>> THE GREAT LAKES ARE OFTEN CALLED INLAND SEAS.

LAKE SUPERIOR, MICHIGAN, HURON, ERIE, AND ONTARIO ARE COLLECTIVELY ONE OF THE LARGEST SOURCES OF AVAILABLE FRESH WATER ON EARTH.

40 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA DEPEND ON THE GREAT LAKES AS THEIR SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER.

FROM THE THUNDERING GRANDEUR OF NIAGARA FALLS TO DOZENS OF RECREATIONAL AND WILDLIFE AREAS, THE GREAT LAKES ARE A NORTH AMERICAN TREASURE.

VAST FRESHWATER MARSHES PROVIDE FOOD, SHELTER, AND NESTING SITES FOR HUNDREDS OF SPECIES OF MAMMALS, REPTILES, AND BIRDS.

GROWING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND CONCERN FOR CONTROLLING POLLUTION IN THE NATION'S WATERWAYS, INCLUDING THE GREAT LAKES, RESULTED IN THE FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT OF 1972.

EARLY ON, THE CLEAN WATER ACT ADDRESSED "POINT SOURCE POLLUTION" FROM FACILITIES LIKE PUBLIC SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS AND COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIES.

LATER PHASES OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT ARE TARGETED AT "NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION," OR THE WATER RUNOFF FROM STREETS, CONSTRUCTION SITES, FARMS, AND OTHER "WET-WEATHER" SOURCES.

WATERING YOUR LAWN AND WASHING YOUR CAR CAN ALSO LEAD TO NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION.

>> I THINK ALL THE TOXINS THAT RUN OFF IN IT AND WASTE STATIONS.

>> AH, I WOULD IMAGINE IT WOULD BE EITHER A INDUSTRIAL RUNOFF OR A SEWAGE.

>> GARBAGE.

>> YEAH, FACTORY STUFF.

>> SOME SORT OF HUMAN TRASH LIKE A POP CAN.

>> YOUR MAIN THING IN THE RIVERS GONNA BE THE SILT AND THE SAND AND THE DIRT THAT COMES OFF FROM EVERYWHERE THE RAIN FALLS.

>> ANY TIME WATER WASHES OVER LAND OR SOLID SURFACES LIKE ROADS AND PARKING LOTS, IT PICKS UP NATURAL AND MAN-MADE POLLUTANTS, EVENTUALLY DEPOSITING THEM INTO RIVERS, LAKES, AND WETLANDS.

THESE NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTANTS INCLUDE SEDIMENT FROM IMPROPERLY MANAGED CONSTRUCTION SITES, CROP AND FOREST LANDS, AND ERODING STREAM BANKS.

EXCESS FERTILIZERS, HERBICIDES, AND INSECTICIDES FROM AGRICULTURAL LANDS AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

OIL, GREASE, AND TOXIC CHEMICALS FROM URBAN RUNOFF AND ENERGY PRODUCTION.

BACTERIA AND NUTRIENTS FROM LIVESTOCK, PET WASTES, AND FAULTY SEPTIC SYSTEMS.

ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION, SPECIFICALLY SEDIMENT, IS NOW THE GREATEST THREAT TO WATER QUALITY.

IT'S NOT JUST SEDIMENTATION THAT CREATES PROBLEMS FOR THE MAUMEE RIVER.

CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS ATTACHED TO THE SOIL PARTICLES ARE ALSO A CONCERN.

>> IT'S KIND OF THE AREA THAT ANY GIVEN WATER SYSTEM AFFECTS.

>> WOULD THAT BE A TOILET?

>> WHERE ALL THE WATER DRAINS IN A PARTICULAR AREA, DRAINS INTO RIVERS OR LAKES OR WHATEVER.

BUT IT'S WHEREVER THE RAIN FALLS AND THE WATER GOES.

>> A WATERSHED OR DRAINAGE BASIN IS A LAND AREA THAT SERVES AS A FUNNEL TO DRAIN WATER FROM RAIN AND SNOWMELT INTO AN OCEAN, LAKE, OR RIVER.

