What is a Watershed?


Feb 21, 2014 (3 years and 5 months ago)


Help keep excess
sediment out of our
creeks, streams
and rivers
What is a Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land that drains to
a common point, such as a nearby creek,
stream, river or lake. Every small watershed
drains to a larger watershed that eventually
flows to the ocean.
Watersheds support a wide variety of plants and
wildlife and provide many outdoor recreation
opportunities. Protecting the health of our
watersheds preserves and enhances the quality
of life for Kansas City area residents.
What is Stormwater Runoff?
Stormwater is water from rain or melting snow.
It flows from rooftops, over paved streets,
sidewalks and parking lots, across bare soil, and
through lawns and storm drains. As it flows,
runoff collects and transports soil, pet waste,
salt, pesticides, fertilizer, oil and grease, litter
and other pollutants. This water drains directly
into nearby creeks, streams and rivers, without
receiving treatment at sewage plants.
Polluted stormwater contaminates local
waterways. It can harm plants, fish and
wildlife, while degrading the quality of water.
Winter Watershed Tip
For more information,
visit www.marc.org/Enviroment/Water
or call 816/474-4240.
A typical watershed system
Printed on 30% Recycled Material
Mid-America Regional Council
600 Broadway, Suite 300
Kansas City, Missouri 64105
What is
Clean Water.
Healthy Life.
What is sediment?
What can you do?
Sediment entering stormwater degrades the
quality of water for drinking, wildlife and the land
surrounding streams in the following ways:
Sediment fills up storm drains and catch basins to
carry water away from roads and homes, which
increases the potential for flooding.
Water polluted with sediment becomes cloudy,
preventing animals from seeing food.
Murky water prevents natural vegetation from
growing in water.
Sediment in stream beds disrupts the natural food
chain by destroying the habitat where the smallest
stream organisms live and causing massive declines
in fish populations.
Sediment increases the cost of treating drinking
water and can result in odor and taste problems.
Sediment can clog fish gills, reducing resistence to
disease, lowering growth rates, and affecting fish
egg and larvae development.
Nutrients transported by sediment can activate
blue-green algae that release toxins and can make
swimmers sick.
Sediment deposits in rivers can alter the flow
of water and reduce water depth, which makes
navigation and recreational use more difficult.
Sediment is the loose sand, clay, silt and other
soil particles that settle at the bottom of a body
of water. Sediment can come from soil erosion
or from the decomposition of plants and animals.
Wind, water and ice help carry these particles to
rivers, lakes and streams.
Facts about Sediment
The Environmental Protection Agency lists
sediment as the most common pollutant in rivers,
streams, lakes and reservoirs.
While natural erosion produces nearly 30 percent
of the total sediment in the United States,
accelerated erosion from human use of land
accounts for the remaining 70 percent.
The most concentrated sediment releases come
from construction activities, including relatively
minor home-building projects such as room
additions and swimming pools.
Sediment pollution causes $16 billion in
environmental damage annually.
What’s the problem?
Sweep sidewalks and driveways instead of
hosing them off. Washing these areas results in
sediment and other pollutants running off into
streams, rivers and lakes.
Use weed-free
mulch when
reseeding bare
spots on your
lawn, and use
a straw erosion
control blanket
if restarting or
tilling a lawn.
Notify local government officials when you
see sediment entering streets or streams near a
construction site.
Put compost or weed-free mulch on your garden
to help keep soil from washing away.
Avoid mowing within 10 to 25 feet from the
edge of a stream or creek. This will create a
safe buffer zone that will help minimize erosion
and naturally filter stormwater runoff that may
contain sediment.
Either wash your car at a commercial car wash
or on a surface that absorbs water, such as grass
or gravel.
For more information about
erosion and sediment control,
visit www.marc.org/Environment/Water
or call 816/474-4240.
Clean Water.
Clean Water.
Healthy Life.
Healthy Life.