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Separates waters flowing to different rivers,basins, or seas. 

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Separates waters flowing to different rivers,basins, or seas. 

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. The Scioto river it drains a total of 6,513 square miles and flows through all or part of 31 counties. Major municipalities partially or fully in the watershed include Columbus and many of its suburbs, Delaware, Marysville, Chillicothe, Circleville, Jackson and Portsmouth.

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You can decrease chemicals going into wetlands by Soil erosion control

grass waterways = natural grass strip designed to slow surface water flow.

Conservation tillage = leaving the previous year’s crop “leftovers” on the field to decrease soil erosion and runoff.

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Fertilizer runoff can create algal blooms when it reaches water sources, lowering dissolved oxygen

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Deforestation causes erosion which ultimately influences the amounts of sediment in the watersheds

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Pharmaceuticals – including prescription and non-prescription drugs, steroids and hormones – are also household pollutants that are released into the environment through wastewater treatment plants and household septic systems, contaminating drinking water wells and stream base flows

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Some drains into the streams, some percolate into underground aquifers. As the soil gets more saturated, less will percolate and more will run off.

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 the purchase of property along Alum Creek and the Olentangy River

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 the purchase of property along Alum Creek and the Olentangy River

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- Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW)

-Olentangy Watershed Alliance (OWA) exist in Delaware County and beyond.

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Mercury

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Increased atomospheric co2 makes it hard for aquatic life to breath, also increases likelihood for algal blooms to develope

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Withdraw water for irrigation

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a BMP's that uses areas of dense planted vegetation (typically grass) and a flat cross slope to maintain sheet flow and remove sediment and other pollutants from runoff coming directly off pavement
- The state on Minnesota requires farmers to install a strip along public bodies of water and drainage ditches

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Water flows down with the flow of gravity - has the potential to bring along materials that it comes acrosse

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Clean up projects, when people clean up creeks, rivers, etc, positively affects watershed water quality. Conserving water positively affects watershed water quality because it leaves more water in the watershed to support natural processes and meet future needs.

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Dams affect water quality by trapping river-borne nutrients, dams can lead to the growth of toxic algaes also lead to riverbed deepening for tens or even hundreds of kilometers below the reservoir.

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Test soils before applying fertilizers.

Use compost (grasscycle) to reduce garden waste and reuse available nutrients.

Apply sparingly (no more than 1 lb. of N/1,000 sf./year).

Use P-free or low-P fertilizers.

Use slow-release, organic fertilizers.

Limit application on areas where the potential for water contamination is high (e.g. sandy soils, steep slopes, compacted soils).

Never apply fertilizers when the ground is frozen or when there is a likelihood of rain.

Don’t over water lawns (nutrients wash out of soils).

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The Olentangy watershed, for example, is part of the Scioto River basin, which drains to the Ohio River. The Ohio River flows into the Mississippi, which makes its way south to the Gulf of Mexico

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after heavy rainfall, the ground may become saturated, making more rainfall become apart of the runoff.

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wetland restoration projects

Wetlands improve water quality by removing nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff. Wetland plants do this.

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Conserve water(take less showers, turn off the water when not in use) and do not pour hazardous household chemicals down the drain.

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Conserve water(take less showers, turn off the water when not in use) and do not pour hazardous household chemicals down the drain.

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Part of many increasingly larger watersheds

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The Olentangy River is located in Central Ohio in Crawford, Richland, Delaware, Franklin, Marion and Morrow Counties. The Olentangy River is approximately 93 miles long and flows from the east side of Galion; west then south through agricultural land surrounding Caledonia; past the Villages of Claridon and Waldo before entering Delaware Lake. Downstream from Delaware Lake the mainstream flows through the City of Delaware and areas of suburban development before reaching the City of Columbus.

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Wide steps are cut into the slope of a hill to decrease soil erosion
- Used to grow corn in Nigeria

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* Thermal pollution from water being used to remove excess heat
* Chemical pollution from various steps of the process is added to the water

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The northern portion of the Scioto Watershed is predominantly comprised of cultivated crops with some areas of substantial urban development. The Scioto River (middle) watershed, including a portion of the Scioto River and some of its tributaries, are located in central Ohio. The majority of the watershed is in Franklin, Pickaway, and Delaware counties, with a small proportion also included in Union, and Madison counties. 45 percent of the area is developed to some degree (ranging from high to low density development) while cropland by itself accounts for 40 percent of the area. Forest and pastureland account for 6 and 5 percent respectively while the remaining 4 percent of the land area is distributed across other land classifications. The City of Columbus has an intake for its Dublin Road water treatment plant on the Scioto River near the midpoint of the segment of the Scioto River included in the watershed (near downtown Columbus). Several small parks and nature preserves owned by state and local entities are also located within the watershed. The southern portion of the watershed is primarily comprised of forest with pockets of agricultural lands.

