Why is it happening?
In its natural state, a freshwater stream or creek has its own
characteristics, such as shape (meandering and wide or deep and
sinewy), depth, temperature, the types of plants that thrive on
its shores (the riparian zone) and in the stream itself, and the
shapes, sizes and types of gravel and stones on the bottom. These
conditions collectively lend themselves to the unique system of
fish and other aquatic life that are in synchronicity with each
other.
Stream systems are also home to a range of other wildlife such
as cougars, birds, deer, elk, bear and smaller mammals such as
murrulets and marmots. These natural conditions are affected by
human activity on two major levels:
- Point discharges: By law, water quality agencies issue
permits to regulate industrial and municipal discharges of pollution
to water. Those threshold levels are set to ensure that water
quality standards are met.
- Non-point discharges: This is often referred to as
stormwater or polluted runoff, and represents the animal waste,
chemicals, oils, eroded soil and all substances that are carried
to freshwater streams over paved land (impervious surfaces),
and bare land that has no vegetation to capture or slow these
substances.
There are nearly seven million people living in the Puget Sound
Georgia Basin. We enjoy this beautiful place in a vast array of
recreational opportunities such as kayaking, fishing, wildlife
viewing and hiking. At home, we make certain decisions regarding
product choice and landscaping. At work we make thousands of decisions
each year. What inventory do we purchase? How do we develop land?
What chemicals do we choose to use? What energy sources do we
use? By what transportation mode do we choose to travel?
Our activities are balanced by planning and protection by many
types of public agencies that make decisions about how to balance
the rights and interests of all seven million of us, including
the rich bounty of natural life that has no political representation.
These interests and activities-the bundle of economic, community
and ecological life-intersect, and in every instance, have an
impact on both freshwater and marine water quality.
In addition to point source discharges from mining, manufacturing
and wastewater treatment (from our millions of bathrooms), the
following impact freshwater quality:
Agriculture
Chemicals, animal waste and fertilizers that are high in nitrogen
and phosphorous enter groundwater and run off into freshwater
streams. Of particular concern is animal waste, which contains
pathogens and bacteria that are clearly incompatible with aquatic
life, including shellfish (see Shellfish
Indicator).
Urbanization and Construction
When
we pave over land, we dramatically reduce the ability of vegetated
land to capture and slow water that carries pollutants. In this
absence, polluted water picks up speed and along the way, erodes
soil, causes flooding, and causes freshwater to receive more pollutants,
including heavy metals, which aquatic organisms are highly sensitive
to. This leads to:
- Pollutants in water such as home fertilizers, chemicals, oils
and pollutants from vehicles
- Higher water temperatures, which are incompatible with aquatic
life
- Increased cloudiness, measured by total suspended solids and
turbidity. This interferes with photosynthesis, or the ability
of light to grow food, and the presence of particles in water
means they are "attachment places" for pollutants like metals
and bacteria
- Low dissolved oxygen levels (fertilizers rob the water of
available oxygen aquatic life needs to live).
Failing Septic Systems
A large number of freshwater and marine water quality problems
are associated with poorly designed, maintained and functioning
septic systems. Raw human waste then runs directly into streams,
having a serious adverse impact on human and aquatic life. Swimming
in contaminated water can lead to diarrhea, hepatitis, and other
diseases.
River,
Stream and Lake Quality