WE ALL LIVE DOWNSTREAM Elizabeth Jernigan Stormwater Outreach

WE ALL LIVE DOWNSTREAM Elizabeth Jernigan Stormwater Outreach and Education Coordinator

W e all need clean water. WHY?

Why We Need Clean Water • Drinking • Fish and wildlife • Crops & Agriculture • For recreation • For energy

W here does clean water come from?

What is a Watershed? Image Courtesy EPA

Land Use

What is Stormwater Runoff? Precipitation that flows over the ground, picking up debris, chemicals, dirt and other pollutants and carrying them into nearby waterways.

Point vs. Nonpoint Source Point Source: It is easy to identify the “source” of pollution. Non-Point Source: It is difficult to identify because it comes from everywhere.

What’s in Your Watershed? Other Industrial Single Family Residential

Watershed level facts: • 80% of parcels are residential • 6% commercial • 2% vacant • > 2% each for industrial/manufacturing, schools, farms, Based on 2000 census • 29, 677 people in the watershed • 12, 542 total households; average of 2. 34 people per hou • 59% of households own their property; 35% rent; rest w • 77. 9% white, 15. 1% black, and 8. 91 % Hispanic • Median age of 38 years old

Highly Urbanized Watershed

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Impervious Surface Estimation, 2005 10% area random sample Estimate of 28. 5% impervious surface

Why this is dangerous. . . Sensitive Impacted Non-supporting Urban Impervious Cover Model (ICM), Schueler et al, 2009

Parcels along streams 12, 688 Total Parcels 849 Riparian Parcels (6. 6%) Riparian Parcels Type # Parcels Residential: 555 Commercial: 58 Industrial: 30 Vacant: 70 Government: 3 Farm: 7 Other: 126

Riparian parcel facts: • 70% of parcels are residential * 68% in Burlington, 26% in Graham • 7% of parcels are commercial/industrial/manufacturing * 52% in Burlington, 11% in Graham * 72% of Industrial/Manufacturing parcels are in Burlington

What Does All This Mean? • currently impaired for Aquatic Life “When a fish or benthic macroinvertebrate community sample received a bioclassification of Severe, Poor or Fair” -NC DWQ

Jordan Lake Rules, 2009

What Can I Do?

What Can You Do? Reduce impervious cover by: • planting trees, shrubs, and grasses, especially along stream banks • leaving existing vegetation along stream banks

Plant Native Plants! • adds beauty • provides food and habitat for native wildlife • decreases the amount of water needed for landscape • requires very little long-term maintenance • produces long root systems to hold soil in place • protects water quality by controlling soil erosion and moderating floods and droughts

Build a Rain Garden! • A rain garden is a planted depression that allows rainwater runoff from impervious urban areas like roofs, driveways, walkways, and compacted lawn areas the opportunity to be absorbed.

Get Your Soil Tested! It’s Free! NC Cooperative Extension Service www. ces. ncsu. edu NC Agronomic Services Soil Testing www. agr. state. nc. us/agronomi/s

Minimize Fertilizer Use • Use the right amount! • Don’t apply before a big storm • Sweep up excess that lands on impermeable surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, etc. • Use organic, slow release fertilizers. • Use compost.

Pick up the Poop! Dog’s Don’t Flush! • Nutrients • Bacteria

Adopt-a-Stream! Take pride in your watershed! • Pick up litter • Plant native plants • Monitor water quality conditions

Volunteer! Share your knowledge! set up a booth at a fair of festival (we’ll provide everything)

Schedule a Presentation We’re available to help you! • Scouts • Schools • Rotary Clubs • Garden Clubs • Neighborhood Associations • Many more!

Contact Us Elizabeth Jernigan Stormwater Outreach and Education Coordinator Piedmont Triad Council of Governments Wilmington Building, Suite 201 2216 W. Meadowview Road Greensboro, NC 27407 ejernigan@ptcog. org stormwatersmart@ptcog. org 336. 294. 4950