FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS / 319 GRANT
1. What is a Watershed and why is it important?
A watershed is essentially a geographic place (acres of land) that drains to a particular stream, stream system, or lake. The boundary of this “place” is determined by the physical elevation of the land surrounding a given waterbody. Simply ask yourself “if a rain drop landed in place X, would it eventually flow to Stream Y or to Stream Z.” If it flows to Stream Y, it has fallen in Stream Y’s watershed. Scientists and land managers can determine the scale or size of their watershed based on what stream or lake they are interested in studying. Sometimes watershed boundaries are set to include many tributaries and the thousands of acres of land that “shed” water to those streams. Conversely, if you simply wanted to focus on your backyard pond and determine its watershed, this area may include only 5 acres of land. The reason the watershed boundary is important is because whatever is happening on the surrounding landscape has the potential to contribute pollutants to our stream/lake of interest, especially during rain storms.
2. How is the health of a watershed determined?
Watershed health is determined in part by water quality sampling and in part by land use evaluations. Water quality samples tell us various pollutants, concentrations, and loads. We consider chemical parameters like dissolved oxygen, nutrients, and bacteria and compare them to state standards. Maybe even more importantly, we investigate the insect community living in the streams and assess the surrounding stream habitat. Insects live through various conditions year round and can help tell us how polluted a certain stretch of stream is. Insects in their larval form don’t move very far; so, those that can’t tolerate poor water quality will be absent, thus telling us something is wrong with the stream’s water quality or habitat. Current land use practices, areas showing erosion, and known environmental hazards are also part of the puzzle when trying to figure out watershed health.
3. What are sample sights and why are they important?
Sample sites are strategic locations where scientists try to isolate smaller parts of the watershed (called subwatersheds) to help tease out what land use may be contributing to changes in water quality as it progresses downstream. When several tributaries enter a stream it is helpful to have sample sites at the most downstream location of those tributaries, yet just upstream of where they enter the main stem stream. We can then get a sense of how each subwatershed area is contributing to the main stream condition.
4. What are you testing the water for?
We collect some water quality information while in the field at the site like the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, the temperature, and the pH (measure of acidity). Other water quality traits (parameters) we analyze at the lab such as the nutrients in the water like phosphorus and nitrogen, as well as bacteria such as E. coli.
5. What can individuals do to protect their watershed?
Homeowners, businesses, farmers, and really everyone can make a big difference in water quality with small changes in behavior. It is rarely our individual behaviors that lead to the problems; rather, it’s the collective contribution of all of us. Therefore, the solutions to healthier water require action from everyone. We don’t have one big polluter to remedy – we have thousands of households that just need to be more aware of small things. Here are some ideas to do around your house:
ü Use Phosphorus-free lawn fertilizers and dishwasher detergent
ü Fertilize less – first check soil nutrient levels
ü Pick up pet wastes regularly
ü Keep lawn clippings out of streets and waterways
ü Have your septic tank pumped out
ü Monitor and maintain your septic drainfield
ü Collect stormwater from gutters to use in gardens
ü Create flower (rain) gardens at the base of downspouts
ü Cover bare ground with plantings
ü Use straw bales or silt fence when doing construction or major landscaping projects
ü Plant beds of native flowers or trees with big root systems for infiltration
ü Talk to your neighbors about what you are doing
ü Think about how water is used around your house, how it moves across your yard, and ultimately where it goes!
6. What is unique about the Big Walnut Creek/Deer Creek Watersheds?
The Big Walnut Creek is a beautiful watershed with many natural well established stream channels. It has some really nice smallmouth bass habitat and great canoeing locations. There are several natural areas along the shores, State protected Nature Preserves, and a handful of State and Federally listed endangered species that rely on the Big Walnut. Also, thanks to the University, the Big Walnut has a great history of academic study that has allowed us and others in the state learn about stream ecology.
7. What importance does the project have for the individuals within the watersheds?
All aspects of each of our lives are touched by water every day. We need to understand our role in the bigger picture of its use and protection. Our jobs, health, recreation, and other critical natural resources are all dependent on clean water. Small landscape controls implemented now are more cost effective and palatable than remediation of an entire ecosystem after it collapses and cannot support the communities around it.
8. Who is funding the project?
The majority of the funding comes from a federal grant program that arose out of Section 319 of federal legislation known as the Clean Water Act. The program is administered by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). A smaller portion of the funding and resources are coming from in-kind contributions of local people and SWCD employees.
9. Is the program regulatory? Can landowners “get in trouble” if the water quality is found to be bad near their homes?
The 319 program and its associated grant projects are designed to be locally led, voluntary, proactive approaches to improving water quality. The Big Walnut Watershed Management Plan project is not a regulatory project.