Many different agencies are responsible for specific aspects of water resource management in the Vermillion River Watershed. Watershed residents frequently tell us there are “too many hands” in the river and watershed. Drilling a drinking water well? Constructing a road that intercepts a stream? Building a shopping center with a large parking lot? Installing a residential raingarden? These activities directly affect water quality or quantity. Who do you contact for permits, technical assistance, funding, or training?
We compiled general information about government agencies’ water-related responsibilities to get you to the right place to find assistance. Review this list of water resource agencies. Keep in mind that water management changes constantly – new laws, programs, and people – so if you find a broken website link, please send an email to email@example.com and we’ll update.
Groundwater – The water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock is groundwater. Groundwater supplies water for drinking water, irrigation, and business uses. During dry weather conditions, groundwater helps maintain lake levels, wetlands, and stream flow. People with water pumped and piped from private wells use groundwater for their drinking water supply. Who’s in charge of protecting groundwater?
Drinking Water – The water pumped and piped into households for drinking, cooking, and bathing can be groundwater or surface water (like a lake or river). In cities, to a public water supplier treats drinking water to remove contamination, stores it, and distributes it to households. Who’s in charge of protecting drinking water?
Surface Water – Surface water is water that collects on the surface of the planet, such as in a river, lake, or wetland. Lakes collect water, but do not (usually) change location or boundaries. Rivers collect and convey water, so can shift location and boundaries as they move through the landscape. Who’s in charge of protecting surface water?
Stormwater – Stormwater comes from rainfall and snow and ice melt. Stormwater can soak into the soil (infiltrate), be held on the surface and evaporate, or run off and end up – through storm drains – in nearby streams or rivers without any treatment. As stormwater runs off different surfaces, it can collect pollutants and carry them to surface water. Who’s in charge of managing stormwater?
Shoreland/Floodplain – Shoreland is the land along a river or lake. A floodplain is an area of low-lying ground adjacent to a river, formed mainly of river sediments and subject to flooding. Shoreland that erodes because a river is too high or too fast-moving can lead to flooding. Structures located in floodplain can become flooded and carried into a river, causing pollution and damage downstream. Who’s in charge of protecting shorelands and floodplains?
Wastewater – Wastewater is water that has been used (for washing clothes, flushing a toilet, or in a manufacturing process) and contains waste products, including sewage. Wastewater (unlike stormwater) must be treated before it is released to a nearby water body. Facilities allowed to discharge treated wastewater must have a permit that sets limits on water quality. In urban areas, wastewater is piped to a wastewater treatment plant for pollutant removal. In rural areas, individual sewage treatment systems (septic systems) treat wastewater to remove pollutants. Who’s in charge of wastewater treatment?
Fish and Wildlife – The fish and wildlife living in or near water resources can tell us how healthy water resources are by their presence (or absence), population, and condition. They are also monitored as a natural resource and an essential part of the ecosystem. Who’s in charge of protecting fish and wildlife?
Agriculture – Agriculture is the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of soil for growing crops and rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products. Precipitation (and groundwater for irrigation) is essential for successful agriculture, and agriculture has unique impacts on water resources. Who’s in charge of agriculture’s impacts on water?