Understanding where nonpoint source pollutant loads originate in a watershed requires information regarding how the natural landscape has been modified by humans. Land use and cover data provide snapshots of how the surface landscape within the Fremont Lake Watershed has changed throughout time based on many variables.

Loss of natural features, such as forests and wetlands, through urban development or expanding agriculture may potentially contribute to increased stormwater runoff temperatures, volumes, and velocities. Stormwater runoff entrains sediment and other potential pollutants within its waters as it flows over the land and deposits these contaminants to streams, creeks, and lakes. Impacts from this runoff include degraded water quality, loss of wildlife habitat, and decreases in the diversity of aquatic communities.

Fremont Lake Watershed 1978 Land Use/Cover Fremont Lake Watershed 1998 Land Use/Cover Fremont Lake Watershed 2005 Land Use/Cover
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AWRI obtained land use and cover data from 1978 and 1998 and updated it using 2005 data (see maps above). The land use and cover data for all three time periods were summarized and compared to determine how the landscape within the Fremont Lake Watershed had changed over the past 27 years (1978 to 2005). The major overall differences that were apparent from this comparison show a trend toward a decreasing percentage of Agricultural lands and an increase in the amount of Urban/Built Up lands within the watershed (see graphs below). Detailed information on the land use and cover update and change analysis can be found in Appendix B of the Project Report.

Breakdown of 1978 Land Use/Cover for the Fremont Lake Watershed Breakdown of 2005 Land Use/Cover for the Fremont Lake Watershed

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