Non-Point Source Discharges
The bulk of our issues when is comes to the impact on streams and rivers is more with non-point source run-off from pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and other "cides" then what comes from animal and human wastes. Collectively non-point source discharges have greater impact on our health, the ecosystems and surface water health then the e.coli coming from an animal deficating in the stream. During a US Coast Guard Spill Response conference, I asked an Admiral during the break, "is my chlorinated discharge (hypothetical) from my vessel in tidally influenced water, really making an impact on that stream"? In which he replied, "son, look what a whale puts out on average every day"?! Well, I have never seen a whale in the ICW and the question and answer was dated back in the early 80's before MSD regs were tightened up, but obviously the Admiral did not see the occasional discharge of human waste in a tidal stream that critical back then. E.Coli bacteria prevalent in humans and animals is a serious matter and we recently witnessed the recent spinach scare, raw oyster warnings and even consumption of fish in certain locations all due to e.coli contamination. A fast babbling brook with plenty of aeration zones will recover faster from an impact then a stagnant waterway. I would be more concerned these days about that industry along the river violating the effluent standards of its NPDES discharge permit and whats going into the river that will really make you sick, then a flock of Geese dumping a load along the way that most likely will get degraded or attenuated in a flowing stream. We can always talk "Siltation" impact next if you want to broaden the subject matter! Bob Georgia
