Steamboat Creek contributes a significant amount of total phosphorus and total suspended solids to the Truckee River, as well as nitrogen. Land management practices which were adequate in the past may no longer be the best choice for protecting our precious community water resources. Throughout this manual, we will use the example of Dry Creek to illustrate the kinds of problems and solutions applicable to small watersheds in the Great Basin. The small ranch management principles which apply in Dry Creek will also apply, generally, to most small ranches throughout the arid west. Proper land management protects water bodies such as the Truckee River, making their water safe for swimming, fishing and other important uses.
Water quality has several different meanings.
This is the same water quality this manual addresses. The CWA also sets specific water quality standards based on the intended use of the water. In Nevada, the water in water bodies like the Truckee and Carson Rivers is used and reused. The CWA also divides water pollution broadly into two main categories. Contaminants which enter water bodies from the discharge pipe of a factory or a wastewater treatment plant are called point sources .