Transcript Watershed! - Shepherd University Personal Webpages

What is a Watershed???
• A watershed can be found
almost anywhere. It is defined
as the flow of water from a
high to low place, over or
under land.
• Whenever you see a creek,
stream, river, delta, lake or
ocean you see a part of the
watershed.
What’s happening to the
Watershed?
Local watersheds are in
danger from many threats
such as agricultural runoff,
acid rain, development and
more.
The kinds of dangers created
result in problems that can
only be seen down stream.
Processes like Acidic Mine
Drainage only further the
problem, while utilizing products
such as Bio-diesil will slow it
down.
This usually means that
actions taken by local
politicians reflect a view that
nothing is wrong because they
can not see anything on their
doorstep.
Agricultural Runoff
• Agricultural runoff is
one of the leading
causes of bad water
quality that affects
our lakes, rivers, and
other waterways.
Why Is Agricultural Runoff A
Problem?
• Runoff can pick up various substances
• These pollutants flow directly into sewer
•
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systems, lakes, streams, and rivers.
During storm water overflow, anything that
enters a storm sewer system is discharged
untreated into the water bodies we use for
swimming, fishing, and providing drinking water.
It can take centuries for some water bodies to
recover.
There Are Four Main Pollutants
Entering Our Waterways because of
Agricultural Activity
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Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Sediments
Fecal Matter
Agriculture Contributes Pollutants
To Waterways
• Overgrazed pastures
• Excess fertilizers and
•
•
pesticides
Livestock in streams
Other Contributors
Solutions to Agricultural Runoff
•• Apply
Keep livestock
from stream
banks and
provide
fertilizersaway
and pesticides
according
to label
them a water
source
awayand
from
water bodies.
instructions
to save
money
minimize
pollution.
•• Use
Storewater
and apply
manure away
water bodies and in
and sediment
controlfrom
basins.
accordance with a nutrient management plan.
•
Keep nearby waterways grassy to prevent the amount
•of Rotate
animal grazing to prevent soil erosion in fields.
runoff that enters water bodies.
The Fuel of the Future
Biodiesel
 Biodiesel is an alternative fuel that is
created with corn and soybean oils
 This is a cleaner burning fuel compared to
fossil fuels and it’s non-toxic, about 10 less
toxic than table salt
 Biodiesel can be used in everyday diesel
cars and trucks with slightly lower energy
output, but it increases the lubricity of the
engine
Petroleum Usage
 Fossil fuels – coal, oil and
natural gas -- currently
provide more than 85% of
all the energy consumed in
the United States, nearly
two-thirds of our electricity,
and almost all of our
transportation fuels.
 In 2004, the U.S. was
using 19.4 million barrels
of petroleum per day which
is about 3 gallons of gas
everyday per person
Biodiesel Benefits
 78% less carbon dioxide
than normal petroleum
diesel and approximately
50% less carbon monoxide
 5% less methane which is
another cause of the
“Greenhouse Effect”
 Compared to petroleum,
Biodiesel emission of
particulates 65 %, which
are small particles of solid
combustion products
 According to the
Department of Energy, this
reduces cancer risks by up
to 94 %
Availability
 Refueling sites are all over
the country
 Many concentrated in the
mid-west in such states as
Indiana, Iowa, and
Nebraska
 The use of these plants
has driven up the prices of
grain, helping the farms in
that area.
Acid Mine Drainage is the
number one cause of water
pollution in every single
Appalachian coal mining state
in the US.
A mine with acid mine drainage has the
potential for long-term damage and
devastating impacts on rivers, streams,
and aquatic life.
What is Acid Mine Drainage
(AMD)?
Drainage flowing from or caused by surface mining, deep
mining or coal refuse piles that is typically highly acidic
with elevated levels of dissolved metals.
How is AMD formed?
AMD is formed by a series of complex chemical reactions
that occur when water comes in contact with pyrite (iron
disulfide minerals) in coal. Exposed pyrite reacts with air
and water to form sulfuric acid and dissolved iron.
Impacts of AMD
 Effects
aquatic life by eliminating most of
algae, macroinvertebrates, and fish
 Causes water to be unfit for drinking and
household purposes (ex: unpleasant
tastes, laxative effects, laundry staining,
and scum in sinks and tubs)
 Leads to corrosion of navigation locks and
dams, ships and barges, bridges, pipelines
and plumbing
Approaches for Treating AMD

