Making the Connection:
Our Landscape, Our Stream,
Our Watershed
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Water Smart Training
Let’s start with the watershed
Quick reminder …
A Watershed is an area of
land that drains to a single
outlet.
Center for Watershed Protection
Your storm drain
Gulf of Mexico or
Atlantic Ocean
Courtesy TX Sea Grant
Point Source Pollution
• Traditional focus of water
quality protection
• Direct discharges from
factories, industrial
complexes, or
wastewater treatment
plants
• Point source discharges
have largely been
addressed since passage
of the Clean Water Act
NEMO
• New focus of water
quality protection
Nonpoint Source Pollution
• Stormwater runoff carries
variety of pollutants to
streams, rivers, and bays
• Nonpoint source pollution
(or polluted runoff) comes
from many sources - We
all play a role in
minimizing its impacts
NEMO
Major Pollutant Categories
Nutrients
Pathogens
Sediment
Toxic
Contaminants
Debris
Thermal Stress
The Pollutants in Polluted Runoff
 Nutrients
Pathogens
Sediment
Toxic Contaminants
Debris
Thermal Stress
Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are
substances needed for plant growth, but
elevated levels can cause a health hazard in
drinking water and stimulate excessive aquatic
plant growth, which can ultimately lower
dissolved oxygen levels.
Sources: animal waste, fertilizers, septic
systems, auto emissions
The Pollutants in Polluted Runoff
Nutrients
 Pathogens
Sediment
Toxic Contaminants
Debris
Thermal Stress
Pathogens are disease-causing bacteria and
viruses associated with the presence of fecal
matter that cause shellfish bed and beach
closures.
Sources: failing septic systems, animal
waste, marine sanitation devices
The Pollutants in Polluted Runoff
Nutrients
Pathogens
 Sediment
Toxic Contaminants
Debris
Thermal Stress
Sediment is eroded soil or sand which smothers
aquatic habitat, carries pollutants, and reduces
water clarity.
Sources: road sand, construction sites,
agricultural fields, disturbed areas
Photo courtesy of Weeks Bay Watershed Project
The Pollutants in Polluted Runoff
Nutrients
Pathogens
Sediment
 Toxic Contaminants
Debris
Thermal Stress
Toxic contaminants are compounds like heavy
metals and pesticides that can threaten the
health of both aquatic and human life, and are
often resistant to breakdown.
Sources: industrial, commercial, household
and agricultural chemicals; auto emissions
The Pollutants in Polluted Runoff
Nutrients
Pathogens
Sediment
Toxic Contaminants
 Debris
Thermal
Stress
Debris includes plastics and other trash that
threaten aquatic life and detract from recreational
and aesthetic values.
Sources: illegal dumping, street litter, beach
litter, boating waste
Photo courtesy of Weeks Bay Watershed Project
The Pollutants in Polluted Runoff
Nutrients
Pathogens
Sediment
Toxic Contaminants
Debris
Thermal Stress
Thermal stress is an elevation in water
temperature that can harm native species while
helping nonnative species to spread.
Sources: runoff from heat-absorbing
impervious surfaces, removal of streamside
vegetation, shallow water impoundments,
decreased base flow
A Quick Quiz
Now that you are WaterSmart,
select the healthy streams
What were the ‘unhealthy’
streams missing?
What were the ‘unhealthy’ streams missing?
• Vegetation!
• Diverse Habitats
• Good Water Quality
Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices, 10/98, by the
Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group (FISRWG)."
Streamside Forests
(also known as riparian buffers)
• Trees, shrubs, herbs, and
grasses are critical to the
health of streams
• Buffers are the first line of
defense against the
impacts of polluted runoff
• natural vegetation buffers
are especially critical in
urban areas
Natural disturbances
to streams
• Beavers
• Fallen Trees
• Earthquake
Man-made disturbances to streams
• Impervious Surfaces
What happens with
increased impervious
surfaces?
1. Increased discharge
2. Increased peak discharge
3. Increased velocities
4. Shorter time to peak flow
5. More frequent bankfull events
6. Increased flooding
7. Lower stream baseflow
8. Less ground water recharge
Atlanta, Georgia
Courtesy NCSU
How does this impact
stream health?
