Algae blooms that appear in our lakes and ponds are typically caused by water that contains high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus. When algae blooms appear, aquatic plants die since there is not enough oxygen in the water to sustain them. Fish kills may also result. Salt in the water can cause havoc with fish and may harm our drinking water. BMP's involve using existing or installing new vegetation to filter runoff, slow its velocity and promote infiltration.
Vegetation reduces the runoff volume, and the amount of sediment that goes into our water.
Plants not only provide ground cover, but are also aesthetically pleasing. Vegetated buffer strips are natural undisturbed strips of vegetation, or, planted strips of close-growing vegetation adjacent to development areas. The effectiveness of the buffers to remove pollutants depends on the length and slope of the strip, soil permeability, size of the drainage area, water flow, and the type and density of the vegetation. In ideal situations, there is a combination of pretreatment and detention systems, which maximize their effectiveness. Once the drawing is complete, have your students list 10-12 possible sources of water pollution and share them.