Tall Native Plants can improve Beloit's Drinking Water

(Click on photos to enlarge)

The photographs above illustrate some of the functions of a waterway and watershed which drain into a larger body of water, in this case the Solomon Valley River, a short distance from this property.

A well managed watershed always has a well buffered zone, 10-20 feet wide, of tall native grasses to serve as a filter of sediments and to slow the water there--by reducing the size of sediments that can be transported by the flow of water. Each time the speed of the water is doubled the carrying capacity is increased to the fifth power (2 ) or thirty-two times the mass of the original carrying capacity. Example: If flowing water is carrying one ounce particles it will carry two pound particles if the rate of flow is doubled. It is for this reason that the Soil Conservation Department urges farmers to leave a 10-20 foot buffer zone along each side of any streams which cross their property and to plant native tall grasses in any tributary waterways.

Our source of drinking water comes mainly from the lake at Glen Elder. The local run-off from rains enters several waterways which extend north and west of the city and entering the river very close to the city water reservoir. A number of waterways also drain into the river between Beloit and Glen Elder Dam. Another source of our drinking water is from the rain that falls up land on the watershed and recharges the alluvial aquifer to supply clean fresh water much later.

We as citizens could do much to improve the quality of our water by simply managing our properties and the waterways in a manner similar to the way the farmers manage the waterways and watersheds in our county. The habit of leaving grass clippings on the lawns or even dumping them on the street has much to do with the quality of our drinking water. Tons of plant matter enters the city water reservoir after each rain. The smell and taste is something we could improve simply by respecting the principles of nature by not using our waterway as a sewer and septic system. A well managed waterway would not carry items such as car fenders, car batteries, bowling balls, bottles, cans, cups, paper, plastics, wood and larger trash items.

The Federal Government and the State Government can be of some assistance. Our County Government and City Government are some what limited in the assistance they can provide the land owners. Providing ordinances and using the bully pulpit (educating the citizens) is the main assistance from the county and city. It takes mostly self respect and the respect of others to achieve the common good by cooperating with neighbors along the waterway and by reducing littering. The common good is a higher quality of drinking water for all with less turbidity and undesirable chemical content. All citizens can be winners.

As the great philosopher Pogo said, “We have met the enemy and they is us.”