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Land
Use and Nonpoint Source PollutionNonpoint pollutants are introduced into water through runoff. Rainfall and snow melt wash pollutants from the land into rivers, streams, lakes, oceans, and underground aquifers. To manage nonpoint pollution, we must focus on land use activities.
Different land uses can produce the same kinds of pollution. For instance,
excess sediment may come from farming,
cutting trees, construction, or
clearing stream banks of vegetation. Some land
uses seem to cause more severe problems. For example,
urban areas
, making up about 3.5 percent of the land base, are generally under the highest environmental stress. On the other hand, park areas, which cover a larger land area in the state, cause minor environmental impact.
Land Use Changes in Washington State
Next: Keys to Control Nonpoint Pollution
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