What is an example of agricultural runoff?

Agricultural runoff flows into the lakes and rivers that hundreds of towns draw their water from. For example, herbicide runoff from a farm in Centralia, Mo., might end up in Goodwater Creek, which empties into the Salt River, which then flows into Mark Twain Lake.

What is the scientific definition of runoff?

Runoff occurs when there is more water than land can absorb. The excess liquid flows across the surface of the land and into nearby creeks, streams, or ponds. Runoff can come from both natural processes and human activity. The most familiar type of natural runoff is snowmelt.

Why is agricultural runoff a problem?

It may seem benign, but agricultural runoff can be loaded with nitrogen and phosphorus, nutrients in manure and synthetic fertilizers. In excessive quantities they deplete oxygen in streams and, with fecal bacteria, make waterways unfit for recreational use and harmful to aquatic life.

What does agricultural runoff do to water?

Runoff from poorly managed facilities can carry pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, nutrients, and oxygen-demanding organics and solids that contaminate shellfishing areas and cause other water quality problems. Ground water can also be contaminated by waste seepage.

How does agricultural runoff affect lakes?

Increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer and manure can stimulate algal blooms in lakes and rivers, which can lead to the development of hypoxic (low oxygen) conditions that are harmful to aquatic life. Algae can also affect recreational uses of local streams, downstream reservoirs, and estuaries.

How does runoff affect the environment?

Stormwater runoff can cause a number of environmental problems: Fast-moving stormwater runoff can erode stream banks, damaging hundreds of miles of aquatic habitat. Stormwater runoff can push excess nutrients from fertilizers, pet waste and other sources into rivers and streams.

What are effects of runoff?

Urban and suburban stormwater runoff erodes streams, kills fish, pollutes swimming beaches, floods homes, and causes many other problems. Stormwater runoff collects an often-toxic mix of pollutants including: Trash. Soil and sediment.

What are the 2 types of runoff?

Runoff may be classified according to speed of appearance after rainfall or melting snow as direct runoff or base runoff, and according to source as surface runoff, storm interflow, or groundwater runoff. 2.

What is stormwater quizlet?

water that flows over the land rather than infiltrating into the ground.

How agriculture causes global warming?

Agriculture contributes to climate change At every stage, food provisioning releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Farming in particular releases significant amounts of methane and nitrous oxide, two powerful greenhouse gases.