Society has deemed that water resources are worth protecting. Sediment is the largest pollutant by volume to our nation’s waterways. Sediment can fill up ponds, it can destroy aquatic habitats, fine particles of sediment can carry biological and chemical contaminants great distances and sediment can be costly to treat with regards to public water sources. Also, public properties such as state roads must be protected from “mud slicks” because mud on the road can greatly reduce pavement friction and that could lead to motor vehicle accidents. Also, private properties below land-disturbing activity must be protected from deposits of sediment. It is considered “damage” to someone’s property if you place sediment there by any means.