One of the causes of surface water degradation is the expansion of impervious surfaces. Impervious

surfaces are those that do not allow water to infiltrate into the soil, such as roads, parking lots,

rooftops, and sidewalks. Impervious surfaces increase the amount and speed of stormwater runoff,

which can carry pollutants, sediments, nutrients, and pathogens into surface water bodies such as

streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans. Impervious surfaces also reduce groundwater recharge, lower

base flow in streams, increase flooding and erosion, alter stream morphology and habitat, and affect

water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels2. Therefore, impervious surfaces can have significant

negative impacts on the quality and quantity of surface water resources. Reference: Surface Water as

a cause of land degradation from dryland salinity3; What is Water Pollution?4