How Do You Use Land Conservation To Protect Water Resources?
Wetlands are one of the most important, and most endangered, types of ecosystems on the planet. Less than half of the U.S. wetlands believed to have existed in the 1600s exist today, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Water resources in other countries have fared equally as poorly, with Europe having lost more than 70 percent of its wetlands. Wetlands provide valuable flood protection. Wildlife depends upon them, with nearly one half of all U.S. threatened and endangered species relying on their existence at some point in their lives. Identify the threat. Threats to water resources may be obvious such as dumping or other types of contamination. Note the source and any possible leads for followup or regulatory action. Conduct water and soil testing. Some threats may not be evident. Non-point source pollution (NSP) is pollution from diffuse sources, often entering water resources through surface water runoff. Testing can identify the types of pollutants and ther
