7.5. Land-Use Form The next thing you should do is complete a land-use form. Mark important facts on your map. Sometimes the best way to fill out the land-use form may be to spend a few days driving around your area. If you don't have time, you can divide your area into sections and have helpers do different sections of the map. If you are working on a river, you can "walk" the river (or have helpers doing different sections). Current Land-Use Form Some of the questions apply to wetlands, estuaries as well as streams and rivers. Are there ice jams in the spring? Yes No Does the river run muddy when it rains? Yes No Do you know where the "mud" is coming from? Yes No Has anyone recently removed gravel from the river? How many farms are along the watercourse? Yes No Is the land ploughed right up to the water's edge? Yes No Do you see farm animals in the water? Yes No Are there barns with manure piles near the water? How many forest operations are along the watercourse? Yes No Has the forest been cut right up to the watercourse? Yes No Have greenbelts been used? What industries are along the watercourse? Yes No Are these industries putting waste into the river? Yes No What is the waste? What kind of non-industrial development is along the watercourse? (e.g. golf courses, malls, homes, other types of construction) Is there a landfill site near the river? Yes No How many bridges cross the watercourse? What types of roads cross the watercourse? How do the roads drain? Where are the culverts? How are they built? What else drains into the watercourse? What else is dumped into the watercourse? (e.g. snow or garbage) Where does the local sewage go? How is the watercourse used for recreation (boating, ice-fishing, swimming etc.) Make a list of all the things that have changed the watercourse.