Articles Tagged: Watershed Health

When most people think about stormwater pollution, they think of sediment, nutrients, oils, trash, or road salt. However, heat itself can be a pollutant. Thermal pollution occurs when stormwater runoff becomes significantly warmer than the natural receiving waters it eventually enters. Elevated wate…

Eurasian watermilfoil is one of the most widespread and problematic aquatic invasive plants in North America. Known scientifically as Myriophyllum spicatum, this submerged aquatic plant has spread aggressively across lakes, ponds, rivers, reservoirs, and canals throughout much of the United States a…

Most storm drain inlets quietly collect and convey runoff without attracting much attention from the public. To many residents, a storm drain is simply another opening in the curb or grate in the pavement. What many people do not realize, however, is that storm drains in most municipalities discharg…

Stormwater runoff can cause fish kills through a combination of physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms that alter aquatic environments beyond the tolerance limits of fish and other aquatic organisms. These impacts are often rapid, episodic, and closely tied to precipitation events, especially…

In many cases, wetlands announce themselves clearly with standing water, saturated soils, and soft, mucky ground. However, some of the most regulated and environmentally sensitive wetlands are far less obvious. They may appear dry for much of the year, support grasses and shrubs, and even look suita…

Street sweeping rarely gets much attention. It is slow, repetitive work, often done in the early morning hours, and the equipment itself can be temperamental and expensive to maintain. Sweepers are subject to constant wear, from abrasive debris, dust, and the mechanical strain of brushes, conveyors,…

Fire hydrant flushing is a common and often necessary practice for maintaining water distribution systems. Municipalities flush hydrants to remove sediment, verify system performance, and ensure adequate flow for firefighting. While these objectives are important, the practice can carry a range of u…

Understanding Natural vs. Problematic Foam in Streams, Channels, and Lakes If you spend enough time around streams, roadside ditches, or lakes, you will eventually notice patches of foam collecting along the edges or drifting in slow-moving water. For many people, the immediate assumption is that th…

A Look at the English Brook Delta in Lake George, New York Sediment is a natural part of any water system, but when it accumulates faster than a system can handle, it begins to change the waterbody in ways that are both visible and subtle. Excess sediment alters water clarity, transports nutrients, …

Culverts are often out of sight and, as a result, out of mind, until they fail. When they do fail, the consequences can range from nuisance flooding to full roadway washouts. One of the most overlooked factors in culvert performance is vegetation management. Too little control can obstruct flow and …

For decades, the ideal suburban yard has been defined by a single image, a uniform carpet of bright green grass, edged with ornamental shrubs and kept pristine through fertilizers, pesticides, and frequent watering. It is neat, predictable, and widely accepted as a symbol of care and success. But fr…

Municipal governments are often viewed as stewards of water quality, yet many of their routine, necessary operations can unintentionally contribute pollutants to the stormwater system. Unlike wastewater, which is treated before discharge, stormwater typically flows untreated into nearby streams, riv…