THE GREAT LAKES WATERSHED INCLUDES ALL OR PART OF 8 U.S. STATES AND 2 CANADIAN PROVINCES.

REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE, YOU'RE IN A WATERSHED.

THE MAUMEE RIVER HAS THE LARGEST DRAINAGE AREA OF ANY OTHER GREAT LAKES RIVER.

SPANNING PORTIONS OF MICHIGAN, INDIANA, AND OHIO, THE MAUMEE RIVER WATERSHED DRAINS OVER 4 MILLION ACRES OF LAND.

BECAUSE THE MAUMEE RIVER DRAINS SUCH A LARGE AREA, MUCH OF IT AGRICULTURAL, THE EFFECTS OF STORM WATER RUNOFF POSE THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE MAUMEE RIVER AND LAKE ERIE WATERSHEDS.

Marcy Kaptur: WE HAVE A HUGE MANAGEMENT JOB, REALLY, UH, TO TRY TO KEEP THAT SEDIMENT BACK IF WE CAN FIND THROUGH GOOD TILLAGE, THROUGH GOOD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ALL THE WAY BACK TO INDIANA AND UP INTO LOWER MICHIGAN, WHICH IS REALLY ALL IN THIS WATERSHED.

>> SOIL EROSION AND OTHER TYPES OF NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION ARE COMMON TO ALL RIVERS IN THE GREAT LAKES WATERSHED AND NOT JUST A PROBLEM FOR THE MAUMEE RIVER.

Dan Wire: THIS ISLAND THAT WE'RE STANDING ON, WHEN I WAS A KID, IT MIGHT HAVE ONLY BEEN 12-18 INCHES OFF THE WATER LEVEL.

AND NOW, IF YOU WOULD COMPARE WHERE MY FEET ARE TO THE WATER, WE'RE PROBABLY 6 OR 8 FEET HIGH.

SO OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A LOT OF SUSPENDED SOLIDS THAT ARE WASHING OFF FROM UPSTREAM SOMEWHERE.

>> ORIGINATING IN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, THE MAUMEE RIVER IS FORMED WHERE THE ST. JOSEPH AND ST. MARYS RIVERS COMBINE.

FORT WAYNE SPENDS OVER $300,000 A YEAR TREATING THE MUDDY WATER CAUSED BY UPSTREAM SOIL EROSION.

Graham Richard: THERE'S SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE THAT'S GETTING DRINKING WATER FROM ALL THE RIVERS IN OUR AREA, INCLUDING FORT WAYNE FROM THE ST. JOE RIVER, AND MANY OF OUR FRIENDS, ALL THE WAY TO TOLEDO, OHIO, WHO GET THEIR DRINKING WATER FROM THE MAUMEE, AND SO WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

Kaptur: WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO MANAGE IT BY OURSELVES.

WE HAVE TO DEVELOP A WATERSHED MENTALITY, BE CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER AND UNDERSTAND THE ECOSYSTEM IN WHICH WE LIVE.

IT'S A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST WATERSHEDS IN THE COUNTRY.

WHAT A WONDERFUL GIFT TO HAVE.

>> SUSPENDED SOIL PARTICLES ARE THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THE MUDDY WATER OF THE MAUMEE AND OTHER RIVERS THROUGHOUT THE GREAT LAKES WATERSHED.

SOME SOIL EROSION THAT CONTRIBUTES TO SEDIMENTATION OCCURS NATURALLY, BUT MUCH OF IT IS CAUSED BY HUMAN INTERVENTION.

Bill Lambert: ONE OF THE MAIN CAUSES OF THE MUDDY WATER THAT WE SEE THROUGHOUT A GOOD PART OF THE YEAR IS THESE VERY FINE SOIL PARTICLES.

WHEN THOSE CLAY PARTICLES ARE MOVED OFF OF--OFF OF THE FIELD THROUGH SHEET EROSION, THEN WE WIND UP WITH BROWN RIVERS.

