Watersheds

Surface Water Definition: fresh water on the Earth’s land surface Is found in lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands Types of surface waters are: River systems Mississippi, Amazon, Nile Watersheds Definition: area of land that is drained by a river Example: Mississippi Watershed

Watershed map - quiz There are 2,267 watersheds in the United states including Alaska and Hawaii.

Tale of Three Rivers Mississippi- 4th largest in the world- drains into the Gulf of Mexico. Columbia- 4th largest river in U.S.- It has the greatest flow of any river draining into the Pacific Ocean. Chesapeake – largest watershed of the Atlantic Seaboard. It drains into the Atlantic Ocean.

The largest watershed in the United States is known as the: The Mississippi River Watershed 4th longest in the world. 10th largest in the world. Drains all or parts of 31 states. Its headwaters are in Northern Minnesota and its mouth is Mississippi river delta at the Gulf of Mexico

A Watershed All of the water within the area drains into the central waterway and to a specific point along that waterway. It is important to realize that a watershed is composed of not only a waterway itself (stream, creek, river, lake) but also the surrounding land area that drains into it. In this illustration, all the water within the green region drains into the central waterway and actually to a specific point at the end (or the mouth) of this creek. http://www.ugwawv.org/images/watershed_large.jpg

Watershed The drain board under a kitchen sink drying rack is like a watershed. The "Dry Dish" Watershed If it helps, you can think of a watershed as a dish drying rack drain board next to your kitchen sink. All the water dripping of your plates is eventually funneled out of the drain board and into your sink.

Defining Factors- Watershed Gravity: force of nature that pulls water downhill. 2. Topography: the form of the land; hills, valleys, plains and other features that influence where and how water will flow.

All three interact with each other! Go with the Flow Water always follows the path of least resistance.... DOWNHILL! Water that flows through a Watershed: -Streams, Creeks, and Rivers -Surface runoff (water across the land surface) -Groundwater (under the surface) All three interact with each other! Water is lazy. It always wants to flow down hill because of gravity. It is too much work to flow uphill, so it doesn’t. Water flows down hill, the path of least resistance Water that flows downhill through a watershed includes: 1. Streams, creeks or rivers 2. Surface runoff (water across the land surface) 3. Groundwater (moving under the surface, under our feet)

Fuel for the Flow: The Water Cycle The Water Cycle provides the water to create these three types of flow. What provides all of this water (whether on the surface or underground) to our watershed? You might remember the water cycle. Water evaporates from the surface, condensation occurs forming clouds that precipitate down, providing us the “fuel” for our flows through the watershed. (Point out the direction of flow of water through the cycle, showing various possible routes.) So there is a real connection between the water cycle and a watershed.

Flow: Streams and Rivers So streams and rivers are part of a watershed, part of the downhill flow of a watershed

Includes over forested land, grassland, and parking lots Flow: Surface Runoff Includes over forested land, grassland, and parking lots http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTNLL3TB1lwMw7XT0cgjqD2Tdk69LGaoMMKXvWPCWAB_rtk4OXaaz63sOa- Surface runoff, which can also be called overland flow, is moving, amazingly enough, over the land surface. It may be flowing over a forested surface, a cropland surface, or even an urban, cement-like surface. http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/news/images/lawn.jpg http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3k4d15i2OAA/TMcWeF0DXzI/AAAAAAAAFtU/tAwW5Z1C9JI/s400/parking+lot+runoff+2.JPG

Under the surface Groundwater is on the move Flow: Groundwater Under the surface Groundwater is on the move Groundwater is another important flow in a watershed. Sometimes it is forgotten about because we cannot see it, or some people don’t know that it exists. Did you realize that there is water always under our land surface, under our feet, collecting and/or moving? http://savethewater.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Maryland-groundwater-diagram-pubs-usgs-gov.jpg

