Themes |
The
following are Water Quality Program themes for Hawaii:
|
Animal
Waste Management
In
Hawaii, special concerns in the management of livestock
manures and effluent are limited land areas for disposal
or use, intense rainfall and storm events, and the short
path of contaminants to receiving waters, including sensitive
coastal and coral reef environments.
Adoption
of animal waste best management
practices can reduce the transport of nutrients and
pathogens from farms and contribute to improved water
quality. Refer to the Resource
Materials in Animal Manure & Waste Management for
more information about what is being done to improve
management and utilization of animal wastes.
|
|
Drinking
Water & Human Health
Clean drinking
water is an essential resource that affects every aspect
of life on Earth. The quality and quantity of resources
are extremely important and both must be protected. Water
may be contaminated by a wide range of naturally occurring
chemicals and microorganisms and by chemicals and microorganisms
that are introduced by human activity. Refer to the Resource
Materials on Drinking Water & Human Health for
more information about what is being done to improve
management and utilization in these areas. |
|
Nutrient & Pesticide
Management
Refer
to the Resource
Materials on Nutrient & Pesticide Management for
more information about what is being done to improve
management in these areas. |
|
Pollution
Assessment & Prevention
Water pollution
occurs when contaminants wash into surface water or infiltrates
groundwater. Water running off paved surfaces in urban
areas often carries oil, heavy metals, pet waste, and
toxic chemicals from industrial and residential areas
into stormdrains and eventually water ways. Agricultural
operations can cause fertilizers, pesticides, and animal
wastes to leach into groundwater or enter waterways through
irrigation return flows and surface runoff. Refer to
the Resource
Materials in Pollution Assessment & Prevention for
more information about what is being done to improve
the sources of "nonpoint" pollution in Hawaii. |
|
Water
Conservation & Agricultural Water Management
Agricultural
water management entails making decisions on irrigation
and, if necessary, drainage practices on farms. Water conservation
means irrigating in a manner that results in low surface
runoff from the field. Water management decisions include
choices of irrigation systems and programming the time
and amount of irrigation. Refer
to the Resource Materials on Water
Conservation & Agricultural Water Management for
more information. |
|
Watershed
Management
Effective
watershed management is an ongoing process that must
be flexible enough to adapt to the unique characteristics
of Hawaii's watersheds as well as changing circumstances
within a single watershed. It involves using traditional
local management approaches to address water quality
and quantity issues within a natural watershed system,
rather than political boundaries. Refer
to the Resource
Materials on Watershed Management for more information.
|
|
Environmental
Restoration
In our efforts to domesticate our lands and waters to the benefit of people,
we have inadvertently degraded their ability to provide other uses. For example,
by altering riparian areas and wetlands, we have affected their ability to
provide fish and wildlife habitat as well as provide stream bank stability,
flood protection and water quality protection. Environmental restoration tactics
provide a means for remediating affected areas so they are able to resume their
former roles in the water cycle of their community.
This
theme will eventually feature content that demonstrates
how Environmental Restoration issues are being addressed
across the state. |
home
Arizona