>> THE 3 MOST COMMON TYPES OF SOIL EROSION ARE SHEET EROSION, WHICH OCCURS WHEN WATER TRAVELS OVER DISTURBED GROUND, PICKING UP AND TRANSPORTING SOIL PARTICLES.

IT'S A GRADUAL PROCESS.

RILL EROSION OCCURS WHEN WATER BEGINS TO FORM SMALL, CONCENTRATED CHANNELS IN THE SOIL.

GULLY EROSION OCCURS WHEN WATER MOVING IN RILLS FORMS LARGER CHANNELS.

UNCHECKED RILL EROSION RESULTS IN GULLY EROSION.

FROM FORT WAYNE, THE MAUMEE RIVER FLOWS NORTHEAST.

AS IT CROSSES INTO OHIO, THE RIVER WINDS THROUGH FARM FIELDS AND SMALL TOWNS.

IN DEFIANCE, OHIO, BOTH THE TIFFIN AND AUGLAIZE RIVERS CONVERGE ON THE MAUMEE.

WITH THIS INFLUX OF WATER, THE MAUMEE BEGINS TO WIDEN.

CONTINUING ON TOWARDS TOLEDO, THE MAUMEE GROWS EVEN LARGER.

WHEN IT REACHES LAKE ERIE, THE RIVER IS LARGE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT COMMERCIAL SHIPPING TRAFFIC.

THE PORT OF TOLEDO, OHIO, IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST TRANSPORTATION CENTERS ON THE GREAT LAKES.

SHIPS TRANSPORT MILLIONS OF TONS OF GRAIN, OIL, AND IRON ORE TO AND FROM THIS LAKE ERIE PORT BY WAY OF THE MAUMEE RIVER, MAKING IT A CRITICAL LINK TO THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE REGION.

Warren McCrimmon: IF THE PORT CLOSED--AND IT COULD CLOSE BECAUSE OF SEDIMENTATION--YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 400,000 PEOPLE IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY ALONE THAT COULD BE IMPACTED.

THE GRAIN INDUSTRY WOULD BE IMPACTED.

I MEAN, THE WHOLE MIDWEST COULD BE IMPACTED BY THIS PORT OR OTHER PORTS HAVING TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF SEDIMENT DEPOSITS IN THE RIVER.

>> THE MAUMEE RIVER DEPOSITS OVER A MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF SEDIMENT INTO TOLEDO'S HARBOR EVERY YEAR.

AS THE SEDIMENT PILES UP AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER, IT BEGINS TO FILL IN THE SHIPPING CHANNEL.

COSTLY DREDGING OPERATIONS MUST BE MAINTAINED TO KEEP BOTH THE CHANNEL AND PORT OF TOLEDO OPEN.

McCrimmon: THE MAUMEE RIVER'S POTENTIALLY THE LARGEST MAINTENANCE DREDGING PROJECT PROBABLY IN THE U.S., CERTAINLY ON THE GREAT LAKES.

DIRECT COSTS TO THE PORT AUTHORITY--THERE'S A DREDGING COST.

WE SHARE THAT, OR OUR TENANTS SHARE THAT, WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BECAUSE THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEANING UP THE SHIP CHANNEL, THE ARMY CORPS IS, AND THEY SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS JUST IN TOLEDO EVERY YEAR TO DO THAT.

SO THERE'S A GIANT COST FOR EVERYBODY, AND THAT UNDERCUTS OUR COMPETITIVENESS INTERNATIONALLY.

>> RECREATIONAL BOATING AND TOURISM ARE MAJOR INDUSTRIES ON THE GREAT LAKES AND UPPER MAUMEE RIVER.

LAKE ERIE ALONE HAS THE SECOND LARGEST NUMBER OF BOATING LICENSES IN THE COUNTRY.

SPORT AND COMMERCIAL FISHING ON THE GREAT LAKES IS A $4 BILLION A YEAR INDUSTRY.