Major Aquifers of Texas The state of Texas covers 23 aquifers (7 major and 16 minor aquifers) that underlie approximately ¾ of the state. The Ogallala Aquifer accounts for about 90% of the water in all of Texas aquifers. Groundwater from Texas aquifers is used for irrigation, municipal use, manufacturing, and livestock production. Pumping of water from many aquifers in Texas has resulted in a significant lowering of the water table. The major aquifers in Texas include the Ogalalla aquifer, the Gulf Coast aquifer, the Edwards aquifer, Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer, Edwards-Trinity (Plateau) aquifer, the Seymour aquifer, the Hueco-Mesilla Bolson, and the Cenozoic Pecos aquifer. The Ogalalla Aquifer, the largest aquifer in North America, covers 174,000 square miles in 8 states (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming) and incorporates some of the most important agricultural land in the nation. More than 14 million hectares of land are irrigated by the Ogallala

(Shape of the lands surface) Watersheds Land Area TOPOGRAPHY (Shape of the lands surface) Determines what area will make up a watershed The rain from our water cycle falls down onto the land. This land and the shape of the land surface, called topography, play an important role in creating a watershed. http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca.earth-sciences/files/jpg/h2o/bowen/images/watershed_e.jpg

Watershed Topography Low points in a watershed: Stream or river itself, the very bottom There are low points (lower elevations) in a watershed. This is the stream, creek, or river itself, and the ravine or valley bottom. http://www.americanwhitewater.org/photos/archive/medium/10211.jpg

Watershed Topography Highpoints in a watershed: Hills, Mountains, or ridges surrounding the waterway. There are high points (higher elevation) in a watershed. These are hills, hilltops, or mountains that surround the waterway. In Western Pennsylvania, our higher elevations are hills, but there are mountains further east. http://mysticsail.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/rotui-web.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3487/4060038327_5088e10425.jpg http://www.birdsasart.com/rootjpegs/Mount%20McKinley.jpg

Watershed Boundary The watershed boundary is created by the high points of land surrounding a waterway Watershed Boundary These high points of land help create a watershed boundary. The boundary is the extent of the land area surrounding our waterway that drains into our creek. Once you cross the boundary, water would no longer drain into our waterway. Hills and ridges would make up a part of our watershed boundary. (On the illustrations, point out the land area that is part of the watershed leading up to the hills and higher elevations that make the watershed boundary) http://www.thinkbluemaine.org/images/kids/watershed%20-%20edit.jpg http://www.kidsgeo.com/images/watershed.jpg

Watershed Boundary Any water within the boundary of your watershed or precipitation that falls within the boundary will flow into your waterway Within a watershed boundary, all of the water, whether surface flow, surface runoff, groundwater, or rain will eventually flow into our creek. (On the visual illustration, point out how water inside the ---boundary line would drain into this main waterway) http://www.pedrocreek.org/images/watershed_drawing.gif

Watershed Boundary Any water OUTSIDE the boundary of your watershed or precipitation that falls OUTSIDE the boundary will flow into a different waterway is part of a different watershed. Now if some of the water falls outside our creek’s watershed boundary, it is not part of our watershed because it does not flow into our creek. But it is part of an adjacent watershed. It is falling on land that is draining into a different creek. (Use illustration). See how the two watersheds are beside each other on this illustration? http://water.me.vccs.edu/courses/CIV246/changes/watershe.gif

Watershed Boundary The watershed boundary is the dividing line between two watersheds Watershed boundaries are sometimes called Watershed Divides So the boundary is the place where rainfall must decide which direction it is going to flow – toward our creek or toward a different waterway. The boundary is the dividing point. And remember, the boundary is a high point of land. http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/stelprdb5361417.jpg

Rules of topography:

Label: contour lines contour intervals highest point lowest point elevation interval (#) elevation of the bottom contour line cliff flat V-in water system

Many Watersheds Does your favorite stream have a watershed? Does your favorite creek have a watershed? (Ask some students) http://www.fws.gov/chesapeakebay/Newsletter/Summer05/Streams/Flowing%20stream.gif All waterways, large or small, have a watershed. Waterways always have land surrounding them that drain into them. Small creek=Small watershed Large Creek=Larger Watershed