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Gasoline from cars have flown into water, adding harmful chemicals to the watersheds.

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Building dams and rerouting rivers are two examples of ways humans directly impact water in watersheds.

Changes in land cover and land use often affect watersheds and the water in them. For example, industrial agriculture uses many chemicals that run off the surface and pollute watersheds. Deforestation can increase soil erosion, leading to an increase of sediments in waters.

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Small streams collect water from a catchment and flow them into larger streams, rivers, and lakes.

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Sediment from eroded stream banks settles to the stream bottom degrading habitat and smothering the gills of aquatic insects such as macroinvertebrates which live part of their life cycle in this benthic freshwater environment.

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Chemicals that are not disposed of properly and are flowing down drains may return to water.  Motor oil, antifreeze, and medicines are just some examples

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Watershed planning, and planning in general, is Often perceived as a static process that leads to the formulation and adoption of a restrictive master plan. Groups of people, especially those with diverse interests, can seldom agree to accept a master plan that will bind them to a single course of action.Watershed boundaries typically do not coincide with political boundaries, creating problems in establishing a watershed authority or commission.Planning models often have been based on weak databases, and thus the results were not realistic and had little credibility.Watershed planning involves great complexity, especially when environmental impacts are included .The planning process is slow, and people grow impatient waiting for answers, agreement, and especially action.

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Watershed planning, and planning in general, is Often perceived as a static process that leads to the formulation and adoption of a restrictive master plan. Groups of people, especially those with diverse interests, can seldom agree to accept a master plan that will bind them to a single course of action.Watershed boundaries typically do not coincide with political boundaries, creating problems in establishing a watershed authority or commission.Planning models often have been based on weak databases, and thus the results were not realistic and had little credibility.Watershed planning involves great complexity, especially when environmental impacts are included .The planning process is slow, and people grow impatient waiting for answers, agreement, and especially action.

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this urban growth, 95 % is to take place in the developing world where the provision of clean water and sanitation is often inadequate, leading to outbreaks of disease and other health issues.  In addition, even within developed countries, rapid urbanisation will still act as a real threat as natural areas are converted to less permeable surfaces, increasing the speed and volume of surface run-off and heightening the risk of flooding.

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Medicines poured down drains or improperly disposed of like antibiotics can end up in watershed

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Construction companies can utilize a silt fence (through companies such as GeoSolutions) during construction to reduce sedimentation in waterways

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Construction companies can utilize a silt fence (through companies such as GeoSolutions) during construction to reduce sedimentation in waterways

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Greensboro, NC held a rain barrel sale to promote their use within the city.
The Community Backyards program offers Dublin, Ohio residents a $50 reimbursement on the purchase of a rain barrel (one reimbursement per household)

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Farms with many animals can lead to concentrated fecal pollution in the waterways they are a part of the watershed of.

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Disrupts the soil and leads to an increase in erosion

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Trash can get dumped into rivers, breaking down into a wide variety of pollutants which can harm the water's ability to be drunk as well as any plants or animals in that water.

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Each tributary drains a different watershed, carrying runoff and snowmelt from that area. Each tributary's watershed makes up the larger watershed of the mainstem.

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Waste water treatment facilities water that is released back into natural waterways is cleaner than water from the river (example: Olentangy river)

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The use of road salts can increase the sodium content and other chemical contaminants in the water from runoff

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Planting Trees (More Info in the Website)

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Planting Trees (More Info in the Website)

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Trees and forests play an incredible role in reducing storm water in several ways and removing or filtering pollutants that would otherwise wind up in our waterways.

Programs
https://www.cwp.org/urban-watershed-forestry/

https://www.brandywine.org/conservancy/protect-water/planting-trees-protecting-water-0

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Pennsylvania contains almost 83,000 miles of rivers and streams, ranging from small trickles to large rivers. These waterways are important because they provide water for people, farms, and industries; provide habitat for many kinds of wildlife and fish; and also provide us with great places to fish, swim, and boat.

