We use water to boat on, fish in, and dip our toes into. Even the water that is not cleaned for our consumption still needs to be clean. Explore more about how recreation affects water quality.

Recreation
Who controls how much and what type of recreation is allowed on public waterways? How important is it to preserve these areas for future use?

Recreational waters are vulnerable to the same pollutants that threaten all water. Perhaps the biggest threat to the quality of recreational waters is recreation itself.

Threats to Recreational Waters
The sheer volume of boats, jet-skis, and swimmers increases the potential for pollution. Increased activity of any kind can affect sensitive ecological areas including habitat that wildlife relies on for nesting or spawning. The type of recreation can also threaten water quality. While swimming and fishing can be relatively safe and harmless, boats and jet-skis are powered by gas and oil that can leak into the water. They also kick up waves, which speed up the natural erosion of banks, contributing sediment to the waterway.

Although ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) are used on land, they also present a threat to water quality. The powerful vehicles tear up the land, exposing dirt to erosive forces like wind and water. The erosion not only hurts the landscape, but the dirt and sediment can move into waterways, impairing water quality.

What do you think? What responsibility do people who enjoy land and water-based activities have to preserving the environment and water quality? Is there a way water quality can be maintained while still allowing these activities?