T
he future health of Connecticut’s water, and all of us who use water (that would be you), depend on the actions of every individual. No matter where we live, work, or play, we are
somehow connected to a nearby river, stream, lake, pond, wetland, or shoreline. The rain that falls around us will always move accord- ing to gravity, following a path to the nearest downhill body of water and, in Connecticut, eventually to Long Island Sound.
Your Individual, Everyday Actions are Critical This simple fact means that the health of Long Island Sound—and every river and stream that fl ows into it—is connected to how we live on the land. Yet many people still think that water pollution is caused mostly by discharges from business and industry and are unaware of the unique role we play in determining the fate of our waterways.
The Health of Our Rivers is Declining The good news is that industrial discharges are largely under con- trol, thanks to the Clean Water Act passed in 1972. With passage of this act, we saw the number of healthy rivers across the nation (those considered clean enough for fi shing and swimming) increase from just 20% in the mid-1900s to 57% by 1994. The bad news is that just ten years later we saw that number drop slightly to 53% and by 2012, only 48% of rivers and streams were considered clean enough for fi shing and swimming.
Nature’s Cleaning Systems are Overloaded With industrial discharges under control, what is causing the decline in river health? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it is polluted runoff. Runoff is the water that does not soak into the ground during a storm. Forests and meadows are excel- lent places for water to soak into the ground, but with a growing population these areas are giving way to more developed land (i.e. more buildings, roads, parking lots, lawns) and the volume of runoff is increasing. So is the amount of polluted runoff—water that picks up nutrients, salts, sediments, bacteria, pesticides, and other widely- used chemicals (like cleaning supplies and automotive fl uids) from the landscape and carries them to nearby waterways.
With fewer natural areas for water to soak into the ground and more pollutants being used in excess, nature’s cleaning systems are over- loaded, causing more pollutants to end up in our waterways.
28 Natural Nutmeg - March 2015
Ten Easy Steps We All Can Take With the health of our nation’s rivers declining over the past two de- cades, now is the time for you to make a real and positive difference around your home to reduce polluted runoff. Here are just some of the simple, “River Smart” steps you can take:
1. Nurture native trees, shrubs, and fl owers. Native species require no fertilizers, pesticides or watering to stay healthy. They thrive in the local habitat and provide great food and shelter birds, pollina- tors, and other wildlife.
2. Reduce the size of grass lawns. Lawns limit the amount of water that can soak into the ground and often require large amounts of fer- tilizers and pesticides. If you do have a lawn, follow the rule “mow high and let it lie.” By letting your grass grow taller, you also let the roots grow deeper, and leaving the clippings provides a natural fertilizer. Altogether, you will improve the lawn’s ability to absorb water, stabilize soil, control weeds, and not dry out.
3. Limit the amount of paved areas and create natural places for the water to soak into the ground. Rain gardens and swales are ex- cellent ways to attenuate and treat runoff from roofs and driveways. Pervious material like gravel, porous concrete, and fi eld stone can be used for patios, driveways, and walkways.
4. Plant or grow natural buffers at the edges of rivers/streams, lakes/ponds, and wetlands. These buffers – made up of trees, shrubs, woody and herbaceous perennials and ground cover – prevent shoreline erosion, reduce fl ood impacts, capture and treat runoff by trapping sediment and removing nutrients, regulate water tempera- ture, and provide food and habitat for wildlife.
5. Reduce or eliminate use of fertilizers and pesticides. These chemicals wash from your property with every rainstorm into a nearby waterway where they can cause algal blooms and be deadly to aquatic organisms. Before applying chemicals, get your soil tested to determine what you actually need and, if necessary, use only a slow-release, low-concentration fertilizer or natural compost. If applying pesticides, spot treat only when absolutely necessary and carefully follow the safety guidelines provided.
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