As our landscape changes, it begins to have an impact on stream health. What we do on or to the land affects both the quantity (volume) and quality (pollutant levels) of the water in our streams and lakes. The land area through which any water moves, or drains, to reach a stream is called a watershed.

As we begin to remove forest canopy and replace it with roads, parking lots, driveways, homes, patios, pools (impervious surfaces) and even grass, we immediately have impact on watersheds and receiving streams (or lakes). With the increased amount of impervious surfaces, water runs off the land, traveling on the surface towards the streams. As this 'storm water runoff' travels to the streams it collects pollutants and increases speed. The changes to the landscape, not only increase the volume of water that goes to the stream, it also shortens the amount of time it takes the water to get to the stream. These increased or peak flows cause water to move quickly to the streams. This leads to flooding, stream bank erosion, widening of streams, sediment deposited in streams, a loss of fish habitat, and decline in water quality. In Pennsylvania there are over 12,200 miles of polluted streams and over 3,000 miles of streams that are impaired by storm water runoff.

So how do we protect water quality and our streams as watersheds change?

Trees and forests play an incredible role in reducing storm water in several ways and removing or filtering pollutants that would otherwise wind up in our waterways.

Canopy Interception and Infiltration

Forests filter and regulate the flow of water, in large part due to their leafy canopy that intercepts rainfall, slowing its fall to the ground and the forest floor, which acts like an enormous sponge, typically absorbing up to 18 inches of precipitation (depending on soil composition) before gradually releasing it to natural channels and recharging ground water. In a North Carolina Watershed study (Kays, 1980) the mean soil infiltration rate went from 12.4 in/hr to 4.4 in/hr when a site was converted from forest (duff layer on soils) to suburban turf. Other studies (Bharati et al. 2002) have found similar results when comparing hourly infiltration rates and soil bulk density of forested areas with crops and grazed pasture.

Average interception of rainfall by a forest canopy ranges from 10-40% depending on species, time of year, and precipitation rates per storm event. In urban and suburban settings a single deciduous tree can intercept from 500 to 760 gallons per year; and a mature evergreen can intercept more than 4,000 gallons per year. Even young, small trees help. In a recent Forest Service study a single small tree (callery pear) that was only 9 years old, was able to intercept 58 gallons of storm water from a ½ inch rain event (67% of the rain that fell within the canopy).

A study in the 1980's of Dayton, Ohio's existing tree canopy found that storm water runoff was reduced by 7% and could be increased to 12% through planting more trees. In a more recent UFORE Hydro study conducted by the USDA Forest Service of the Toby Creek Watershed (a suburban area of Wilkes-Barre), 54% tree canopy cover was able to reduce storm water runoff by 11%. One Forest Service Researcher has stated that planting large canopy trees over impervious surfaces, such as a parking lot or street has much greater impact on reducing storm water (up to 8 times greater) because it works to reduce peak flows in urban settings.

Trees Consume Stormwater

Trees and forests absorb and use tremendous amounts of water for growth, thereby consuming storm water. A single mature oak tree can consume (transpire) over 40,000 gallons of water in a year. In Pennsylvania forests, an average of 24 inches of the annual 40 inches of rainfall is taken up by trees through evapotranspiration (movement of water from the ground through the tree and leaves, evaporating back into the environment). That evapotranspiration also serves to cool and modify surrounding summer temperatures. If the forest is removed or harvested, evaporation drops to 14 inches and stream flow increases to receive 26 inches of the annual 40 inches of precipitation. So, just the removal of forests can have an impact on streams in the watershed.

Pollutant Removal and Phytoremediation

Plants, especially woody plants, are very good at removing nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) and contaminates (such as metals, pesticides, solvents, oils and hydrocarbons) from soil and water. These pollutants are either used for growth (nutrients) or are stored in wood. In one study, a single sugar maple growing roadside removed 60mg of cadmium, 140mg of chromium, 820mg of nickel, and 5200mg of lead in a single growing season (Coder, 1996). Studies in Maryland showed reductions of up to 88% of nitrate and 76% of phosphorus after agricultural runoff passed through a forest buffer.

In comparison, studies of residential lawns have shown overuse of chemical fertilizers (over 100 million tons applied to lawns annually) and synthetic pesticides (80 million pounds applied to lawns annually - 10 times the rate per acre used by farmers - Yale graduate study). Excess nutrients from lawns and agricultural fields is one of the largest sources of non-point pollutants that is impacting water quality in our streams, rivers, lakes and the Chesapeake Bay.

