Hydromodification Engineering projects, such as reservoirs and stream channelization, change patterns of water flow. When such changes occur, there is often an increase in sediment deposits as well as an adverse impact on aquatic life due to habitat changes. Construction New building and highway construction produces sediment and possibly toxic materials. While pollutant loadings from construction are generally localized and of limited duration, such events can have severe short-term impacts. Large amounts of sediment may degrade water quality and permanently alter wildlife and fish habitat.
All plants require nutrients in order to grow and reproduce.
Three major nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. When an oversupply of these are present in streams, lakes and estuaries, algae and aquatic weeds will grow to the point that they will compete for oxygen and space in the water. Overgrown vegetation in lakes will eventually prevent recreational use for fishing and swimming. Such lakes are typically the result of nutrients from failing septic systems or fertilizers from farms and lawns that are carried into the lake by stormwater runoff. Sediments Sediments are soil particles carried by rainwater into streams, lakes and estuaries.