maintain vegetative buffer along lake to slow and filter runoff 8