Parking lots, one of the fastest growing land uses, have become a major cause of water quality and stream degradation. Non-Point Source pollutants such as petroleum hydrocarbons, nitrates, and heavy metals (cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc) from brakes and rusting automobiles all wash into our water ways. Even a small rain storm (less than. 5 inches) will cause 'first flush' - washing these pollutants into streams.

The runoff from one acre of paved parking generates the same amount of annual runoff as: 36 acres of forest; 20 acres of grassland; a 14 acre subdivision (2 acre lots); or a 10 acre subdivision (0.5 acre lots). One inch of rainfall on an acre of parking produces 27,000 gallons of stormwater. Large increases in stormwater volume reaching streams has caused major streambank erosion problems, down stream flooding, increased nutrient/sediment loads, and degraded aquatic habitat. The planting of trees in parking lots, especially in bioretention areas where stormwater flows, can have a positive impact on water quality and work to reduce flooding and stream impairment.

Streamside or Riparian Forest Buffers

Planting and maintaining woody vegetation along streams provide a wealth of benefits and research at the Stroud Water Center and elsewhere have shown that stream health is dependent on the presence of woody vegetation along its banks. Riparian forest buffers filter sediment from streams during storm events; remove nitrogen and phosphorous leaching from adjacent land uses such as agriculture; provide stability to the bank (wood root systems); shade and modify stream temperatures, critical for habitat and pollution reduction; provide aquatic and wildlife habitat for many species; reduce stream velocity; and reduce down stream flooding. Buffer widths vary from 50 feet, providing some bank stability to 250 feet, providing flood mitigation and wildlife habitat. Planting new buffers has become a state priority over the last 10 years, but regulations to protect existing buffers from removal do not exist. Some municipalities have adopted ordinances to protect riparian forest buffers, and model ordinances do exist (Montgomery County Planning).

Increased impervious surfaces and un-managed storm water continue to erode stream banks and fill streams with sediment. Streambank stabilization projects are costing taxpayers almost $1million per mile and state and federal agencies can't afford or keep up with the increased number of streams needing restoration.

Trees and Forests: a New BMP for Stormwater Management in Pennsylvania

Up until recently, stormwater management strategies have been focused on detaining large volumes of water in basins that had little to no effect on removing the pollutants in the stormwater. In December 2006, DEP unveiled the new Stormwater Management- Best Management Practices (BMP) Manual that works to protect water quality and to put stormwater back into the ground where it fell. One of the ten principles for new stormwater management is "preserve and utilize natural systems (soil, vegetation, etc)".

Several of the Non-Structural BMPs include protecting/conserving existing forests and riparian areas, cluster or concentrate new construction to minimize site disturbance, use conservation subdivision design and low impact development techniques, minimize soil compaction and grading entire areas, re-vegetate and re-forest disturbed area using native species, and reduce impervious cover such as streets and parking lots.

Then there are Structural BMPs that are promoting infiltration of stormwater such as the development of rain gardens or bioretention areas where trees and vegetation play an active role consuming rain water and removing pollutants. Trees and vegetation are also being incorporated into newly designed or retrofitted stormwater basins to promote pollution and sediment removal. Other strategies include Green Roofs, rain barrels or cisterns, vegetated infiltration swales, constructed wetlands, and riparian buffer and floodplain restoration.

In older existing communities, increasing tree canopy cover along streets, in yards and in parking lots can have a positive impact on our watersheds. Planting large canopy trees (where growing space permits) provide the most benefit - 8 times that of small maturing trees, according to new USDA Forest Service research (Greg McPherson, Western Center for Urban Forest Research). A study in Oakland, California will be monitoring 1,800 newly planted trees for 40 years to determine if they will account for a 9 million gallon reduction in contaminated stormwater entering the San Francisco Bay.

The role of trees and forests in managing stormwater and protecting water quality is just beginning to be understood by some engineers, planners and community leaders. One of the most powerful statements that help support this came from the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council in 2006 and reads:

'Forests are the most beneficial land use for protecting water quality, due to their ability to capture, filter, and retain water, as well as air pollution from the air. Forests are also essential to the provision of clean drinking water to over 10 million residents of the watershed and provide valuable ecological services and economic benefits including carbon sequestration, flood control, wildlife habitat, and forest products'.

