One easy way to keep pollutants from running off into waterways, such as Mill Creek, is to plant native plants and grasses near the water.
As the runoff goes downhill towards the water source, if there are plants near the waters edge, the pollutants can infiltrate there, rather than flow directly into a river or lake. Many studies have been done which have concluded that using native plants for this job is more beneficial, their roots have adapted to the environment, and they will be able to allow for more percolation of water.
Additionally, xeriscaping, the act of using native plants, is beneficial towards the environment because it also uses less water. This is particularly beneficial in desert areas, where water is scarce. Plants which are native to areas are meant to use the water available to them; plants in the desert don't require a lot of water, while plants in western Washington, where there is a lot of precipitation, require more.
Fortunately, Mill Creek is lined with many plants, particularly upstream of town. In town, because the creek is confined to a small canal, there are no plants, pure concrete. This is not ideal. However, the plants on the edges before town, and a few plants after town, are beneficial because they help especially with the problem of farm runoff, which was already discussed in an early blog post.
This photo, as well as the one at the beginning of this post, are examples of two grassy plants found alongside Mill Creek. The plant above was found at Site 2, while the grasses below were found near Site 1.
Sources:
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2012, June 26). Landscaping with native plants. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/conf12_04/conf_knwldge.html
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