*Stream Condition Related to Impervious Surface
Good
Protected
Fair
Impaired
Degraded
Poor
0
10
20
30
40
50
% Impervious
From Schueler, 2002
Urban
Drainage
Network
60
70
80
Trivia Question …
How much of the U.S. is paved?
a) Maryland
b) Alabama
c) Ohio
d) Wyoming
Trivia Question …
How much of the U.S. is paved?
a) Maryland
b) Alabama
c) Ohio
d) Wyoming
112,610 square kilometers – slightly larger than the area covered by
wetlands in the lower 48 states – C. Elvidge, EOS, June 2004,
NOAA Geophysical Data Center
Growing Pains
• US population is growing at a rate of 3 million
people per year
• 10,000 miles of roads are constructed
annually
St. Clair County, Friends of Rural AL
What about our area?
• Southeast is one of the most rapidly
growing areas in the United States
• In 2006, more than half of the population
growth in the USA occurred in southern
states.
Stream Stability Impacts
When streams receive too
much stormwater too quickly,
they may no longer keep their
shape. Some solutions to
streambank collapse include
stone …
Man-made disturbances to streams
• Impervious Surfaces
• Channelizing
• Armoring
Channelizing
• Increases erosion, water
is moving faster
• Eliminates habitats
Armoring
• Eliminates habitats
• Increases temperature
• Makes the stream a
ditch.
What is Watershed Management?
Planning
Protection
Education
Conservation
Regulation
Restoration
Making the Connection:
Our Landscape, Our Stream,
Our Watershed
Stream Assessment
Water Smart Training
Stream Health
Assessments:
• Visual
• Chemical
• Biological
Stream Assessment
Simple
Highly Technical
Visual Assessment
• What would you look for?
Visual Assessment
High Potential to Impact Streams
• Hydrologic modifications (dams, bridges,
pipes, man-made waterfalls)
Visual Assessment
High Potential to Impact Streams
• Length of stream affected
by stream alterations such
as:
– Culverts
– Channelizing / dredging
– Concrete bottom / bank
– Rip-rap / gabion banks
– Cattle crossings
Visual Assessment
High Potential to Impact Streams
• Extent of streamside plant cover – width
and type of vegetation
Minimal vegetation
Thick vegetation
Exotic vegetation
Visual Assessment
Invasive, Non-native
Plants
• Not all streamside
forests are equal.
• What is your least
favorite invasive,
non-native plant?
Invasive, Non-native
Plants
• Chinese privet
• Japanese
Honeysuckle
• Japanese Climbing
Fern
• Stilt Grass
(Microstegium)
• Wisteria
• Cogon Grass
• Kudzu
Invasive, Non-native
Plants
• Low habitat value
• May not be providing
erosion control
• Often suppress
regeneration of our
native vegetation
• Remove and replace
with native vegetation
Visual Assessment
In-stream Characteristics
Visual Assessment
Note Stream Feature
Diversity
• Riffles
• Pools
• Runs
Visual Assessment
Riffles
Characterized by
rapid flow carrying
small particles in
suspension, coarse
sediments on stream
bed, and removal of
finer sediments
Visual Assessment
Importance of Riffles
• Areas of oxygenation
• Highly diverse
substrate and habitat
• Diverse
macroinvertebrate
population
Visual Assessment
Pools
Regions of slower
water current
characterized by the
deposition of finer
sediments
Visual Assessment
Importance of Pools
• Refuge for fish during
low flow, drought
periods
• Rest stop and food
area for fish
• Predator refuge for
young fish
Visual Assessment
Runs
• Runs are deep with fast water and little or
no turbulence.
