Watershed Awareness

Scorecard for Rural and Suburban Landowners

All Americans are concerned about their environment. However, we sometimes overlook many things that have a potential effect on water quality. The following questions offer the opportunity to build or confirm your level of awareness about the watershed in which you live.

What is a Watershed? A watershed is a geographic area that contains a common outlet, such as a stream, river, lake or wetland, into which water drains.

  1. If you know where the surface water runoff from your property goes, give yourself 10 points. Add 10 points if you know the stream, river, wetland or lake into which the surface water flows. Why? Because you know your watershed address!
  2. If you have a septic tank and/or drinking water well, and know where they are located, +10 points. If they are within 100 feet of each other, -10 points
  3. If you collect and recycle used motor oil, +10 points. For each of the following you recycle: plastic, paper, glass and metal, +5 points
  4. If you practice any type of composting +20 points
  5. If you have written a letter or placed a phone call in the past year to a legislator or public official concerning your watershed, +20 points
  6. If you are active in a landowner or stakeholder organization, +10 points
  7. If you have participated in a household hazardous waste recycling program, +10 points
  8. If you have been actively involved in a land use issue in your watershed in the last year +20 points

Scoring: _____ Total

90 and over: You are a good friend to your watershed
70 - 89: You are aware and working hard for your watershed
40 - 69: You could do more for your watershed
Less than 40 points: You need to become more aware of your watershed

Conservation Technology Information Center, 1220 Potter Drive, Room 170, West Lafayette IN 47906, Phone: (317) 494-9555, FAX (317)494-5969