Kaptur: WITHOUT QUESTION, THE ECONOMY OF THE ENTIRE MAUMEE RIVER BASIN IMPROVES AS THE WATER IMPROVES AND THE QUALITY OF THAT WATER IMPROVES.

Tom Brown: WATER QUALITY IS THE NUMBER ONE THING HERE IN PORT CLINTON, SPECIFICALLY HERE ON LAKE ERIE IN THE WESTERN BASIN.

YES, MAUMEE AND THE PORTAGE RIVER, WHICH WE'RE FACING RIGHT HERE, IS VERY IMPORTANT WE KEEP THE QUALITY OF WATER AND TAKE CARE OF WHAT NATURE MEANT IT TO BE.

FISHING, SPORTS FISHING IS A TREMENDOUS INDUSTRY HERE, AND SO WE GOT TO HAVE CLEAN WATER.

>> EACH SPRING, THE MAUMEE RIVER BECOMES A SPORT FISHERMAN'S DREAM.

THOUSANDS OF WALLEYE MIGRATE FROM LAKE ERIE UP THE MAUMEE TO SPAWN.

HUNDREDS OF ANGLERS FROM ALL OVER THE MIDWEST FLOCK TO THE RIVER NEAR PERRYSBURG, OHIO.

Nelson Evans: WE GOT PEOPLE-- FISHERMEN LINED UP IN THE RIVER FROM HERE ALL THE WAY UP THE RIVER TO SIDE CUT PARK, WHICH IS IN MAUMEE.

IT'S, UH--IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

YOU KNOW, AT THE HEIGHT OF OUR WALLEYE SEASON, I KNOW OUR FINANCE PERSON ESTIMATED, YOU KNOW, AROUND A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF BUSINESS.

YEAH, IT DOES--GENERATES QUITE A BIT-- A BIT OF BUSINESS FOR EVERYBODY IN THE AREA, NOT JUST THE CITY OF PERRYSBURG, BUT FOR EVERYBODY.

>> PHOSPHORUS IS A CHEMICAL COMMONLY USED IN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS.

RAINFALL WASHES THE PHOSPHORUS-LADEN SOIL FROM LAWNS AND FARMS INTO THE MAUMEE RIVER AND EVENTUALLY LAKE ERIE.

EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF PHOSPHORUS CONTRIBUTE TO THE FORMATION OF ALGAL BLOOMS.

THE BLOOMS USUALLY OCCUR IN MID TO LATE SUMMER.

THIS IS A CONCENTRATED ALGAE SAMPLE TAKEN FROM LAKE ERIE IN SEPTEMBER 2006.

Tom Bridgeman: UNDER CALM CONDITIONS, THE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE THAT YOU SEE HERE AT THE SURFACE FLOATS UP TO THE SURFACE AND FORMS A SURFACE SCUM.

AND THIS IS VERY NOTICEABLE TO BOATERS.

YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE SWIMMING IN THE LAKE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.

>> THE ALGAL BLOOMS HAVE AN ADVERSE AFFECT ON LAKE ERIE HABITAT.

WHEN THE ALGAE DIE, THEY USE UP OXYGEN NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE.

THIS RESULTS IN LESS OXYGEN FOR MAYFLIES AND OTHER INSECTS THAT FISH FEED ON.

WITH A REDUCED FOOD SOURCE, THE FISH DIE OR MOVE TO OTHER AREAS OF THE LAKE.

A SATELLITE PHOTO TAKEN IN AUGUST 2003 SHOWS A MASSIVE ALGAL BLOOM EXTENDING FROM THE MOUTH OF THE MAUMEE RIVER SEVERAL MILES INTO LAKE ERIE.

FISHING, SWIMMING, AND BOATING WERE ALL ADVERSELY AFFECTED.

Bridgeman: IF WE CAN REDUCE PHOSPHORUS, WE CAN REDUCE ALGAL BLOOMS.

MOST OF THE PHOSPHORUS COMES IN ATTACHED TO SEDIMENT PARTICLES.

