What is runoff and what causes it?
Runoff occurs when there is more water than land can absorb. The excess liquid flows across the surface of the land and into nearby creeks, streams, or ponds.
What are the different types of natural runoff?
The most familiar type of natural runoff is snowmelt. Mountains that cannot absorb water from heavy snowfalls produce runoff that turns into streams, rivers, and lakes. Glacier s, snow, and rain all contribute to this natural runoff.
How is surface runoff affected by the weather and topography?
Surface runoff is affected by both meteorological factors and the physical geology and topography of the land. Only about a third of the precipitation that falls over land runs off into streams and rivers and is returned to the oceans. The other two-thirds is evaporated, transpired, or soaks ( infiltrates) into groundwater.
What is a geyser runoff?
Geyser Runoff. Runoff occurs when there is more water than land can absorb. The excess liquid flows across the surface of the land and into nearby creeks, streams, or ponds. Runoff can come from both natural processes and human activity. The most familiar type of natural runoff is snowmelt.
Some definitions of runoff
1. That part of the precipitation, snow melt, or irrigation water that appears in uncontrolled (not regulated by a dam upstream) surface streams, rivers, drains or sewers.
Runoff and water quality
A significant portion of rainfall in forested watersheds is absorbed into soils ( infiltration ), is stored as groundwater, and is slowly discharged to streams through seeps and springs.
Why might stormwater runoff be a problem?
As it flows over the land surface, stormwater picks up potential pollutants that may include sediment, nutrients (from lawn fertilizers), bacteria (from animal and human waste), pesticides (from lawn and garden chemicals), metals (from rooftops and roadways), and petroleum by-products (from leaking vehicles).
What is runoff in water?
runoff. Runoff occurs when there is more water than land can absorb. The excess liquid flows across the surface of the land and into nearby creeks, streams, or ponds. Runoff can come from both natural processes and human activity.
How does runoff occur?
Runoff also occurs naturally as soil is erode d and carried to various bodies of water. Even toxic chemicals enter waterways through natural processes, such as volcanic eruptions. Toxic gases released by volcanoes eventually return to the water or soil as precipitation.
What is nonpoint runoff?
Runoff from nonpoint sources includes lawn fertilizer, car exhaust, and even spilled gasoline from a car. Farms are a huge nonpoint source of runoff, as rainwater and irrigation drain fertilizers and pesticides into bodies of water.
What is the process of increasing the concentration of a substance as it passes through the food chain?
This process in which the concentration of a substance increases as it passes up the food chain is called biomagnification . Biomagnification means organisms high on the food chain, including people, have a higher concentration of pollutants in their bodies than organisms such as seagrass or algae.
What is stormwater runoff?
Stormwater runoff is the runoff drained into creeks, bays, and other water sources after a storm. Stormwater runoff includes all debris, chemicals, and other pollutants picked up by the rain or snow. to soak up. the strategy of applying profit-making practices to the operation of farms and ranches.
How does soil affect water quality?
Soil acts as a natural sponge, filter ing and absorbing many harmful chemicals. Communities can plant native vegetation. Shrubs and other plants prevent erosion and runoff from going into waterways. Toxic runoff can pollute surface waters, like rivers and lakes, as well as seep into underground groundwater supplies.
What is watering land?
watering land, usually for agriculture, by artificial means. area of grass mowed, watered, and maintained by people. trash or other scattered objects left in an open area or natural habitat. material thrown away from healthcare facilities such as hospitals, including blood, tissue, and medical instruments.
Where does agricultural runoff go?
Agricultural runoff flows into the lakes and rivers that hundreds of towns draw their water from. For example, herbicide runoff from a farm in Centralia, Mo., might end up in Goodwater Creek, which empties into the Salt River, which then flows into Mark Twain Lake. That lake provides drinking water for 70,000 residents.
Why is farm runoff so bad?
Farm runoff has become an even more pressing concern this year because of the Midwest's extremely wet spring. In between the frequent storms, farmers had only brief stretches of weather dry enough to apply pesticides and fertilizers.
When will the Midwest stream study be completed?
Scientists say they'll have results from their Midwest stream study after the fieldwork is completed in August. Over the next several years, the U.S. Geological Survey plans to replicate the study in other regions.
Who is the general manager of Des Moines Water Works?
