Everyone who lives, works or recreates near a watershed can take steps to improve its health:
- Don't waste water. Urban streams and rivers experience low summer flows with increased populations. Diverting surface water without a permit is illegal.
- Landscape with native vegetation. Less water and fewer pesticides and herbicides are required.
- Revegetate streambanks with native plants. They anchor the soil, preventing erosion into the stream. They also provide wildlife habitat. When landscaping or remodeling, prevent bare soil from eroding by mulching, seeding, or by other means.
- Maintain your septic system. Failing septic systems are a major source of water pollution in Salmon Creek. Proper septic system maintenance is required by law and is especially important for residents who live along creeks and creek tributaries.
- Don't dump into the storm drains. What goes into storm drains goes into our waterways. Motor oil, paint, and other toxic materials degrade streams and wetlands.
- Avoid or limit use of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. When they drain into ditches, storm drains, and streams, they contaminate the water.
- Don't dump yard debris or grass clippings into ravines, ditches, or streams. These organic materials rob a stream of its oxygen.
- Properly dispose of hazardous household or industrial wastes. Report chemical spills or illegal dumping.
- Don't wash you car in a street or driveway. Dirty water is sent into waterways. Wash it at an automated car wash that recycles the water.
- Maintain your car. Oil and other substances from improperly maintained automobiles enter creeks when rain carries them off roads into waterways.
- Fence livestock away from the stream and clean up after your pets. Animal waste is a major source of fecal coliform bacteria.
- Form a group to monitor, restore, and preserve a section of a threatened creek.
