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Reducing non-point-source (NPS) pollution.
"Non-point-source" or NPS pollution is pollution
that cannot be traced to a single-source outfall such as
a factory pipe discharging into the river. Examples of non-point-source
pollution include stormwater runoff from lawns, roads, parking
lots, building sites, and agricultural fields. This runoff
can contain petroleum products, salt, animal waste, fertilizers,
pesticides, heavy loads of sand and silt, or other contaminants.
Failing septic systems or other contamination of groundwater
can also contribute to NPS pollution.
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Since the Clean Water Act went into effect, most point-sources
of pollution have been identified and regulated. Their contribution
to river pollution has decreased dramatically. NPS pollution
is a much harder problem to solve, because the solution
depends on individuals deciding to change the way they do
things.
What
HooRWA does. Public education about non-point-source
pollution;
Provides information or contacts for individuals trying
to reduce NPS pollution on their property.
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What you can do.
1. Spare your local storm drain! What goes
into a storm drain may straight into a river, or may enter
a river via a sewage treatment plant. EITHER WAY, most
pollutants are not removed! To reduce the strain on
storm drains...
•Avoid dumping soaps, oils, solvents, etc. in
the driveway.
•Reduce or skip the use of herbicides, pesticides,
or fertilizers on the lawn, especially before
rain.
•Scoop your dog's waste from the street.
•Make sure clean runoff, such as water
from gutters, does not flood into storm drains. If
the drain goes to a treatment plant, the excess
water can cause overflows of sewage into a river.
Let gutter outflow soak into the ground, or collect
it in rain barrels.
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2. Keep the septic tank in good working order.
3. Fence pastures so that livestock don't wade in
the river.
4. Allow a buffer zone of vegetation to grow up between
an open field and the river's edge. (This discourages geese
from loitering, too.)
For more information on non-point-source pollution, contact
us or go to:links under construction
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Restoring and protecting habitat
Here are a few essentials for good habitat::
•Water that is clean, clear, the right temperature,
has enough oxygen, and has reliable flow.
•A river bottom free of toxins or excess sediment.
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•Streambanks
that are vegetated-- but not dominated by invasive plants.
•Passageways for wildlife to move freely up and
down stream, in the water and on shore.
•A landscape that can adapt to natural floods
and meandering of the riverbed.
What HooRWA does.
HooRWA advocates land management and development practices
that maintain or restore good habitat.
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HooRWA
also advocates landscaping practices that can accommodate
floodwaters without extreme damage to habitat or property.
In the upper Hoosic, this is a challenging goal. The hilly
terrain dumps rainstorms downhill quickly, sometimes flooding
the built-up bottomlands. This is why flood protection chutes
were built in Adams and North Adams, MA, in the mid-twentieth
century. In the process, habitat was destroyed and the towns
lost ready access to the river.
We believe that today, new engineering approaches could
maintain flood protection while restoring habitat and attractive
riverfront. HooRWA is one of the organizations committed
to working toward this goal.
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Flood
control, poor habitat, poor riverfront
Flood control, better habitat, good riverfront |
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What you can do. Learn more! For information
about land protection in the Hoosic watershed, go to:links
under construction
For information about the Adams flood chutes, contact
us or go to:links under
construction
Speak up to town and state officials about funding river
restoration and flood chute modifications.
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Remediation
projects
A quote from HooRWA's own guide to paddling the Hoosic:
"Soon after you pass automobiles embedded in the
riverbank, left, you will see the second bridge…"
This is a reminder that our beautiful river still contains
relics of its dumping-ground past!
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Volunteers
extracting a truck from the riverbank
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What HooRWA does. Besides riverbank cleanups
like the one above, HooRWA plans to map old landfills and
other areas of concern along the river, using existing data.
We do not fund or conduct large-scale remediation ourselves,
but can help landowners and townships seek technical assistance
or funding.
What
you can do.
Bring unknown dump sites to our attention.
Volunteer on river cleanup days.
Find out more at:links
under construction
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Sound land use
and development
Because the Hoosic Valley is relatively undeveloped as yet,
we still have a chance to develop wisely-- and protect what
should be protected before it is gone. It's up to the residents
of the watershed to be proactive in guarding the health
and beauty of their region.
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What you can do.
Learn about the benefits of open space. It's more than a
pretty view!
Participate in town planning.
Support local land trusts.
Consider conservation easements or the sale of development
rights on your property.
To find out more about these items, go to:links
under construction
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Access to
river and trails
A day of paddling, fishing, or hiking brings home a river's
value better than all the data in the world. HooRWA has
a long history of improving river access points and hiking
trails for low-impact recreational uses--because the river
speaks to those who visit it.
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What HooRWA does. See our Recreation
page.
What
you can do. Try the river and trails! Again,
our Recreation page can help.
Volunteer for trail maintenance or river cleanups.
If you are a landowner, consider granting rights-of-way
for boaters or hikers.
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