What is a Watershed? What is

A watershed is an area of land that drains to Sediment a common point, such as a nearby creek, stream, river or lake. Every small watershed Pollution? 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 Help keep excess} of life for Kansas City area residents. sediment out of our What is Stormwater Runoff? creeks, streams Stormwater is water from rain or melting snow. } It flows from rooftops, over paved streets, and rivers 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 Watershed Tip waterways. It can harm plants, fish and wildlife, while degrading the quality of water. Winter

Mid-America Regional Council 600 Broadway, Suite 300 Kansas City, Missouri 64105

For more information, visit www.marc.org/Enviroment/Water Clean Water. or call 816/474-4240. A typical watershed system Healthy Life.

Printed on 30% Recycled Material What is sediment? What’s the problem? What can you do?

Sediment is the loose sand, clay, silt and other Sediment entering stormwater degrades the Sweep sidewalks and driveways instead of soil particles that settle at the bottom of a body quality of water for drinking, wildlife and the land hosing them off. Washing these areas results in of water. Sediment can come from soil erosion surrounding streams in the following ways: sediment and other pollutants running off into or from the decomposition of plants and animals. streams, rivers and lakes. Wind, water and ice help carry these particles to Sediment fills up storm drains and catch basins to rivers, lakes and streams. carry water away from roads and homes, which Use weed-free increases the potential for flooding. mulch when Facts about Sediment reseeding bare spots on your Water polluted with sediment becomes cloudy, The Environmental Protection Agency lists lawn, and use sediment as the most common pollutant in rivers, preventing animals from seeing food. a straw erosion streams, lakes and reservoirs. control blanket Murky water prevents natural vegetation from if restarting or While natural erosion produces nearly 30 percent growing in water. tilling a lawn. of the total sediment in the United States, accelerated erosion from human use of land Sediment in stream beds disrupts the natural food Notify local government officials when you accounts for the remaining 70 percent. chain by destroying the habitat where the smallest see sediment entering streets or streams near a stream organisms live and causing massive declines construction site. The most concentrated sediment releases come in fish populations. from construction activities, including relatively Put compost or weed-free mulch on your garden minor home-building projects such as room to help keep soil from washing away. Sediment increases the cost of treating drinking additions and swimming pools. water and can result in odor and taste problems. Avoid mowing within 10 to 25 feet from the Sediment pollution causes $16 billion in edge of a stream or creek. This will create a environmental damage annually. Sediment can clog fish gills, reducing resistence to safe buffer zone that will help minimize erosion disease, lowering growth rates, and affecting fish and naturally filter stormwater runoff that may egg and larvae development. contain sediment.

Nutrients transported by sediment can activate Either wash your car at a commercial car wash blue-green algae that release toxins and can make or on a surface that absorbs water, such as grass swimmers sick. or gravel.

Sediment deposits in rivers can alter the flow of water and reduce water depth, which makes For more information about CCleanlean Water.Water. navigation and recreational use more difficult. erosion and sediment control, HHealthyealthy Life.Life. visit www.marc.org/Environment/Water or call 816/474-4240.