Lisa S. Alter
No discussion of Long Island Sound can be complete without including its watershed. A watershed is the land that water flows across or under, on its way to streams, rivers or lakes. This water eventually ends up in the Sound, and will be part of the focus on nonpoint source pollution. (USDA, 1994)
We all live in a watershed and have an effect on both it and all parts of the water cycle. See appendix p. 1 for the Long Island Sound watershed.
Rainfall and runoff can pick up pollution throughout the cycle. Natural areas with vegetation help to slow runoff, reduce erosion, allowing water to seep into the ground. Problems come about in developed areas. Here runoff speeds, and amounts are greatly increased due to the large numbers of paved surfaces. This increases the amount of soil erosion, and decreases pollution processing by the soil. Increased surface runoff, along with storm drains and sewer overflows help to carry pollutants directly or indirectly to the Sound. (USDA, 1994)