Active Chemical
Treatment

Passive Treatment
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
treatment uses
chemicals to neutralize
the acidity
Chemicals used are
hydrated lime, pebble
quicklime, caustic
soda, soda ash
briquettes, and
ammonia

do not require continuous
chemical inputs because
they are based on naturally
occurring chemical and
biological processes
technologies include
constructed wetlands,
anoxic limestone drains,
successive alkalinity
producing systems,
limestone ponds, and open
limestone channels.
What they’re doing now
Is this enough?
Since 1977 Coal Operators have been
required to contribute $.35 per ton of coal
mined to a Trust Fund that is to be used for
Over 12,000 miles of streams in the US are
reclamation of abandoned coal mines. This
poisoned by acid mine drainage and only
fund’s balance in 1998 is estimated at
$204 million per year is being released by the
$1.36 Billion.
federal government to all of the country to
clean up the pollution.
In West Virginia alone, 2
sites that pose public health
and property hazards costs
around $2.5 billion to
reclaim.
What can we do?
 Contact
your Federal Legislators and ask
them to put pressure on the federal
government to release it to the states to
create jobs and clean up the streams
 Volunteer
with your local watershed
coalition or donate money to help keep
your local streams clean
Acid Rain in general
• Acid Rain is caused mainly by two different pollutants.
• Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides.
• It occurs when these pollutants enter into the atmosphere.
• Once they are in the atmosphere, they mix with the
moisture and falls as acidic rain.
The specifics
• The pH of average water is at 6 or a little below.
• Acid Rain is very destructive and is classified with a pH below
5.6.
• Since Acid Rain has such a low pH, it can destroy trees, pollute
water, and kill animals in the environment.
• It is also harmful to humans because it can severely burn the
skin.
Why we should save energy
• We need to save energy to prevent acid rain. If everyone in
Jefferson County turned off a light when it wasn’t being of
use, the power plants would put off less harmful pollutants
because of the drop in energy usage.
• So if we all use less energy, then it will significantly prevent
acid rain occurrence.
The Suburban Sprawl
Effect
This is the World…
This is the World…
On Suburban Sprawl!
Why me?
The Damaging Effects
There are nice rural areas.
Houses are built for people to live in.
•Reduced permeable surface area =
lower water table
•Run off from vehicles and acid rain =
more toxins in local water supply
•Lower water table =
locals have to dig deeper wells
•Lower water table =
plant life suffers(roots can’t reach water)
•Lower water table =
plants die, mud slides and flooding occur
The Humanity factor
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In the city, it’s an accepted belief that one
does not have to interact with their
neighbors; this spreads to the country.
These cookie cutter neighborhoods don’t
always pay taxes to their local area
reducing the outlying community’s ability
to provide for their children.
4 hour commute + 8 hour work day =
tired individuals with little time for their
families.
Threats like those produced from
agricultural runoff and suburban
sprawl are destroying our and
our children’s chances for saving
this world or even maintaining
its current status.
What can be done?
From picking up trash, using better fuel
sources and reducing toxic emissions to
passing laws that support saving the
environment, you can help!
Jefferson County
Watershed Coalition
 We would like to see our group have
more hours earlier in the year so that our
group can gain a more full experience
under this organization.
 We would also like to see more
communication between our advisor and
out group. (possibly replace a shepherd
advisor with a member of the community)
Stephanie Suddueth
Watershed!
Demetrius Exum
By:
Rex Barkdoll
Matt Benjamin
Patrick Noland
That’s watershed folks!