Below are 8 problem areas that can have a negative affect on the health of our streams and rivers. Please read about the problems then click on the actions/solutions you can take to protect your watershed.
Water Runoff | Landscape Care | Lawns | Inside the Home Recycling | The Car | Pet and Animal Waste | Water Conservation
Water Runoff
Problem:
Storm drains and ditches do not drain into wastewater treatment facilities, they flow directly into streams and lakes. Run-off from our streets, driveways, and lawns carries a nasty cocktail; soil, pesticides, fertilizers, animal feces, oil, antifreeze, and soaps are all delivered untreated into our waterways. The combination of cars, homes, people, and animals in the watershed makes pollution from storm water a serious threat to our water quality.
Resolution:
1. Never dump motor oil, antifreeze, pesticides, or any toxic materials down storm drains or on the ground.
2. Sweep my driveway, sidewalk, and patio instead of hosing them off, to reduce the transport of sediments and pollutants into storm drains.
3. Choose to use more porous surfaces, such as brick or gravel in place of concrete where possible. Ground absorption filters water, reduces flooding and soil erosion, and replenishes the ground waters that nourish streams.
4. Clear storm drain grates of leaves and debris so they can properly drain water
5. Vegetate slopes with native plants or ground cover to prevent soil from eroding into streams.
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Landscape Care
Pesticides and herbicide used in landscaping can be toxic to both you and the environment. A healthy landscape resists disease, pests, drought and weeds. By adopting some new methods, you can reduce or eliminate the use of chemicals and run-off while still enjoying a beautiful and vibrant garden -- with less work!!
1. Choose plants wisely. Ask my nursery or landscape professional about which native plants to use and which plants are easy to maintain, pest resistant and drought tolerant.
2. Plant more groundcovers, trees and shrubs to attract birds, butterflies and other natural predators!
3. Be tolerant of some pest damage and weeds, learn to live with a few nibbled leaves and pull more weeds by hand.
4. Compost my garden refuse and use it as natural fertilizer in the plant beds, or participate in our local curbside yard debris program!
5. Share my new landscaping and gardening habits with a friend!
Lawns
The chemicals that we put in our lawns can be a threat to streams, rivers and groundwater. Improper use of pesticides and fertilizers along with over watering delivers these chemicals to creeks via storm drains. There are ways to maintain a healthy lawn without causing harm to the environment.
1. Cut my grass higher (just the top third) to increase water absorption, reduce run-off, and to reduce water consumption.
2. Aerate and de-thatch my lawn periodically to discourage weed growth and improve water absorption.
3. Consider letting my lawn go dormant during the summer, which saves water, reduces run-off--and requires less mowing!
4. Keep my gas-powered mower well tuned and maintained.
5. Consider using an old-fashioned reel push mower as an alternative, this will reduce air and water pollution-and I can get great exercise, too!
6. Use chemicals and fertilizer only as absolutely needed and only per package directions.
Inside the Home
Many household products contain hazardous ingredients. If these products are not properly handled they may end up in our local river, lakes and streams. When choosing a product, take a moment to read the label. Words like "DANGER, CAUTION, WARNING" signify products that are potentially dangerous to the environment, animals and humans. We can limit our impact by reducing or eliminating the most toxic products and choosing alternatives that are less harmful.
1. Reduce or eliminate my use of chemicals where possible by using non toxic or less toxic products.
2. Buy only the amounts needed and use product as instructed on the label.
3. Manage my left over latex paint by giving it to a neighbor, donating it to a non profit organization or recycling it curbside.
4. Manage household hazardous waste by giving it to a neighbor, donating it to a non-profit or contacting the local solid waste department to find out how and where to manage my waste appropriately.
5. Use one or more of these alternative cleaning products:
Recycling
Recycling is great, but reducing our waste in the first place is even a better way to keep a lid on our trash. When we use less stuff, we use up fewer natural resources like water and trees. We can limit our impact on the environment by reducing or eliminating the amount of materials we through away.
1. Reduce waste and buy only what I need.
2. Purchase durable, reusable products.
3. Purchase products with no or minimal packaging and reuse packing materials.
4. Increase the amount of materials I recycle.
5. Keep garbage containers from turning over and spilling.
The Car
Cars are a major source of water pollution in urban areas. In addition to causing air pollution, they leak oil, antifreeze, and other fluids onto roads and driveways. These fluids are then washed directly into creeks via storm drains. By properly maintaining our car and reducing our use of it, we can protect streams from this toxic runoff.
1. Keep my car's engine tuned up and have all fluid leaks fixed promptly.
2. Recycle used motor oil with my curbside recycling and dispose of antifreeze properly.
3. Reduce the number of automobile trips I make, by walking, biking, taking public transportation or carpooling.
4. When working on my car I will immediately soak up, dig up or cleanup any spills or releases by using dry absorbents, not water.
5. Wash my car in one or more of the following ways:
Pet and Animal Waste
Pet and animal waste is often overlooked, yet it poses a serious risk to water quality. Dogs, cats, and waterfowl are the major problem. Their droppings contain disease-causing organisms that are harmful to humans and wildlife.
1. Scoop up waste and dispose of it properly when I walk my pet.
2. Keep my pet on a leash, particularly near waterways.
3. Never hose pet waste down storm drains.
4. Dispose of pet waste properly down toilet or with plastic disposal bag placed in the garbage.
5. Reduce the problem of waterfowl waste on the ground by NOT feeding ducks and geese in our parks and public areas.
Water Conservation
We often hear that water is our most precious resource. In Western Oregon, our water supply seems limitless, but even here clean drinking water is a valuable commodity. There are many ways to help conserve water in your own home. Small behavioral changes and retrofitting your home with low-flow fixtures can save several gallons of drinking water each day. By reducing your water consumption, you leave water in the river for fish and recreation, not to mention saving money on your water bill.
1. Water lawn only one inch per week.
2. Retrofit home with low-flow faucet aerators and showerheads and fix any leaking fixtures or toilets.
3. Use a hose nozzle when washing cars or watering outdoor pots/planters.
4. Modify behaviors by taking shorter showers, turning off the water while brushing teeth or shaving, and only washing full loads of dishes or clothes.
5. Plant native and/or water-wise plants when adding or changing landscaping.
