Landowners
Landowners play the most crucial role in the maintence and preservation of the Greenbrier River Watershed. There are many factors affecting the watershed including climate, physical features, karst, soil, vegetative cover, and pollution. Every one of these factors affects a landowner, whether it be the contour of the land to the type of vegetation found on a piece of property.
Pollution is a major problem facing landowners. Pollution can range from sediment pollution, organic wastes, nutrient pollution, to toxic substances. Sediment pollution results when the sediment load in a body of water exceeds that of natural conditions. This occurs where development has stripped away the vegetation, creating highly eroded areas. Poor logging practices, construction sites, sand and gravel pits, agricultural lands, urban areas, unpaved roads, and eroding roadsides can contribute to sediment pollution. Sediment pollution dramatically impacts water resources by filling in cracks between rocks and logs, creating poor habitats and eventually smothering aquatic insect life important for fish.
Other forms of pollution are organic wastes. Large accumulations of organic wastes use large amounts of oxygen, leaving little oxygen for fish and aquatic insects. Less desirable organisms, like some fly larvae and worms, may become abundant in low oxygen waters. Nutrient pollution is a third type of pollution. Too much nitrogen and phosphorus can result in excessive growth of aquatic vegetation and algae. An algal bloom blankets the water’s surface and can produce odors and problems within the drinking water. Algal blooms deplete the oxygen supply in the water as it decomposes.
Finally, toxic substances can enter the water through industrial and municipal wastewater discharges, agricultural and urban land runoff, or from leaching of waste materials dumped in the area. Toxic substances have the potential to impair or kill aquatic life, reducing the numbers and diversity of species, and thereby disrupting the natural aquatic community.
There are a variety of signs for spotting pollution. Signs ranging from something as simple as muddy water and algal blooms, all the way to water discoloration and odors. For further imformation on how to determine the overall well being of your land contact the Greenbrier River Watershed and let us help.
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