Watershed Stewards
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s a Watershed?
What is non-point source pollution?
Why do all the new sub-divisions have those ditches?
What’s a Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land that catches rain and snow and drains into a given stream, river, lake, or wetland into a wetland, stream, river, lake, or groundwater. Watersheds include forests, prairies, industrial areas, and neighborhoods. They cross county, state, and even international boundaries. Watersheds can vary in size. Cedar Creek drains a small watershed into the Lewis River, which drains a much larger area. The Lewis River then empties into the Columbia River, a watershed covering thousands of square miles.
What is non-point source pollution?
Non-point source pollution is pollution that contaminates surface and groundwater that do not originate from one specific place, such as a pipe. Non-point pollution may come from a variety of everyday activities, such as fertilizing the lawn, changing the oil, washing the car, and painting.
Land uses like farming, ranching, forestry, and building can also contribute to non-point source pollution. Fortunately, non-point pollution can be reduced through simple practices such as fencing animals away from creeks, washing cars on the lawn, and using only appropriate amounts of fertilizer and pesticides. Contact us with specific questions on reducing non-point source pollution.
Why do all the new sub-divisions have those ditches?
Newer sub-divisions are built with “bio-swales” to reduce non-point source pollution. These swales actually reduce pollution by allowing sediment and pollutants to settle out before stormwater moves into streams or lakes. Vegetation in the swales remove many of the pollutants so they don’t wind up in our streams.