Often the boundary of a watersheds is determined by land features such as mountains and hills that cause water to flow down slope into specific valleys and lowlands. Because of the nature of water to flow and seep throughout our environment, almost every activity in a watershed eventually touches a lake or stream. No matter where you live, activities such as construction, washing cars on the street, pet waste disposal, livestock keeping, fertilizer and pesticide use, and improper disposal of cleaning supplies or motor oil may impact water quality. Buffer Lakes and Streams A buffer is an area or zone of native vegetation along the edge of a water body. Buffers, also called riparian zones, work as physical barriers, filtering pollutants from runoff before they can enter a water body.
Buffers also help prevent shoreline erosion and provide shade, food, and shelter for wildlife.
If you have waterfront property, keep a healthy native plant community growing along the shoreline. If you are visiting your local stream or lake, avoid crushing or uprooting the plants at the water's edge. Cross streams and enter lakes at designated use areas to preserve the natural shoreline set aside for wildlife use and protection. Learn more at Shoreline Practices for a Healthy Lake or The Value of Riparian Vegetation pages. Don't Feed the Ducks You may enjoy strolling to the park to feed the ducks, but this activity is unhealthy for the ducks and has health consequences for people as well.