The general manager of Des Moines Water Works, Bill Stowe, fears long-term effects. "Our concern, obviously, is that once you shake customers' faith in the safety of tap water, you turn them to other sources like bottled water, which is ... certainly a competitor," Stowe says.
Does agriculture affect water quality?
But all that productivity has taken a toll on the environment, especially rivers and lakes: Agriculture is the nation's leading cause of impaired water quality, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Scientists want to get a better sense of how all that agricultural runoff is affecting water quality.
What is runoff used for?
Runoff can be captured and stored for use or allowed to soak into the soil. Rain barrels and cisterns are used for storage. Dry wells, soil amendment and rain gardens are used to infiltrate water into the soil.
How to build a dry well?
4. Dry Well (Infiltration Trench) 1 The sides of the dry well (not the bottom) are lined with landscape fabric. 2 Water can be directed to a dry well from a downspout or other pipe. 3 It may be used as a walkway or covered with topsoil and sod. 4 It is best to excavate until a permeable soil layer is found. A dry well is only a good option if a permeable layer of soil is found within a reasonable depth. If no such layer exists, a dry well might not be a good solution.
How do rain barrels work?
A rain barrel is a large container that attaches to the end of a downspout and stores water for later use, such as watering your garden or lawn. Rain barrels come in many shapes and sizes. A typical rain barrel holds about 50 gallons of water. Larger cisterns can hold hundreds or even thousands of gallons. Rain barrels are simple to install and inexpensive. Unless you have a cistern, this option generally does not provide enough storage capacity to greatly reduce the amount of runoff flowing to the lawn during large storms. Rather, rain barrels are most useful as an addition to other stormwater controls.
Why do swales need stone?
It also can be lined with appropriately sized stone to prevent erosion within the swale. Stone is preferable in swales in which grass does not grow well due to shade or that are too steep or long for grass to prevent erosion. A swale lined with stone is sometimes called a dry creek bed.
What is a rain barrel?
Rain barrels are simple to install and inexpensive. Unless you have a cistern, this option generally does not provide enough storage capacity to greatly reduce the amount of runoff flowing to the lawn during large storms. Rather, rain barrels are most useful as an addition to other stormwater controls.
Why do rain gardens need underdrain?
In the absence of adequate permeability, an underdrain may be needed to allow filtered water to be discharged, which can add to the expense and time of construction.
What is the purpose of adding organic matter to soil?
Adding organic matter or compost to the soil reduces soil density and improves soil structure. Structure refers to the clumping together of soil particles. Soil with good structure is more porous, promoting infiltration and reducing runoff.
How many E. coli colonies are in a pond?
Ponds and lakes used for swimming and other recreation should have less than 126 colonies of E. coli bacteria per 100 mL of water. High levels of E. coli bacteria can be reduced by limiting animal ...
How hard is pond water?
The hardness of pond water is usually unimportant except when using some aquatic herbicides. Hardness concentrations above 50 mg/L can reduce the effectiveness of some copper-based herbicides. Consult the label of aquatic herbicides to see if water hardness needs to be considered.
What metals are in ponds in Pennsylvania?
Iron and Manganese. Iron and manganese are most common in ponds in coal mining areas in western Pennsylvania. While these metals are not directly harmful, they may adversely affect pond aesthetics by precipitating as an orange-brown coating on the pond bottom, docks, and vegetation.
Why do fish die in ponds?
A lack of dissolved oxygen is the most common cause of fish kills in ponds. Problems can often be controlled by controlling aquatic plant and algae growth. Aeration devices can be use to increase dissolved oxygen in ponds that experience frequent problems.
What is the sum of all the chemical ions dissolved in the water called?
The sum of all the chemical ions dissolved in the water is called total dissolved solids or TDS. TDS is controlled by the natural source of pond water and by nearby land use activities. Some ponds will have naturally high TDS levels while others will be naturally low. Therefore, it is important to monitor TDS in ponds and watch for significant ...
What does high sulfate mean in a pond?
High sulfate levels, above 250 mg/L, are indicative of a pond that is impacted by acid mine drainage or acid rain. These ponds usually have a low pH and high levels of metals (iron, manganese or aluminum). High sulfate levels alone are only problematic if the pond water is used for irrigation purposes.
Does water have less oxygen?
Warmer water can hold less dissolved oxygen than colder water. Thus, like water temperature, dissolved oxygen also varies considerably with water depth. Dissolved oxygen is reduced by the biological decay of organic material such as decaying plants and animals or animal and human wastes.