US EPA Stream Walk
Visual Assessment
Water Appearance
• Clear - colorless, transparent
• Milky - cloudy-white or grey, not transparent; might be natural or due to
pollution
• Foamy - might be natural or due to pollution, generally detergents or
nutrients (foam that is several inches high and does not brush apart
easily is generally due to some sort of pollution)
• Turbid - cloudy brown due to suspended silt or organic material
• Dark brown - might indicate that acids are being released into the stream
due to decaying plants
• Oily sheen - multicolored reflection might indicate oil floating in the
stream, although some sheens are natural
• Orange - might indicate acid drainage
• Green - might indicate excess nutrients being released into the stream
Visual Assessment
Water Odor
• No smell or a natural odor
• Sewage - might indicate the release of human waste
material
• Chlorine - might indicate over-chlorinated sewage
treatment/water treatment plant or swimming pool
discharges
• Fishy - might indicate excessive algal growth or dead
fish
• Rotten eggs - might indicate sewage pollution (the
presence of methane from anaerobic conditions)
Do your homework
• Maps & Photos - reviewing aerial photos or maps
before traveling to a stream may yield interesting
information about its watershed
• Google Earth, TerraServer, TopoZone
Photo Points
• At least one photo point should be selected for each
stream segment assessed
– Useful to record change over time
– Helps describe the need for protection or restoration
2004
2005
2006
Monitoring Parameters
Overview of Chemical and Physical
monitoring for stream health
Quick Note
• Be wary of drawing conclusions based on
one monitoring data point
• It’s important to get to know your stream
and its trends … helps to better describe
what is truly going on
Chemical / Physical Assessment
Turbidity
• Water clarity (or lack of)
• Brown = erosion/runoff
• Green = phytoplankton
• High turbidity limits sunlight penetration
• Sedimentation
Weeks Bay Watershed Project
Chemical / Physical Assessment
Water Temperature
• Lower than air temp and slower to change
• Daily/Seasonal cycle
• Affects:
• Water’s physical and chemical properties
• Feeding, reproduction, and metabolic rates of
organisms
• Dissolved Oxygen levels
• Temp stratification in low flow systems
Chemical / Physical Assessment
Water Temperature
• Increases may be caused by:
• Industrial or power plant discharges
• Loss of vegetative cover
• Runoff from hot impervious cover
• Thermal pollution
• Lowers DO
• Stress on aquatic organisms
Chemical / Physical Assessment
Dissolved Oxygen
• O2 dissolves in the aquatic environment through:
• Aquatic plants
• Atmospheric diffusion (riffles!)
• At least 10,000 times more concentrated in air
than water
Chemical / Physical Assessment
Dissolved Oxygen
• Decreases:
– As temperature increases
• Daily/seasonal cycles
• Affected by thermal pollution
– With depth
• DO stratification
• Jubilees (pictured at right)
– With Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
• Decomposition of organic matter
• Possible fish kills
Chemical / Physical Assessment
Dissolved Oxygen
•  5.0 mg/L (mg/L) optimal for aquatic life
•  2.0 mg/L lethal
0-2 mg/L
2-4 mg/L
4-7 mg/L
7-11 mg/L
Not enough oxygen to support
life
Only a few kinds of fish and
insects can survive
Good for most kinds of
organisms
Very good for most stream fish
From the Alabama Water Watch Basic
Certification Workbook
Chemical / Physical Assessment
pH
• 0 (acidic) to 14 (basic)
– Optimal range for life
6.5-8.5
 Rainwater ~ 6.0
– < 4.0 and > 10.0 lethal
• Fluctuates seasonally/daily
• Natural waters reflect the pH of the substrate they
flow across
Chemical / Physical Assessment
pH
• Affected by discharges from:
• Industrial
• Municipal
• Agriculture
• Decreases may indicate:
• Acid rain
• Acid mine drainage
• Livestock wastes
Chemical / Physical Assessment
Nitrates (NO3)
• A naturally occurring form of N, expressed
as NO3-N
• Unpolluted water generally < 1 mg/L
• >10 mg/L unsafe for drinking water
Chemical / Physical Assessment
Nitrates (NO3)
• High levels result from:
