Humans can affect water ways by polluting them. Victoria's Yarra River is one example.

The Yarra River starts in mountain forests. The water is clean up in the mountains and there is little sign of pollution and human impact. You may find a small amount of litter and some repairs to the dirt tracks. When it rains, especially in heavy rain, soil and other things can wash into the creeks and rivers and eventually finish up in the bay or ocean.