onpoint source (NPS) water quality and aquatic habitat problems. Water quality has improved in recent years, NPS runoff from farms, cities, suburban development, golf courses, and logging activities have come under intense scrutiny. Although two-thirds of water now meets water quality standards, recent state reports of U.S. water quality indicates that NPS runoff is responsible for about half of the remaining water quality problems. In conclusion the quality of water is much better now than years prior but as landscape architects we can also help in achieving cleaner and more healthy watersheds by removing pesticides before it gets into any major water systems. By incorporating vegetative riparian buffers along stream and riverbanks whenever possible. Runoff is intercepted and slowly allowed to percolate into the groundwater. Soil sediment, lawn and agricultural chemicals are trapped, modified, or use by the vegetation for growth, reducing the amount of pollution. This buffer also reduces the waters velocity during high flows, which reduces steam bank erosion. Within the buffer, the water holding capacity of the soil increases; this modifies flooding and recharges groundwater supplies. Trees and shrubs, and native grasses near the waterway improved water quality by removing sediment and chemicals before they reach the waterway, and also improved and protect the aquatic environment. Not only do they provide shade and lower summer water temperatures, but the woody and leaf debris provides both food and shelter to aquatic insects, fish, and amphibians. These buffers also provide important needed habitat for wildlife. It is very important that as a landscape architect we do our part to purify waterways and be ecologically sensitive to the environment around us....