• Agriculture
• Stormwater runoff
– May also indicate:
• Sewage overflow
• Fertilizers
• Animal wastes
Dr. Mimi Fearn
• Can lead to algal blooms, low DO/fish kills
Rapid Aquatic Insect
Assessment
Bioassessment
• Use of living organisms to evaluate
environmental conditions
– Plankton
– Fish (Index of Biotic Integrity)
– Benthic Macroinvertebrates
Benthic Macroinvertebrates
Benthic = bottom dwelling organisms that
live in, crawl upon, or attach themselves to
the substrate
Macroinvertebrate = can be seen without a
microscope, no backbone
Bioindicators
• Aquatic macroinvertebrates are used to
assess the relative health of a stream system
and its watershed
– relatively immobile -they will ‘take a hit’ with
water pollution
– are easy to capture, relatively abundant
and easy to distinguish
– have diverse communities with varying
levels of tolerance to pollution
Common benthic
macroinvertebrates
include:
– insects (stonefly, dragonfly)
– annelids (aquatic
earthworms, leeches)
– crustaceans (amphipods,
crayfish shrimps)
– mollusks (clams and snails)
Categories
Functional Feeding
Groups
–
–
–
–
Shredders
Grazers
Collectors
Predators
Pollution Tolerance
– Sensitive
– Somewhat tolerant
– Tolerant
Shredders
• Commonly
found in leaf
packs
Collectors – Filter Feeders
• Filter organic
matter from
water column
Caddisfly nets,
OH DNR
Grazers
• Feeds on periphyton
attached to rocks,
large woody debris
Predators
• Feed on other
organisms
Pollution Tolerance
• Range of tolerances
– Chemical
– Physical
– Biological
• Presence or absence and relative
abundance of organisms indicates how
‘good’ or ‘bad’ the environment is
• When environmental conditions decline,
intolerant or pollution sensitive species are
the first to disappear.
• Leaves a ‘vacuum’ filled by greater
numbers of more tolerant organisms
Pollution Tolerance Levels
• Highly sensitive to
pollution or stream
habitat alteration
Pollution Tolerance Levels
• Wide range of
tolerance to pollution
or stream habitat
alteration
Pollution Tolerance Levels
• Generally tolerant of
pollution or stream
habitat alteration
EPT Index
• This measures the total number of species
within the orders Ephemeroptera (mayfly),
Plecoptera (stonefly), and Trichoptera
(caddisfly)
• Mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies generally
require high levels of dissolved oxygen
• A high EPT Index generally indicates a stream
and watershed with low disturbance and
pollution levels
Bio-Assess Protocol
• Separate macroinvertebrates into pollution
tolerance categories and score stream
(Example: Alabama Water Watch protocol)
Letter code represents numbers of
individuals
• R = 1 – 3 Rare
• C = 4 – 9 Common
• A = 10 and greater Abundant
Final Bio-Assess Score
• Sum the three categories:
–
–
–
–
Excellent > 22
Good 17-22
Fair 11-16
Poor <11
• Use score for comparison over time - what
is changing (taxa, abundance)?
Bacteria Monitoring
• Indicators of untreated animal waste
– E. coli
– Fecal coliform
Bacteria Monitoring
• Simple, inexpensive tests available to
detect and count numbers of E. coli
colonies present in known quantity of
water
Blue colonies = E. coli
Alabama Water Watch:
What Citizen Monitoring of Urban
Watersheds Reveals
Flint River Conservation Association (Huntsville)
Tri-River Region Water Watch (Montgomery)
Dog River Clear Water Revival (Mobile)
Flint River
Huntsville
DISSOLVED OXYGEN IN THE FLINT RIVER WATERSHED
Means and Ranges, Nov. 1994 – June 2001
Total Number of Observations = 285
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Lesson From the Flint River
Conservation Association
Citizen volunteers can detect environmental
gradients showing both degradation and
recovery.
Millie’s Creek
Montgomery
Chronic Low Dissolved Oxygen in Summer
A Gradient of Alkalinity in
Montgomery Area Streams
Total Alkalinity (mg/L)
250
200
150
100
50
0
Ramer
Catoma
Harwell
Chubb.
Bars represent the average value of Total Alkalinity, agency bars (green) are averages of 134 readings
measured by ADEM and Montgomery Water Works; Tri-River Region Water Watch bars (yellow) are
averages of 125 readings from 1999-2002.
