Where have all the Fish Gone?
By Kari Bedi and Tom Barrett
Did you know 40% of our fresh waterways are impaired (i.e. polluted)?
This means the water is too dirty for swimming, fishing or drinking. Plants, animals, and fish are disappearing from many rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. A waterway is impaired If it does not meet water quality standards of the Clean Water Act and the state. This means the waterway is polluted. The information is confusing but the problem is real. The problem is local as well as national. The problem will not go away without action.
Unintended Consequences of Our Unconscious Use of Resources
- Ocean acidification – due to carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels
- Overfishing
- Warming water temperatures
- Deoxygenation – due to run-off of fertilizers and sewage
- Pollution – soil, nitrates, pesticides, toxic chemicals
- Siltation/Erosion – which can add to toxic algae growth in rivers and lakes
In nature there is no good; there is no evil; there are only consequences.”
Ohio
Toxic algae blooms are flourishing under warming water temperatures and contaminated stormwater runoff. Growing evidence suggests toxins, which are colorless, odorless, and water soluble, may remain present in water bodies long after algae blooms have vanished; and more alarmingly, algae toxins potentially could become airborne. In September, an Ohio county faced a cyanobacteria contamination of their water system that forced the water supplier to warn customers not to drink water from the tap.
Florida
The Tide is Turning Toward Resiliency with Green Infrastructure
Chicago, Illinois
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Groveland, Massachusetts
What We Know for Iowa
For Iowa, soil erosion is the number one source of surface water pollution. The movement of soil into water supplies is called siltation. Erosion easily occurs when bare land is left to be exposed to wind or heavy rains. Primary sources of unprotected soil include agriculture, road ditches, and construction/building sites. Of course, along with the soil comes the pollutants in the soil that load stormwater runoff with nutrient-rich feces and various toxic chemicals.
Collaborating on Conscious Solutions for Water Improvement
Elements of Green Infrastructure
- Native grasses and filter strips – dense root systems of native plantings help hold soil in place, filters out pollutants, improves absorption rate, and slows runoff
- Bioswales – a drainage course with gently sloped sides designed to slow stormwater flow to trap silt and pollutants
- Urban tree canopy – intercepts rainfall, reducing surface runoff
- Greenstructure – urban green spaces designed for cleaner air and water, recreational and educational opportunities, and natural habitat networks
- Permeable pavement – pervious materials that help control stormwater at the source, reduce runoff and provide filtration
- Constructed and natural wetlands – act as a biofilter, removing sediments and pollutants
- Green roofs – a form of low impact development, offers many benefits including stormwater management, improved air quality, and energy efficiency
- Green alleys – incorporate permeable pavements, open bottom catch basins, high-albedo pavement to reflect sunlight and help reduce the urban heat island effect, and dark sky-compliant light fixtures to reduce light pollution
By weaving these natural processes into the built environment, green infrastructure offers both economical and ecological benefits to stormwater management. Not to mention further benefits including: flood mitigation, improved air quality, and support for local and regional biodiversity – supporting the return of fish populations.
Anthropogenic influences – like that from population growth, the energy industry, manufactured products, mining, transportation, and agricultural practices – have had a severe impact on biodiversity and water quality worldwide.”
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