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Home My WebLink AboutNonpoint Source Pollution I—HOW DOES NPS IMPACT ENVIRONMENT? A WATERSHED is the land area over which water from rainfall or Some of the common SOURCE: HUMAN AND ANIMAL, WASTES snowrnelt drains into streams, contaminants Contained In —� rivers,lakes or estuaries. Stormwater IMPACT: Fecal mate- 1''rTonpoint Source pollution = that travels over impervious sur- Nonpoint rial from faulty sep- _ 1 and their impact On the tic systems, pets if is aces can ch as roads and parkingWATER environment are as follows` waterfowl and - arry contaminants from other animals "= i� motor vehicles, chemicals andPOLLUTION r SOURCE: FERTILIZERS pollutes waters fertilizers from lawns,, street debris id 1 with coliform bac- _ such as animal wastes and trash andwhat you cando about IMPACT: Nutrients from fertilizers can terra. This can result directly into local waters. Lawns increase algal blooms and make waters in the closure of certain and gardens can also generate cloudy. Turbid water areas to shellfish harvest and y u pblic bat runoff during heavy rains. Pollu- blocks sunlight bathing. g tion that enters inlandand coastal from reaching SOURCE: MOTOR VEHICLES waters via storrnwater runoff is r submerged termed NONPOINT SOURCE 7 aquatic vegeta- tion which pro- IMPACT: Heavy metals such as POLLUTION. (NPS) s vides vital hahi_ copper, zinc, cadmium and -w lead can contaminate sedi- tat to marine � � �.,� = organisms such as _ meats of local c i \ l� waters. Sediment _ scallops and blue az _, �f • crabs. contamination can �-• ._.. V be highly toxic to IMPACT:When algal blooms decay, oxygen is aquatic organisms, utilized in theprocess, resulting m co ditions "� thereby reducing � j r, It A e r• t rr of HYPDXIA (little oxygen) or ANOXIA , 0" benthic (bottom) (a complete lack of oxygen). These condi- � diversity. tions rob aquatic organisms of the dissolved oxygen necessary to sustain life. IMPACT:Heavy metal,hydro- carbons, fuels and other toxic materials from land sources can have lethal and sub-lethal SOURCE: PESTICIDES AND HERBICIDES effects on fish eggs, larvae: and other aquatic _ �" '� t` IMPACT: Pesticides and herbicides can plants and animals. 67 contribute toxins to waters which can compro- mise the health and reproductive success of aquatic plants and animals. IMPACT: Floating trash is unsightly and can IMPACT: Some pesticides and herbicides can negatively impact tourism and marine be persistent in the environment and can organisms. w thereby negatively affect the entire food Remember that all of our individual Funde by: The Town of Southold _TOWN OF SOUTHOLD chain. and cumulative activities within the For more information contact: in conjunction with watershed can have an impact on Lorne Brousseau TOWN OF SOUTHOLD TRUSTEES p Cornell Cooperative Extension and surface water quality. 3690 Cedar Beach Road CORNELL Southold, NY 11971 COOPERATIVE EXTENSION 631-852-8660 MARINE PROGRAM j� _ What YOU can do HOW Does r • ' to Help Reduce Nonpoint Source Pollution NONPOINT SOURCE Impact the Waters �� ' i�'��, , of Mattituck Creeks X � POLLUTION (NPS) • Practice sound The Mattituck Creek watershed is 1,250 `` ��'' � +� gardening tech- acres in size and encompasses numerous 40, ' �� niques such as ` dpi �l �p ` farmlands, businesses and residences.Any selecting native � 1�, � ,� ' �— activities that occur in this area impact `s �� `9 st' r plant species that water quality in Mattituck Creek. Every � require less water time it rains, or when snow melts, the �� and fewer chemi- Y , cal applications resulting water flows across the landscape than non-native and eates water knownras non soint1source runoff, plants. oll ton. As '` �� TGr , V ui r ,1 1 r use •Avoid or minimize the the starmwater flows off the lawns farms � ,�,« "i � � ii f lr yli of pesticides, herbicides parking lots, driveways and roads, it picks ° r p p r and fertilizers by u and carries pollutants. This includes ! « �ry applying sparingly oil drippings, trash, soil, pet and animal Irl r iX wastes, fertilizers, pesticides and herbi- { 1 and according to label cities. These pollutants flow with the water directions. , Corn into Mattituck Creek and adversely » p �� y,, ,'Y �;� • ost leaves and impact the natural resources such as fn- igrass clippings. W fish, shellfish and wetlands. Its therefore Be a responsible et - v � � '1 4 ',��` ,�rrAii�r, ,� p p r,w important to remember that each of tis „ �� ✓ �� r, t,X owner. Scoop up who lives,works, or plays within the water- after your yet.shed y qual tys potentially impacting our water Do not fee•waterfowl. d wild ;y iJy ; Mattituck Creek is known to suffer from /, / N " j�iY ,,, • Use porous paving ne materia biuesto is (such as nonhoint source pollution. It has concis- i 1 � Al tently been included in the New York ways and walkways.rive- 11 nd State Department of Environmental 1 Conservation's Priority Waterbodies List J � yt�t � �/li • Have septic systems as impaired by nonpoint source pallu- cleaned regularly.,t ��4 , � „r�p tion. An indication of the problem is evi- � i 1 • Never dispose of motor oil, toxic house- denced by the closure of shellfish beds. ' 1y , � ;�', �y'��(i XM i ll�t hold chemicals or other pollutants down J In order to help improve and maintain �.,?�Xi �� v gall 10 storm drains or cesspools. These materials �f M ,l �a. water quality in Mattituck Creek the �, %; 1 �� rya r will ultimately empty into local waters. Town of Southold has implemented a �� '` DISPOSE OF ALL MATERIALS PROPERLY.t � storrnwater remediation program within " �� l�' Follow direction of Southold Town the watershed. Design&illustration:Paul Kreiliug S.T,O,P. Program.