Rogers-Lowell Area News

Beaver Watershed Alliance Reveals Results of Water Quality Survey

A recent survey commissioned by the Beaver Watershed Alliance provided insight into water quality perspectives among residents about water quality the Beaver Lake Watershed. The survey polled 400 residents from portions of Benton, Washington, and Carroll Counties about pollutants of greatest concern in the watershed, what landowners used the watershed for, and whether or not they felt like they could make a difference in protecting their drinking water source through their individual actions.

While most participants named drinking water as their primary use of Beaver Lake and viewed protecting Beaver Lake as important to them and their families, not everyone was aware of the greatest pollutants of concern to their drinking water source and its treatment cost, or that their individual actions can make a difference.

Ninety-five percent of participants who took the survey believed that trash in lakes and streams is the greatest issue for Beaver Lake, while poorly maintained septic systems and wastewater treatment plant discharges were believed to be the second and third greatest issues. Land use change was rated last in overall importance among survey participants.

According to the Beaver Lake Watershed Protection Strategy (the Strategy), 53% of phosphorus loading and 61% of sediment loading to Beaver Lake comes from streambank erosion. Other sources of phosphorus contributions to the lake annually are agriculture (17%), wastewater treatment plants (15%), and septic systems (6%), with dirt roads, construction, forestry, and low-density development contributing the remaining portion. Future phosphorus loading to the lake is anticipated to remain largely from streambank erosion (55%), while septic tanks and low-density development are forecasted to increase to 9% and 8% respectively. Agricultural contributions are forecasted to decrease to 9% and 11% respectively.

“While trash is unsightly, degrades the environment, and negatively affects wildlife, it is not greatly impacting the drinking water quality in Beaver Lake or its treatment cost anywhere near as much as streambank erosion. Streambank erosion is clearly the number one source of sediment and phosphorus pollution to Beaver Lake according to the Strategy,” said John Pennington, Executive Director of the Beaver Watershed Alliance.

The Strategy also predicts Future sediment loading to the lake to be dominated by streambank erosion and low-density development. The single greatest increase of sediment contributions to Beaver Lake are predicted to be from low-density development, which will account for 20% of sediment pollution to Beaver Lake in 2050. Low-density development is often referred to as urban sprawl, a growth pattern that results in more land use change. According to Pennington, “any time that land use changes, so does the way that the water flows and the amount of soil that washes into ditches and streams that lead to Beaver Lake.”

Land use change is the conversion of land from one use to another, and the development of our region also plays a significant role in the water quality of Beaver Lake according to the Strategy. Interestingly, land use change was rated by survey participants as the least concerning factor that could impact the quality and the cost of treated water coming from Beaver Lake.

Pennington said “The good news is that we know a lot of people are doing good things already and we know more about the public understanding of the issues affecting Beaver Lake. Streambank erosion and low-density development can be addressed in large part to public participation in our ongoing outreach programs, and increased public support for projects that address streambank erosion and support thoughtful land use such as urban infill and conservation of natural open spaces.

The Beaver Watershed Alliance is a non-profit organization focused on maintaining high quality drinking water in Beaver Lake and improve water quality within the Beaver Lake Watershed. For more information about BWA or how you can become involved in helping to protect water quality in Beaver Lake and its watershed, visit www.beaverwatershedalliance.org or call 479-750-8007.