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In this area, water has often been treated as
the common enemy. South
Florida had too much, it was a nuisance.
It was therefore frequently diverted from areas occupied by
humans or drained to tide (channeled into nearby streams and rivers so
that it would flow to the Gulf of Mexico).
It is now considered a precious resource not to be wasted.
More importantly, it is too valuable to be discharged (dumped)
with the things we no longer need.
This includes used motor oil, excess fertilizer, silt from
exposed soils and lawn clippings or tree trimmings.
Gravity dictates that water moves from high to
low…mountains to valleys…clouds to land to river. The hydrologic cycle takes it back again.
Water has always moved in this circuit.
Starting in the clouds, it is showered upon the surface of the
earth, flowing from the land to ditches to streams to rivers and on to
the seas and oceans. During
its journey, some of this most universal solvent and common thread of
life is captured by the land and held as ground water, while some is
transferred back to the clouds by the process of transpiration (the
passage of water vapor from plants back to the atmosphere). Still other
water evaporates -- the great seas and even small water bodies are
warmed by the sun and the heated surface water molecules are excited
sufficiently to escape via evaporation to the clouds to begin the
journey again.
Man has the opportunity to use this most
magnificent fluid time and time again.
Our ancestors used the resource for drinking, watering crops and
to house the bounty of the fisheries.
They also used it to carry waste from population centers. Thus, the principle of the familiar phrase: “the solution
to pollution is dilution.” However,
good water is no longer free. The
capacity of our streams, rivers and oceans to assimilate our waste has
reached the point that the easy solution (wash it off) has been reached.
Algal blooms threaten our near-shore aquatic life, while silt and
sediments are deposited in our rivers and bays.
Aquatic life is put at risk by low dissolved oxygen (another
necessity of life) and silts cover critical spawning areas and nursery
areas for hatchlings.
What can we do? We must become stewards of the resource.
We must realize the value of clean water.
A few common-sense practices can make a difference to the
resource. It is not someone
else’s job or responsibility. Each
of us must take responsibility for our actions.
At home, we can use less fertilizer and
adequately water our lawns less frequently.
This reduces the excess fertilizer which makes its way into our
streams and rivers. By
watering sufficiently to wet the root zone, we can water less
frequently. Both of the previous steps cost less money than their
alternatives and save the resource… a win—win situation!
In our neighborhood, we can make sure we use
silt fences or other erosion control measures to control excess silt
from being washed from the property.
Do not place waste clippings in canals, ditches or streams.
These materials decay, consume valuable oxygen and become muck,
resulting in your stream or ditch becoming a smelly algae-rich and
unattractive body. Fertilize
only when necessary and avoid excessive fertilization or application of
chemicals. They wash into
the groundwater or directly into surface waters and result in excessive
nutrients in our waterways causing algal blooms, oxygen depletion and
general water quality degradation.
During
construction activity, work in phases to minimize the exposure of
cleared lands to the elements, keeping soil where it is supposed to
be… on the site. Protect
off-site areas from silt and erosion.
Be a good neighbor and don’t track soils on to the roadway.
Many of these Best Management Practices (BMPs) actually cost less
than conventional practices. For
instance, studies in Georgia have determined that
low-impact development construction practices cost 20% less than
conventional methods. The
savings is carried forward in future maintenance costs.
“The living roof” is a concept whereby grass and shrubs are
planted on roof tops to reduce the direct contact of the sun’s rays
and man-made materials; this lowers roof temperatures and ultimately
reduces the cost of operation and maintenance of buildings.
The benefits of these concepts not only save money in building
construction, operating and maintenance costs but make for more pleasant
surroundings, reduce energy consumption, and cool the local
temperatures, among other things!
In general, the way we live controls the
health and appearance of our waters.
If we live without considering the consequences of our actions,
the result will be reflected in the quality of our water.
If we wish to maintain the quality of life we have in Southwest
Florida, we may have to amend the way we live.
Grass that is too green may result in green water.
Poor management practices during construction can produce harmful
runoff to our streams. The
bottom line is: small changes in the way we conduct our day to day
business has a direct impact on the quality of the future.
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