What is a Watershed?

A watershed is the geographic region within which water drains into a particular river, stream, lake or ocean. A watershed includes hills, lowlands, and the body of water into which the land drains. Great East Lake’s watershed covers 15.53 sq.mi., Horn Pond covers about 1.73 sq.mi., Lake Ivanhoe covers about .26 sq.mi. and Lovell Lake’s watershed covers about 4.7 sq.mi.

What is a Watershed Survey?

A watershed survey is designed to locate sources of phosphorus and sediment which could have a negative impact on water quality. It is important to note that the results of the watershed survey are not used for enforcement purposes. The spirit of the survey is to work cooperatively with land owners toward a common goal of preserving long term water quality.

Prior to the survey, each landowner in the watershed will receive a letter giving them the opportunity to “opt-out” of the survey if they do not want their land surveyed. All the survey information will be compiled in a report and be made available to the public. Specific addresses and property owner names will not be listed in the public report.

What are the benefits of a watershed survey?

• Raises public awareness about the need to protect water quality from stormwater runoff and soil erosion problems.
• Helps the watershed community understand the watershed concept.
• Identifies sources of pollution in a cost-effective way by using volunteers.
• Documents types of problems existing in the watershed.
• Provides landowners with information about how to reduce or eliminate soil erosion problems and phosphorus runoff from their property.
• Provides an important component of a comprehensive strategy for long-term lake water quality protection.

Where Does Lake Pollution Come From?

Lake pollution is caused, in great part, by nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. NPS pollutants are picked up by rainwater and snow melt (stormwater runoff) somewhere within the land surrounding a lake (the watershed) and carried into the lake.

Many substances within the watershed can be transported by stormwater runoff, particularly the small soil particles which carry phosphorus. They eventually reach the lake and can affect water quality. Past lake protection efforts have focused on shoreline land use, perhaps mistakenly creating the impression that only activities along the shore influence water quality. In truth, land use anywhere within a lake’s watershed affects lake health.

When forests, vegetation, and natural depressions are replaced by houses, lawns, and roads, both the volume of runoff and the concentration of phosphorus are increased. As a result, a developed area may discharge up to ten times as much phosphorus as a forested area.