SO IF YOU CAN REDUCE THE SEDIMENT PARTICLES, YOU WILL DRASTICALLY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PHOSPHORUS, AND THEN THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE ALGAL BLOOMS THAT WE WOULD TYPICALLY SEE NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE MAUMEE RIVER.

>> TODD HESTERMAN AND HIS FATHER FARM 850 ACRES IN NORTHWEST OHIO.

HESTERMAN IS MULTI-COUNTY COORDINATOR FOR THE CONSERVATION ACTION PROJECT OR C.A.P.

C.A.P.

IS AN OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT HELPS FARMERS TO UNDERSTAND AND IMPLEMENT CONSERVATION PRACTICES.

CONSERVATION TILLAGE IS A WAY OF GROWING CROPS FROM YEAR TO YEAR WHILE MINIMALLY DISTURBING THE SOIL.

THE HESTERMANS HAVE USED CONSERVATION TILLAGE SINCE 1989.

Todd Hesterman: GOOD STEWARDSHIP, IN MY OPINION, IS LEAVE THE SOIL IN BETTER CONDITION THAN WHEN YOU'VE RECEIVED IT.

AND THAT'S WHERE CONSERVATION HAS PLAYED A PART IN BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF THE LAND.

I--I WANT TO LEAVE SOMETHING FOR MY CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO FARM ON.

>> IVAN MYERS' FARM HAS BEEN IN HIS FAMILY SINCE 1890.

LOCATED IN NORTHWEST OHIO, IT'S ONLY A MILE SOUTH OF LAKE ERIE.

MYERS TOOK OVER THE 1,700-ACRE FARM FROM HIS FATHER IN 1976.

HE SAYS HIS FIELDS HAVEN'T SEEN A PLOW OR OTHER TILLAGE EQUIPMENT SINCE THE EARLY 1980s.

Ivan Myers: WE RENTED THE PLANTER--NO-TILL PLANTER--AND WE PLANTED THIS IN CORNSTALKS.

AND IT WAS KIND OF SCARY.

I STIRRED UP THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE GUYS USED TO DRIVE BY IN PICKUP TRUCKS, AND THEN THEY'D GO TO THE COFFEE SHOP AND THEY SAID, "WELL, MYERS HAS FINALLY FLIPPED HIS LID.

YOU CAN'T FARM THAT WAY.

LOOK WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO.

HE DIDN'T EVEN PLOW THE GROUND.

HE DIDN'T WORK IT UP, HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, AND THERE HE IS PLANTING IT!"

IT STUCK IN MY MIND THAT IF YOU'RE MAKING THE DUST FLY, THEN WHERE'S THE DUST GOING?

AND I--I'VE TALKED TO OTHER FARMERS ABOUT THAT, AND THEY SAID, "WELL, IT JUST GOES FROM YOUR FARM TO THE NEXT FARM."

AH, THAT DOESN'T SET RIGHT WITH ME BECAUSE I KNOW AT LEAST 3/5 OF THE WORLD IS WATER, SO THAT MEANS THAT 3/5 OF IT, AT LEAST, IS GOING INTO THE-- ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE, LIKE HERE WE ARE, RIGHT BY THE LAKE.

WHY, YOU KNOW THAT SOUTHWEST IS PREVAILING WIND.

THAT'S THAT WAY, THE LAKE'S THAT WAY.

THAT MEANS THAT THE DUST IS GOING TO END UP IN LAKE ERIE.

Peter Richards: IN THE CASE OF THE MAUMEE, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR DATA OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, WE'VE SEEN ABOUT A 50% DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF SEDIMENT GOING DOWN THE RIVER.

THE EASIEST EXPLANATION FOR THAT IS THAT IT'S A CONSEQUENCE OF THE ACCUMULATION OF EFFECTS FROM THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE.

Hesterman: NOW WE'RE SEEING INCREASES IN ORGANIC MATTER IN OUR SOIL.

OUR SOIL TILTH IS BETTER, OUR SOIL STRUCTURE'S BETTER, WHICH HELPS WATER INFILTRATION RATES.

