Your Watershed

How Does Your Community Fit In The Big Picture?

Why is your watershed important?

We all live in a watershed. Watersheds are the places we call home, where we work and where we play. Everyone relies on water and other natural resources to exist. What you and others do on the land impacts the quality and quantity of water and our other natural resources.

Healthy watersheds are vital for a healthy environment and economy. Our watersheds provide water for drinking, irrigation and industry. Many people enjoy our streams, lakes, rivers and coasts for their beauty and for boating, fishing and swimming. Wildlife also need healthy watersheds for food and shelter.

Because we all belong to a watershed, our actions affect the health of our watershed. Common activities like walking the dog, taking care of the lawn and driving the car leave behind pollutants. As rain water moves through the watershed, it picks up bacteria and chemicals, and carries them to our streams, rivers, lakes and coasts. Improper disposal of motor oil, pet waste and overfertilization of a lawn all contribute to this pollution. Because of its many random sources, we all share responsibility for this pollution, it is called nonpoint-source pollution. My watershed is Little Sarasota Bay, find out your own watershed and learn what unique problems you may be facing.

What Can I Do To Help?

Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly
Extra nutrients in the water supply disrupts the natural harmony between animals and plants of an ecosystem.

Conserve water
Overwatering can damage lawns and plants and places extra stress on our water supply.

Never dump anything down a stormdrain
Stormdrains are channels for rain water to help reduce flooding. Dumped chemicals can find their way deep underground, polluting the aquifer and other water supplies we all rely on.

Pick up after your pets
Bacteria from pet waste can be carried into nearby water bodies and are harmful to fish. Plus, when you go swimming, do you really want to swim in pet feces??


These are just a few of the many things you can do to decrease your burden on our environment. There are numerous other ways you can make a difference, there are so many wonderful organizations out there that want to help you; they are waiting to hear from you!