Urban Sites

Commercial, industrial and residential sites, even those not immediately adjacent to streams, rivers or coastal waters, have long-term cumulative impacts on fish and other aquatic and terrestrial species. Contaminants, for example, can affect groundwater and are transported through storm drains into rivers and marine waters. Stormwater – including runoff from impervious surfaces – is the largest non-point source of pollution in urban areas!

 

By adopting Salmon-Safe standards, landowners and property managers help protect salmon habitat and water quality by:

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• Capturing and infiltrating stormwater on site

• Maintaining a buffer of trees and vegetation along stream banks

• Restore streams and watercourses where previous development has diverted or buried them

• Increasing the use of permeable surfaces to reduce runoff from impervious surfaces

• Using integrated pest management techniques to control weeds and pests

• Reducing water use through more efficient irrigation and drought-resistant landscaping