WE DON'T SEE NEAR AS MUCH STANDING WATER AFTER A HEAVY RAIN.

IT'S A LIVING SYSTEM WE'RE IN HERE, AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS HAVE--HAVE WHAT THE PRODUCERS PUT ON THE FIELDS STAY ON THE FIELDS.

A HEALTHY SOIL MEANS HEALTHY CROPS, AND IF YOU CAN KEEP IT ON THE FARM RATHER THAN IN THE RIVERS, YOU CAN PREVENT SOME OF THE ALGAE BLOOMS AND SUCH THAT--THAT OCCUR IN LAKE ERIE.

Brown: I WOULD SAY THE LAKE RIGHT NOW IS THE CLEANEST I'VE SEEN IT IN YEARS, AND THAT IS PROBABLY DUE IN LARGE PART FOR OUR INTEREST IN CONSERVATION, PRESERVATION, STOPPING EROSION.

THE ECONOMY IS JUST COMING ALIVE HERE.

PEOPLE FROM INDIANAPOLIS, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, HAVE COME HERE AND LOOKED AND SAID, "YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE PLACE WE WANT TO INVEST OUR MONEY BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE A SO GOOD JOB WITH THE WATER QUALITY, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE ONE OF THE BEST LOCATIONS ON THE NORTH COAST."

Richards: THERE'S, I THINK SOME SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS THAT WE CAN EXPECT FOR--FOR THE RIVER SYSTEM ITSELF FROM THESE REDUCED SEDIMENTS.

ONE OF THEM IS--IS JUST LESS SEDIMENT PILING UP BETWEEN THE ROCKS AND THINGS IN THE BOTTOM SO IT'S BETTER CONDITIONS FOR--FOR THE ANIMALS THAT LIVE THERE AND FOR THINGS LIKE WALLEYE SPAWNING, THAT KIND OF THING.

ANOTHER ONE IS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE REDUCED COSTS FOR TURNING THE RIVER WATER INTO DRINKING WATER BECAUSE OF THE COST OF GETTING RID OF THAT SEDIMENT BEFORE YOU PUT IT INTO THE PIPES.

>> LIMA, A CITY OF 40,000 IN NORTHWEST OHIO, IS LOCATED WITHIN THE MAUMEE RIVER WATERSHED.

LIMA TAKES ITS DRINKING WATER FROM BOTH THE OTTAWA AND AUGLAIZE RIVERS.

David Berger: WITHIN THE CITY OF LIMA, WE'VE ADOPTED STORM WATER REGULATIONS THAT DIRECT HOW DEVELOPMENT WILL BE DONE, AND THAT INCLUDES STORM WATER RETAINAGE AS WELL AS THE PREVENTION OF SOIL EROSION.

THOSE KINDS OF IMPROVEMENTS NEED TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN BOTH OUTSIDE THE CITY AS WELL AS INSIDE.

AND I THINK THAT BY DOING THAT, ALL OF US CAN DO OUR PART TO PREVENT THE KINDS OF POLLUTION THAT'S NOW GETTING TO THE RIVER.

David Baker: YOU KEEP THE SEDIMENTS ON THE LAND, YOU STOP--BY STOPPING THE EROSION OR REDUCING THE EROSION OR ELSE YOU--OR YOU TRAP THE SEDIMENTS IN BUFFER STRIPS BEFORE THEY ENTER THE STREAMS, THEN THAT'S BOUND TO REDUCE THE SUSPENDED SEDIMENT LOADS GOING DOWN THE RIVERS.

>> BUFFER STRIPS ARE A CONSERVATION PRACTICE FARMERS USE TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT.

SMALL AREAS OF LAND ARE PLANTED WITH GRASS AND OTHER PERMANENT VEGETATION.

THESE AREAS CAPTURE RUNOFF FROM ADJACENT FIELDS BEFORE IT ENTERS WATERWAYS.

BUFFER STRIPS SLOW WATER RUNOFF AND TRAP SEDIMENT, FERTILIZERS, AND PESTICIDES.