Watershed and Stormwater Resources

Center for Watershed Protection (learn more about the impact of impervious surfaces and storm water on our streams and watersheds and access many downloadable publications).
Urban Watershed Forestry Manuals
Storm water Managers Resource Center (view slideshow, fact sheets and much more)
USDA Forest Service Riparian Buffers
Stroud Water Research Center (visit the Leaf Pack Network for Teachers)
University Of Maryland Riparian Buffer Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay program Natural Stream Channel Design Hubbard Brook Experimental Watershed
USDA Forest Service - Urban Forestry Research Center
Green Infrastructure Website Maryland's Storm water Website
Nonpoint Education of Municipal Officials (NEMO)
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

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The Role of Trees and Forests in Healthy Watersheds

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Pennsylvania contains almost 83,000 miles of rivers and streams, ranging from small trickles to large rivers. These waterways are important because they provide water for people, farms, and industries; provide habitat for many kinds of wildlife and fish; and also provide us with great places to fish, swim, and boat.

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Permeable pavement allows for more infiltration and recharging of aquifers. See, for example, Porous Pave and efforts in Pittsburgh.

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Residents in Pittsburgh's Four Mile Run neighborhood may see reduced street flooding from heavy rains thanks to an innovative green infrastructure project that planners hope will be a model for the rest of the city. The demonstration storm water mitigation project is a collaboration between the Penn State Center: Engaging Pittsburgh and the City of Pittsburgh.

An official ribbon-cutting with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Councilman Corey O'Connor, Penn State Center Director Dr. Deno De Ciantis and other community members was held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 20 at 300 Saline St. in the Four Mile Run neighborhood of Pittsburgh, where runoff from heavy rains sometimes floods streets and basements with storm water and sewage.

The mitigation project uses specially designed curbs and planting strips to collect and channel storm runoff. The sidewalks are made of pervious concrete, which allows rainwater to run into the gravel and earth below instead of into the street. The design is intended to prevent large amounts of water from overwhelming nearby streams and storm water systems.

The collaborative project is the fruit of relationships the Penn State Center has built over the years with city residents, community groups, government, and local corporations, De Ciantis said. "Our interest is to promote research-based best management practices to accomplish specific goals identified by our local communities," he said.

De Ciantis said he hopes the demonstration will encourage the city to use similar green infrastructure in future projects.

Community volunteers and members of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 95 planted 12 sweet bay magnolia and serviceberry trees provided by TreeVitalize, and Penn State students and Penn State Center staff planted perennials, grasses and shrubs.

"It's been a very cool experience, working with both the science and the community," said Jillian Zankowski, a Penn State intern who is collecting rainwater samples from the project. "It's been a great asset to the neighborhood."

The concrete was donated by Bryan Materials Group, which also donated training for city construction workers. The City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works donated the construction labor.

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Partnership to Prevent Flooding in Pittsburgh Neighborhood - Penn State Center Pittsburgh

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Residents in Pittsburgh's Four Mile Run neighborhood may see reduced street flooding from heavy rains thanks to an innovative green infrastructure project that planners hope will be a model for the rest of the city. The demonstration storm water mitigation project is a collaboration between the Penn State Center: Engaging Pittsburgh and the City of...

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buying phosphorus free fertilizer, bagging animal waste so it doesn't get washed into rivers or lakes

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buying phosphorus free fertilizer, bagging animal waste so it doesn't get washed into rivers or lakes

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The importance of watershed it to filter out that essential water into other bodies of water and I believe a reason where someone could agree to having more watershed(then to reduce other negative effect on it) it allows for much cleaner water with a less of a cost

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The humans can plant plants that are native to the area in order to reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides, which can seep into the ground and water supply. 

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The humans can plant plants that are native to the area in order to reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides, which can seep into the ground and water supply. 

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https://www.arborday.org/programs/treecityusa/benefits.cfm --> Westerville, Ohio

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A rain garden can reduce runoff pollution by 99%
https://www.franklinswcd.org/rain-gardens --> Clintonville, Ohio

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In the state of West Virginia into 32 hydrologic regions with all of its immense streams and and allow for the watershed to grow freely

So if we divided each of the immense streams Ohio has we could make regions for the watersheds and allow for more productivity

https://dep.wv.gov/WWE/watershed/PublishingImages/small_wtrshd_map.jpg

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Use eco-friendly cleaning supplies(glass cleaner, dish soap,toilet cleaner, furniture polish). Some soaps and shampoos aren't removed from the water when treated. This can disrupt the pH balance of the water. Algae will grow where it's not supposed to and ruin the water quality