Development Alters the Lake’s Hydrology
Development of land within a watershed alters the way water naturally moves across and through the landscape. Clearing vegetation and adding homes, driveways, roads, lawns, and other developed areas can increase the amount and speed of runoff leaving a property.
Surface runoff resulting from development during rainstorms and snowmelt is the single largest contributor to water quality degradation.
As runoff travels across the land, it picks up soil, sediment, nutrients, and other materials and carries them into nearby streams and ultimately into Stockbridge Bowl.
Sediment and Phosphorus Are Linked
Phosphorus is a nutrient that is naturally found in the environment, including lakes. It is typically described as the limiting nutrient for plant and algae growth in freshwater lakes. This means that even relatively small increases in phosphorus can contribute to increased aquatic vegetation and algae.
Phosphorus and sediment are closely connected. It is estimated that 80–90% of phosphorus reaches waterways adhered to sediment particles that have been loosened from the soil and transported by runoff.
Reducing erosion and keeping soil and sediment on our properties is therefore an important part of reducing the amount of phosphorus entering Stockbridge Bowl.
Development Can Increase Phosphorus Runoff
Even carefully planned residential development can significantly change the amount of runoff and nutrients leaving a property.
Converting woodland to residential development can result in a 2- to 10-fold increase in phosphorus concentrations in stormwater runoff.
Residential properties can contribute approximately 0.5–1 pound of phosphorus per acre to receiving waterways each year.
It does not take much phosphorus to have a significant effect on a lake. Less than 2 ounces of fertilizer washed into the lake can grow more than 2 pounds of algae.
The Good News
The good news is that if we all work together and make small changes to the way we manage our properties, we can reduce the amount of runoff, sediment, and phosphorus reaching Stockbridge Bowl.
Understanding how water moves across your property — particularly during heavy rain and snowmelt — is an important first step. Reducing exposed soil, slowing and redirecting runoff, maintaining natural vegetation, and limiting unnecessary fertilizer use can all help protect the lake.
We are all part of the solution.