GRASS WATERWAYS WORK IN MUCH THE SAME WAY.

Lambert: WATER THAT RUNS DOWN INTO THIS GULLY, OR NOW GRASS WATERWAY, THEN BY THE TIME IT GETS DOWN TOWARDS THE END IS RELATIVELY CLEAN.

WE'RE NOT REMOVING EVERYTHING, BUT WE'RE REMOVING AN AWFUL LOT OF THAT SEDIMENT THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE TRANSPORTED AND DEPOSITED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE FIELD OR IN DRAINAGE WAYS.

>> GRASS IS JUST STARTING TO GROW IN THIS NEWLY CONSTRUCTED WATERWAY, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO HANDLE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALLS.

THE GRASS SLOWS DOWN THE WATER AND ACTS AS A FILTER TO HELP REMOVE SEDIMENT AND OTHER POLLUTANTS.

WETLANDS AND FLOODPLAINS ALSO ACT AS NATURAL WATER FILTERS.

AS SURFACE WATER RUNOFF SLOWLY PASSES THROUGH WETLANDS, SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SEDIMENT AND OTHER POLLUTANTS ARE REMOVED FROM THE WATER.

OVER HALF OF THE ORIGINAL WETLANDS IN THE U.S. HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.

WORK IS BEING DONE IN THE MAUMEE RIVER WATERSHED TO PRESERVE AND REBUILD WETLANDS.

Joe Draper: MOST NATURAL SYSTEMS THAT WE ARE CONCERNED WITH IN THE MAUMEE RIVER BASIN JUST MIMIC WHAT MOTHER NATURE HAD HERE ORIGINALLY, WHICH WOULD BE MOSTLY FORESTED LANDSCAPE WITH INTERSPERSED WETLANDS.

>> WETLANDS ARE ALSO NATURAL SPONGES THAT TRAP AND SLOWLY RELEASE SURFACE WATER, RAIN, AND SNOWMELT.

THIS HELPS TO REDUCE FLOODING.

Draper: WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS CAPTURE THAT RUNOFF, WHICH CARRIES THE SEDIMENT AND ALSO JUST IMPACTS THE OVERALL FLOOD CAPACITY OF THE RIVER.

WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THESE CAPTURING AREAS LOCATED IN THE WATERSHED, WE LOSE THE ABILITY FOR THE LANDSCAPE TO BUFFER A LOT OF THESE EXTREME RAIN EVENTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH FLOODING.

>> WITHOUT THE FILTERING EFFECT OF WETLANDS, SEDIMENT LEVELS IN WATER RUNOFF REMAIN HIGH, ALLOWING MORE SEDIMENT INTO THE RIVERS.

WHEN SEDIMENT BUILDS UP ON FLOODPLAINS DOWNSTREAM, IT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO FLOODING.

AFTER A WEEK OF HEAVY RAINFALL IN JULY 2003, THE ST. MARYS RIVER OVERFLOWED ITS BANKS.

AS A RESULT, SEVERAL CITIES IN NORTHEAST INDIANA EXPERIENCED FLOODING.

A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS TOO MUCH SEDIMENT IN THE RIVER.

ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT AREAS WAS THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IN DECATUR, INDIANA.

Rod Renkenberger: THE HOME THAT YOU'RE LOOKING UP BACK IN THE BACKGROUND HERE, THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET OF WATER IN THAT HOME DURING THE JULY 2003 FLOOD.

>> WHEN THESE HOMES WERE BUILT IN THE 1950s, THIS WAS NOT A DESIGNATED FLOOD HAZARD AREA.

BY THE LATE 1970s, THESE HOMES WERE LOCATED IN AN AREA RE-DESIGNATED AS FLOOD PRONE.

Renkenberger: ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE IN--IN THIS PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD IS THE SUCCESS IN THE MITIGATION PROJECT IS WE'RE ACTUALLY OPENING THIS AREA BACK UP SO THAT THE FLOOD PLAIN OF THE RIVER CAN PERFORM THE FUNCTION IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO DO.