SOILS of
ALABAMA
Diverse Soil Types in the Montgomery Area
Piedmont
Coastal Plain
Blackland Prairie
Loamy, sandy soils
Flood Plains & Terraces
Harwell
Catoma
Ramer
Chalk, marl and calcareous clay soils
Chubbehatchee
Lesson From Tri-River Region Water Watch
Natural variation in water quality in urban areas
needs to be distinguished from possible pollution
Dog River Clearwater Revival
Citizen Monitoring in Metro Mobile
Dog River Watershed
Dog River Watershed Area: 95 sq. miles
And the sediment flows…
Country Club: Montlimar Canal,
Moore Creek, Dog River
Moore Creek, Halls Mill Creek, Rabbit
Creek to Dog River
Spring Creek
A Trend of Rising Water Temperature
Eslava Creek
Rising Water Temperature and Chronic Low Oxygen
Lesson from the
Dog River Clear Water Revival
Consistent monitoring reveals stream responses to
changes in urban landscapes
Solving problems requires the “three P’s”
(partnerships, practical steps, political will)
Summary
More than documenting the demise … volunteer
data provide useful insights
Long term data collection by trained volunteer
monitors may assist with
* identification of problems (existing or potential)
* clarification of natural processes
* evaluation of stream recovery
Healthy
streams require
healthy
watersheds …
Acknowledgements
Information from:
• Basic Certification Workbook: Water Quality Monitoring,
Alabama Water Watch, 2000
• Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Chemical and Biological Monitoring,
2000
• US EPA Stream Habitat Walk Guide
• Alabama Water Watch – “The Role of Citizen Volunteers in
Managing Urbanized Watersheds” presentation, Bill Deutsch
Making the Connection:
Our Landscape, Our Stream,
Our Watershed
Volunteer Opportunities
Water Smart Training
Community
Involvement,
Education
Plenty of opportunity!
• Trash Pick-up
• Invasive, non-native Plant
Removal
• Water Monitoring
•
•
•
•
Native Vegetation Planting
Rain Gardens
Rain Barrels
Stream Restoration
Trash Pick-Up
• Trash along streams
– Ugly
– May create hazards for wildlife & people
– May contribute to poor water quality
Nonnative Plant Removal
• Invasive, nonnative plants
– Decrease biodiversity
– Lower habitat value
– May alter ecosystem functions
Replanting Streamside Forests
• Alexander City, Alabama & Middle
Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership
• Charles E. Bailey SportPlex
SportPlex Stream Project
• Problems:
Little riparian vegetation & too much sediment
• No shade
• Warm water temperatures
SportPlex Stream Project
• Solutions: Native Vegetation
– Replant streamside to increase shade along stream,
– Create a ‘no mow’ zone
– Create a small wetland area
Native plants
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Tulip poplar
Red Maple
River Birch
Sweetbay Magnolia
Hazel Alder*
Native azalea
Iris
Sedge/Juncus
Cardinal Flower*
Obedient Plant
Stream Restoration
• Return disturbed streams to more stable systems based
on reference reach blueprints of dimension, pattern
and profile.
• More than just stabilization … restoration of stream
functions (hydrologic and biologic)
Town Creek Park
• South Gay Street – Auburn, Alabama
Restoration Steps
• Stream and floodplain restoration
– ~ 1000 linear feet of stream
– ~ 4 acres of floodplain
– 4 offline wetlands
Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring
• Opportunity to learn more about the health
of your streams and watersheds
Volunteer Monitoring
• Provides an opportunity for people to learn more
about their streams, rivers, lakes, and bays
• Provides important data for monitoring trends in
water quality
Volunteer Monitoring
• Provides the base for making wise
decisions related to your water ways
Water Quality Volunteer Monitoring
State Programs
• Alabama Water Watch
www.alabamawaterwatch.org
• Georgia Adopt-A-Stream
http://www.georgiaadoptastream.org/home.html
• 4H2O Pontoon Classroom - Clemson University
Extension Service
http://www.clemson.edu/waterquality/
What other easy steps can a
person to do to protect our
waters?
