The following exerpts are from the Riparian Owner's Guidebook for Watershed Management, published by Grand Valley State University, Robert B. Annis Water Resoures Institute.  Please call me for your own complete copy of the guidebook. Jeanine: 616-498-3679

URBANIZATION AND WATER QUALITY:

Lakes, rivers, and streams in urbanized or populated areas are severly affected by patterns of land use.  Every aspect of the waterway is altered, including water quality, water levels, and aquatic habitat.

Urbanization is one of the major causees of nonpoint source pollution (NPS).  NPS pollutants do not have an identifiable entry point, such as a pipe, but rather come from many diffuse sources.  NPS pollutants that affect our water resources include the following:

• Invasive species
• Thermal pollution
• Sediment/eroded soil
• Nutrients/fertilizers
• Road salt
• Hydrocarbons (oil, gasoline)
• Heavy metals (cadmium, mercury)
• Herbicides/pesticides

 The following sources from residential areas contribute NPS pollutants to waterways:

• Urban runoff or stormwater
• Lawn care and landscaping
• Septic systems
• Home construction/renovation

Urban Runoff or Stormwater:

Water that seeps into the ground recharges groundwater suppleis.  Groundwater provides many rivers and streams with a base flow.  This base flow enables the rivers and streams to continue flowing during periods of drought.  Water that cannot seep into the ground following a rain or snowmelt is called runoff or stormwater.

PROBLEM:

Development of  land leads to an increase in hard, impervious surfaces, where rainwater cannot penetrate into the soil.  Examples of impervious surfaces include parking lots, roads, driveways, sidewalks, and rooftops.  These surfaces collect toxic pollutants, such as oil and gas, heavy metals (lead, mercury, and cadmium), fertilizers, and pesticides, which can be washed away during storms and discharged into streams and lakes.

These surfaces also prevent water from seeping into the ground.  When stormwater is not able to seep into the ground, it must be collected and discharged through storm sewers, drainage ditches, or some other means of conveyance.  Since most conveyances discharge directly into rivers and streams, serious effects on water quality can occur.

• Stormwater picks up pollutants and sediment in its path and discharges them directly into surface water without prior treatment.
• Stormwater discharged through storm sewers reaches surface water quickly, often resulting in erosion problems and causing surface water levels to increase: high surface water levels can lead to sever and frequent flooding.
• An increase in stormwater runoff usually means a net loss to groundwater storage, and thus, base flow to rivers and streams decreases.  As a result, these streams may dry up in the summer, killing aquatic wildlife.
• Excessive stormwater decreases the stability and diversity of the aquatic ecosystem.

Increased volumes of stormwater runoff cause excessive streambank/shoreline erosion, which widens the waterway, and ultimately alters how water moves through the entire system.  This is of great concern to all riparian landowners who stand to lose valuable property as their streambanks or shorelines wash away.

Pavement and other impervious surfaces, together with the use of ponds and other stormwater storage structures typical of storm sewer systems, can also lead ot increased water temperatures.  Problems associated with increased water temperatures are discussed more fully as part of "Thermal Pollution" found on page 20.

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PREVENTION:

• Create buffer strips of native vegetaiton along streambanks and shorelines to collect and filter stormwater.  Buffer strips are areas of trees, shrubs, and other vegetation that border surface water.  Native vegetation requires less maintenance, is more resistant to disease, and provides excellent habitat for wildlife.  If interested in using native plants, please contact a local conservation district or visit the Springfield Township Vegetation Enhancement Project homepage or the Greenacres homepage for more information.  Areas with buffer strips should be void of any development.

          Remember ... The width of the buffer strip depends on the size of the water body, the type of buffer strup you plant, and the amount of runoff generated from your property.  Buffer strips can range from 20 to 100 feet wide.  Contact your local Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ formerly DNR) or USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service office for more information about the size and type of buffer strip you should plant.

• Protect wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas.  Wetlands provide habitat for wildlife and fish.  They also help to collect stormwater, prevent erosion, and filter out water polution.
• Consider the use of conservation easements on land adjacent to surface water.  A conservation easement is a section of land where the right to develop has been donated or sold by a landowner to a government unit or nonprofit land trust.  The landowner retains ownership.  Although the landowner continues to pay property taxes, the owner may be eligible for income tax deductions, and estate and property tax reductions.
• Rain Gardens can be used to convey stormwater back to groundwater storage, thus eliminating problems associated with increased stormwater velocity, volume, and temperature.  These gardens are isolated pockets of natural or ornamental vegetation usually planted on fast draining material such as rocks, pebbles, or sand.

