What is a watershed? A watershed is land that drains rain or stormwater to a stream, lake, wetland, bay, gulf or ocean. The Chunky-Okatibbee Watershed is a unique & critical component of East Mississippi’s natural environment. It serves as the headwaters of the Pascagoula River Basin which ultimately drains into the Gulf of Mexico. The objective of the watershed management project is to identify sources of pollution and water quality impairment in the Chunky-Okatibbee Watershed; to identify best management practices to address the sources of pollution and water quality impairment; to develop a watershed education and public involvement campaign; and to encourage acquisition, conservation, and preservation within the watershed. It is EMFLT’s belief that the water quality and ecological health of the Chunky-Okatibbee Watershed is important to our culture, our heritage and our way of life. The watershed management project is a wonderful opportunity to raise the level of awareness in the area and actively address water quality issues of concern. Technical Plan Components: • Watershed Mapping • Recreational Access Improvements • Litter and Dumping Management and abatement • Water Quality Monitoring Educational Plan Components: • Stakeholder Meetings and Presentations • Coordinated Media Campaign • Development of a Tabletop Display • Participatory Activities • Creation of a Website • Placement of Watershed Signs • Development of Eco-Tours What can you do to protect water quality in the Chunky-Okatibbee Watershed? • Participate in community clean-up events • Discourage littering • Clean up and properly dispose of pet waste • Maintain your septic systems properly • Participate in area recycling programs • Encourage elected officials to adopt policies and legislation to protect our water resources • Notify local officials if you see conditions or activities that could contribute to water pollution • Take time to educate yourself on the impacts of water pollution Interesting Facts About the Chunky-Okatibbee Watershed: • Contains approximately 912 square miles or approximately 586,240 acres • Includes ecologically important water bodies such as the Chunky Creek, the Chunky River, Sowashee Creek, Okatibbee Creek, and Okatibbee Lake • Features a 65-foot waterfall near Dunn’s Falls on the Chunky River • The name “Chunky” is derived from a Choctaw Indian game called “Chanki” that was played with a round disk and sticks on the flat, sandy banks of the Chunky River • Features the Okatibbee Reservoir, which is a 3,800 lake with swimming, waterskiing, water slides, fishing, boating, picnicking and camping • Contains a wide variety of wildlife including bald eagles, deer, rabbit, and alligators and documented sightings of 85 individual bird species • Includes over 25 individual species of fish • Reaches into five counties in East-Central Mississippi • A 26-mile segment of the Chunky River is designated as a “scenic stream Watershed - The region draining into a river, river system, or other body of water. All of us live in a watershed. Each of us is responsible for a portion of the pollution entering our waterways. Common tasks like washing our cars and fertilizing our lawns end up impacting our water quality. We are committed to improving our water quality through a series of outreach programs. If you are interested in joining the East Mississippi Foothills Land Trust or want more information on how you can help keep our waters safe and clean, please contact us at 601-484-2564 or emf.landtrust@yahoo.com.
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