ABSTRACT
Protecting watersheds is not only critical to humans in ensuring their continued growth in numbers but is critical to their very survival. Simply put, protecting watersheds is a challenge that we must meet. While it is true that environmental protection programs in the U.S. have gone a long way toward improving water quality during the last quarter century, yet, many challenges remain. According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as of 1994, nearly 40 percent of surveyed waters in the U.S. remain too polluted for fishing, swimming and other uses. The leading causes of impairment found in the survey include silt, sewage, disease-causing bacteria, fertilizer, toxic metals, oil and grease.*
16.1 INTRODUCTION
Water regulates population growth, influences world health and living conditions, and determines biodiversity. For thousands of years, people have tried to control the flow and quality of water. Water provided resources and a means of transportation for development in some areas. Even today, the presence or absence of water is critical in determining how we can use land.