LAWN CARE AND LANDSCAPING:

Maintaining a healthy-looking lawn or garden can be an enjoyable and rewarding hobby.  Surrounding your home with a beautiful landscape can enhance its value and provide an aesthetically pleasing environment.  However, many products and practices involved in lawn maintenance and landscaping can have a negative impact on both surface water and groundwater quality.  By incorporatinjg a few minor changes activities can be conducted without harming your community's water resources.  In fact, your lawn can actually help prevent soil erosion, as well as filter out pollutants that may runoff from your roof or driveway.

PROBLEM:

How can yard care activities pollute water?

Fertilizers - Applying fertilizers or nutruients in excessive amounts, shortly before rainstroms, or too close to surface water, damages aquatic systems.  When runoff containing fertilizers enters the waterway, the nutrients may cause algae blooms and growth of invasive weeds.  The decay of these aquatic plants may deplete oxygen in water, suffocating fish.

Pesticides - Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, and herbicides are collectively called pesticides.  Applying pesticides in excessive amounts, or too close to surface water, is dangerous to human health and aquatic life.  Pesticides (and fertilizers) can migrate into groundwater creating health risks in drinking water supplies.  Pesticides in surface water can also be toxic to many aquatic insects, amphibians, fish, and plants.

Erosion - Exposed soil, especially on sloping ground, can quickly erode and be washed into surface water creating an excessive sediment load for the water body.  Excess sediment in lakes, rivers, and streams destroys fish and insect habitat by covering it and by changing the tempertature and oxygen levels in the water.  Also, the eroding of riparian areas can undermine the foundations of nearby structures and homes.

Yard Wastes - Discarding leaves, grass, and branches in waterways can cause two problems: 1) as these wastes decompose, oxygen levels in the water are depleted, threatening the survival of fish and other acquatic life, and 2) nutrients are added to the water, often resulting in excessive growth of unwanted aquatic plants.

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PREVENTION:

•  Plant buffer strips of native vegetation between waterways and lawn/garden areas.  Vegetation, especially native species, has enormous potential for protecting waterways from a wide variety of pollutants.  Buffer strips can do the following:   a. Filter out sediment, fertilizers, pesticides, and other pollutants.  b.  Prevent streambank erosion.  c.  Provide fish and wildlife habitat.  d.  Stabilize a stream.  e.  Reduce stream water temperature.  f.  Protect buildings and homes.
• Have your soil tested to determine proper amounts of fertilizer needed for lawn and garden activities.  Tests are available from your local extension office.
• Fertilize and apply pesticides away from waterways.
• Read fertilizers and pesticide product labels carefully and follow directions to avoid over-application of these chemicals.
• Be sure that rain is not imminent so that fertilizers and pesticides will not be washed away.
• Keep fertilizers away from sidewalks and driveways where it may be washed into surface water or storm sewers.
• Mulch grass clippings into the lawn to restore nutrients and diminish the need for chemical fertilizers.
• Dispose of yard wastes away from waterways, streambanks, or shorelines.
• Water lawns and gardens in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to maximize water absorption and retention.
• Use integrated pest management (IPM) to control pest populations without the excessive use of pesticides.  An IPM program involves monitoring plants for signs of problems, determining acceptable levels of plant damage, and then applying only the control strategies necessary, such as physical and biological controls.  Keep in mind that most insects in your lawn are not harmful.  In fact, some insects are actually beneficial.  Contact your local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more information about IPM programs.
• Encourage animals to utilize your yard by landscaping for wildlife.  Animals provide natural levels of pest control and add to the beauty of your land.
• Revegetate bare soil quickly to decrease erosion and soil losses.  A quick cover can be supplied by planting annual rye grass.
• Substitute compost as a mulch and fertilizer for gardens and landscaping.
• Use commercial fertilizers with low amounts of nitrate and phosphate.
• Consider making your own pesticide by mixing 2 tablespoons of liquid soap with 1 quart of water and spraying on plants.  contact your local county extension office or the Department of Natural Resources for more tips on nontoxic gardening and lawn care.

Remember ... your contribution of fertilizers, pesticides, erosion, and yard wastes may seem small.  However, when combined with your neighbors' activities, the effect is greatly magnified and often results in damaged and unhealthy aquatic ecosystems.