OconeeWaters Stormwater GeoTrail: “Stormwater Journey”
‘Stormwater Journey’ is a Geotrail created by OconeeWaters which is part of the Upper Oconee Watershed Network (http://www.uown.org) with the cooperation of Oconee County Stormwater and the City of Watkinsville. This GeoTrail highlights topics related to stormwater. The cache is only available during daylight hours. Please no night caching! All park rules apply to geocachers. Avoid any activities you feel are not safe and enjoy.
Stormwater runoff is the number one source of water pollution in the United States. When rain falls on impervious surfaces such as rooftops, roads, sidewalks, parking lots, and driveways or runs down stream banks with sparse vegetation instead of being absorbed by the ground, it flows into storm drains and from there flows directly into nearby streams. In Oconee County, stormwater is not treated before it enters our streams, which means that anything stormwater encounters as it flows along impervious surfaces could end up polluting our streams including: trash, debris, sediment, chemicals, fertilizers, dog waste, soaps, and car oil.
Poolution
When you fail to clean up after your pet, the poop left on sidewalks and lawns is both unpleasant and a nuisance. But it can become an even bigger problem when it rains and is carried by stormwater into nearby rivers, lakes and streams. It can create a health hazard for people and can “doo” a lot of damage to the environment: A single gram of pet waste contains an average of 23 million fecal coliform bacteria, some of which cause diseases in humans. Waters that contain high levels of bacteria and other pathogens from animal waste are unfit for human contact. As pet waste decays, it uses up oxygen that fish and aquatic life need. Pet waste contains nutrients that can cause excessive algae growth in a river or lake, upsetting the natural balance. Please clean up after your pet and encourage others to do so as well.