>> IN DECATUR ALONE, THE 2003 FLOOD DAMAGED OVER 60 HOMES AT A COST OF $4 MILLION.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION OF DAMAGE IN FORT WAYNE.

Renkenberger: THAT MONEY CERTAINLY COULD HAVE BEEN PUT TO BETTER USE.

WE JUST NEED TO LEARN TO DEVELOP A LITTLE BIT SMARTER AND TRY TO STAY OUT OF HARM'S WAY.

Draper: HAVING THIS BUFFERING HABITAT AREA AND COMPATIBLE LAND USE PRACTICES ON THE LANDSCAPE IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE ALL AFTER, AND THOSE COMPATIBLE LAND USE PRACTICES MAY BE CONSERVATION TILLAGE THAT FARMERS CAN UTILIZE, IT CAN BE THIS RESTORED HABITAT, IT CAN JUST BE SIMPLE THINGS LIKE HAVING A RAIN GARDEN AND CAPTURING MAYBE ROOF RUNOFF FROM YOUR HOUSE.

>> SOME OF THE WAYS THAT EVERYONE CAN HELP ARE TO RESEED BARE SPOTS ON LAWNS AND COVER THEM WITH A THIN LAYER OF MULCH.

MULCH AROUND SHRUBS, TREES, AND FOUNDATIONS.

KEEP DIRT OFF DRIVEWAYS AND SIDEWALKS.

KEEP GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS CLEAN.

USE SPLASH PADS UNDER DOWNSPOUTS.

CONTROLLING SOIL EROSION IN THE MAUMEE RIVER WATERSHED AND THE ENTIRE GREAT LAKES SYSTEM IS AN ONGOING PROCESS.

THE COMBINED USE OF CONSERVATION PRACTICES BY BUILDING CONTRACTORS, FARMERS, AND HOMEOWNERS IS HELPING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SEDIMENT REACHING THE RIVERS.

EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND TEAMWORK ARE ALL A PART OF MAINTAINING A WATERSHED MENTALITY.

Baker: APPROPRIATELY, PROGRAMS HAVE FOCUSED IN THE MAUMEE, AND APPROPRIATELY--AND--AND THEN WE SEE, IN FACT, THE BIGGEST IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MAUMEE.

Myers: THIS IS--THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE GOT IS OUR LAND, OUR SOIL, AND IF WE DON'T CONSERVE THAT, WHY, IT SEEMS RIDICULOUS TO--TO MINE THE SOIL, AND THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF FARMERS HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.

THEY DIDN'T FARM THE LAND, THEY MINED IT.

Hesterman: FARMING IS A--IS A GREAT WAY OF LIFE, AND I'D HATE TO SEE OUR FOOLISHNESS CHANGE IT FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

McCrimmon: BEING ENVIRONMENTAL IS DOING GOOD BUSINESS.

IT IMPACTS THE BOTTOM LINE, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, FOLKS, IT'S A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE BOTTOM LINE.

YOU CAN--IN SOME AREAS CLAIM YOU CAN SAVE UP TO 38% ON--ON YOUR EXPENSES.

Richard: THE RIVERS ARE TO BE SHARED BY EVERYONE.

THE PERSON WHO'S UPSTREAM OF YOU HAS TO BE CONSIDERATE OF OUR NEEDS FOR FORT WAYNE'S WATER SUPPLY.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE WHAT WE'RE DOING SO THAT THOSE WHO GET THEIR DRINKING WATER FROM THE MAUMEE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT TO BE A GREAT RESOURCE, A WATER RESOURCE FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.

Wire: WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT, YEAH, SOMEBODY IS UPSTREAM OF US, BUT WE ARE ALSO UPSTREAM OF SOMEBODY ELSE, AND BEFORE WE POINT FINGERS, WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR SELF AND OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

Kaptur: WE HAVE THIS MAGNIFICENT ASSET, SO LET'S BE CONSCIOUS OF IT, PROPERLY MANAGE IT, AND BE GOOD STEWARDS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

[CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--]