Identify the Possible Sources of Polluted Runoff
How many potential threats to clean water can you identify between the snowcapped mountains and the city down below ? Write a number next to the threat and , using a separate piece of paper , explain each threat .
Cars & Trucks Automobiles and trucks create numerous threats . Tires wear out . Ever wonder where all the rubber goes ? Then there ’ s oil and exhaust . And what about brake pads ? They wear as well , leaving metals on the ground .
Winter Roadway Management When it snows , crews use sand , salt or other chemicals to make travel safer , but those materials can pollute runoff . Even though it is natural , sand can cloud water and create sediment , harming fish and plants .
Farms & Ranches We need to grow food . Farm and ranch land can also work as a natural filter , slowing runoff and re-charging ground water supplies . However , animal waste , mismanagement or misuse of chemicals , poor soil management or over grazing can cause polluted runoff .
Construction & Soil Erosion Naturally occurring or human-caused erosion sends dirt into rivers and lakes . Construction crews use special techniques to try to keep soil on site .
Recreation Most everybody enjoys a day on the lake or near a river , but litter and oil from motor boats are sources of pollution .
Mining & Logging Mining and logging are important industries . In Colorado , we have a legacy of old sites from the early gold and silver mines . As water moves through these sites , heavy metals can be carried into waterways .
Similar to farms and ranches , mismanaged mines or logging operations can contribute to erosion and runoff pollution .
Watershed Defenders produced by Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom 9