Simple Steps to Reduce Polluted Runoff
Sediment (clay, silt) is the #1 source of water pollution.
Bare soil easily washes into storm drains and
streams, clouding the water and suffocating aquatic
life.
 Never leave soil exposed! Place straw over newly
seeded areas.
 Cover your garden during winter months.
 Sod, seed, grow plants, or build terraces on slopes.
Rock gardens can also be effective for slowing the flow of
water and minimizing erosion.
Georgia DNR – You’re the Solution to Water Pollution Poster
Simple Steps to Reduce Polluted Runoff
Nutrients
• Limiting fertilizer use will avoid nutrient overload in
streams.
 Plant vegetation native to your area (suited to soil type,
slope, available sunlight, and climate).
 Prior to fertilizing, take a soil test to determine what
nutrients your soil may need.
 Mow your lawn 1/3 of the total grass height only, mow
when dry- with sharp mower blades, and leave the
clippings on the lawn.
 During summer months, cut grass higher to help retain
soil moisture.
Georgia DNR – You’re the Solution to Water Pollution Poster
Simple Steps to Reduce Polluted Runoff
Don’t put yard trimmings in a stream! Compost
trimmings or take them to a local composting
program.
 Chop or shred waste into small pieces.
 Add equal amounts of a carbon source (dried material)
to a nitrogen source (green plant material).
 Turn the pile regularly and maintain slight moisture.
Georgia DNR – You’re the Solution to Water Pollution Poster
Simple Steps to Reduce Polluted Runoff
Pet Waste - Scientists believe that fecal matter
from pets is a major source of bacteria in
urban waterways.
 Wrap it up and place it in the trash or consider a
special compost area.
Restrict pets from streamside area.
Georgia DNR – You’re the Solution to Water Pollution Poster
Simple Steps to Reduce Polluted Runoff
Reduce contaminant run-off from your driveway
 Do not wash oils or other spills down the storm drain!
 Wash your car at a designated car wash or (at least)
wash with a low-phosphate soap in an area where the
water will soak into the ground.
 NEW CONSTRUCTION: Use bricks with sand, stones,
or paving blocks instead of impermeable pavement.
Georgia DNR – You’re the Solution to Water Pollution Poster
Simple Steps to Reduce Polluted Runoff
Household Hazardous Wastes (HHW),
especially auto fluids, are a common
contaminant found in waterways. Never pour
products on the ground or down a storm
drain.
 Have your vehicle serviced at a garage where
fluids will be recycled or properly disposed.
 If doing it yourself, recycle auto fluids, oil filters,
batteries, and tires.
Georgia DNR – You’re the Solution to Water Pollution Poster
Other examples of HHWs include: Paint products/ fuels/ solvents/
pesticides/ and mercury-containing products. Here’s what you can
do:
-1st REDUCE: Buy the least hazardous and only the quantity that you will use.
-2nd REUSE: Give it to someone to use for its intended purpose.
-3rd RECYCLE: leftover products whenever possible. Call 1-800-CLEANUP or
visit www.1800cleanup.org for a list of recycling locations and/or the
number of your local recycling coordinator.
4th: No collection program near you?
Some products can be disposed of in the trash as a solid material. Solidify
by adding the liquids to an absorbent material, such as cat box filler.
Protect skin, eyes, and breathing zone in an area with good ventilation,
away from pets and children. Prior to solidifying liquids, consult your local
recycling coordinator.
Georgia DNR – You’re the Solution to Water Pollution Poster
Simple Steps to Reduce Polluted Runoff
Streamsides
• Landscape yard to provide areas where water will soak
into the ground.
 Leave 25’ buffer strips of thick, native vegetation along
streams.
 Pick up litter.
 Monitor your stream for pollutants and help to determine
the source.
In summary …
• There are many opportunities volunteer.
• You may want to start small and build momentum – plan
a trash pick up or privet pull.
• Many organizations are looking for help. Consider
contacting a local watershed group to offer assistance.
• Get out there and make a difference!