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What is a Watershed?
Protecting water quality through udnerstanding and stewardship
KEEP YOUR LAKE CLEAN THROUGH
WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP
What Is A Watershed?
Think of a funnel: all the water that falls anywhere inside ends up at the bottom. A watershed is the
land around a body of water where all rain, snowmelt and other water eventually flows into a lake,
pond, wetland, river or stream. Every lake, pond, wetland, river and stream has its own watershed. To illustrate, think of land on a hill – miles from the nearest lake. When it rains, some of the water soaks into lawns and woodlands. The water that is not absorbed into the soil runs off, including snowmelt or rain that falls on driveways, roofs and other non-absorbent surfaces. This water joins small streams and wetlands that drain into lakes and rivers and eventually to the ocean.
Watershed Communities
As watershed citizens, all of our actions — good or bad — impact our lakes, rivers and wetlands. It
is each citizen’s responsibility to preserve and improve watershed health. No matter where you live,
you are part of a watershed.
Why is the Watershed Important?
Most of the water in a lake or river comes from somewhere in the watershed. Pollutants often attach
to soil and flow with runoff that drains to lakes and ponds. These pollutants (or contaminants)
include bacteria, fertilizers and other chemicals that harm water quality. When people think of
pollution they often think of direct discharges of contaminants such as sewage outfalls. This is called
point source pollution. These threats to water quality are easier to identify and eliminate.
The origin of nonpoint source pollution or polluted runoff is more difficult to pinpoint because it can
originate from anywhere in the watershed. It can come from many sources including over-fertilized
lawns and fields, failed septic systems, automobile oil and other pollutants on paved areas and in
roadside drainages. With nearly all point source pollution eliminated, nonpoint source pollution
presents the greatest threat to water quality. Studies have shown that nonpoint sources of pollution
contribute most of the contaminants found in our surface waters.
Lake Protection Through Watershed Management
Runoff in the watershed carries pollutants to its lakes and rivers. The best way to reduce pollutants
in a lake is to minimize them in the watershed. Sound land management limits or prevents pollutants
from reaching lakes and rivers. The management techniques employed depend on the particular land
uses within the watershed. Watershed surveys can identify current and potential pollutants and their
sources. With this information, a watershed community can take steps to prevent or reduce pollution.
As an individual, you can help your lake by reducing your use of products containing phosphates and
other pollutants, limiting land clearing, reducing lawn size and maintaining good plant cover.
Vegetation near lakes and rivers helps prevent fast-flowing runoff from polluting your lake. Involving
your friends and neighbors increases the positive impacts of good management.
Positive Steps
The New Hampshire Lakes Association is working to build awareness of the importance of watersheds and their effects on water quality. NH LAKES's Watershed Steward™ Program works in cooperation with local lake associations and other groups to help land-owners identify potential threats and better
manage their properties for water quality protection.
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