Citizens who become more aware of their surroundings can help prevent erosion and sediment problems from occurring or progressing into something detrimental. This notebook is an important public education tool. The every day citizen is the missing link to correcting a big part of the erosion and sediment problem that affects Dog River in many ways. Erosion is the natural act of the earth being worn away by wind, water, and waves. It is, however, exacerbated when land is cleared and vegetation is removed.
Sedimentation is the deposition of sand, silt, and clay particles onto the bottom of a water body.
Erosion and sedimentation make the water cloudy, which in turn reduces photosynthesis and eliminates a portion of the food supply for fish. Erosion and sedimentation can also introduce pollutants such as oil, to the streams. A great deal of erosion and sedimentation goes on without attention being drawn to it because regulatory agencies have no knowledge of these sites. Citizens drive through, work, or live inside the Dog River Watershed, and it is their responsibility to learn about the laws and regulations and to report illegal procedures to regulatory agencies to ensure that Dog River is there for succeeding generations to enjoy. Knowing what and to whom to report is of great importance.