Build up a Waterway waterways flow into one another. small creeks flow into Large creeks which flow into LARGER creeks or a river! As you might realize, waterways flow into one another. Small streams join together to form bigger creeks, which can flow together to form even larger waterways. http://www.fgmorph.com/images/04/04_08_01.gif

Build up a Watershed Even LARGER Watersheds Watersheds interact with one another too. Small watersheds make up Larger Watersheds which make up Even LARGER Watersheds Just as waterways join together and build up, watersheds also interact with each other. Small watersheds make up larger watersheds, which will be part of even larger watersheds. http://epa.gov/gmpo/images/lower_mississippi_map.jpg

Scale Watersheds work on different scales small creeks have small watersheds large creeks include the watersheds of many small creeks rivers include the combined watersheds of many large creeks Allegheny River French Creek Watersheds are all a matter of scale. As mentioned earlier, small creeks have small watersheds. Like Sugar Creek. [CLICK] Small watersheds, like Sugar Creek, make up larger watersheds, like French Creek. French Creek is part of the larger Allegheny River Watershed. The Allegheny River Watershed has other smaller creeks (and their smaller watersheds) that are part of it. Sugar Creek

No Watersheds Somewhere? Is there any place on land that is not part of a watershed? No, Everywhere you stand on the Earth's land surface drains somewhere, so it is part of a watershed, whether big or small. Is there a place on land that is NOT part of a watershed? [CLICK] NO. Everywhere you stand on the Earth’s land surface drains somewhere, so it is part of a watershed, whether big or small.

What is YOUR Watershed? Small watershed? Big watershed? Where does your water flow to? Which of the major watersheds in TEXAS are you in? What is our watershed here at school? Is it a small watershed? Large watershed? Where does our water flow? Which of the major watersheds contain our local waterways? (you would need to personalize this discussion based on your location) [CLICK]

Watershed Impacts We influence our waterway and watershed Direct Impact on Waterway Dumping into creek, littering into creek Impact on Land Surrounding Waterway (Watershed) Poor land use decisions Disturbing the land without minimal impact Contributing to pollution on the land So we do influence our waterways and watersheds. Perhaps directly by dumping something into the creek or littering into the creek. Or by making an impact on the land that drains into the waterway (watershed.) We might make poor land use decisions or disturb the land without regards to making a minimal impact on it, or by contributing to pollution we put on or into the land. [CLICK]

Point Source Pollutants As the groundwater or surface water travels, pollutants and sediments attach to the water molecules. These pollutants also travel to the next closest body of water. Pollutants originating from a single source, such as a pipe, that you can ‘point your finger’ toward are referred to as point source pollution. Point source pollution is regulated by federal, state and local laws.

Non Point Source Pollutants Nonpoint source pollution refers to pollutants that come from a multitude of sources. Nationwide, nonpoint source pollution is the major contributor to water quality problems. Nonpoint Source Pollution comes from a variety of human activities, including agricultural runoff, applications of fertilizers and pesticides, metals and oils from cars, household chemicals, erosion from construction sites and other land clearing activities, storm water runoff from urban areas and sewage system overflow. We all contribute to nonpoint source pollution.

Often we don’t understand how our activities affect local waterways Often we don’t understand how our activities affect local waterways. How we use and dispose of household or yard chemicals can make a difference. Although we may be small contributors individually, the cumulative impact from all residents in a watershed has a big effect. Everyone counts. And sometimes accidents happen. For example, one gallon of spilled motor oil can pollute up to two million gallons of water.

Watershed Impacts (Rural) Land and waterway interaction Because rain and snow falls on the land and eventually flows into our waterways, there is an interaction between the land and our waterways. What we do on our land makes an impact on water quality. [CLICK] For instance, we might have a farm in out watershed. What impacts might this have on the waterway? (students answer) (some possible answers: maybe the cropland will have some soil erosion or there have been some chemicals, pesticides, herbicides used on the fields. Maybe some fertilizer washes into the nearby creek. Livestock might cause soil erosion or break down stream banks trying to get into the creek. Their waste might wash into the creek. http://media.sanluisobispo.com/smedia/2012/03/14/18/30/1dSwQC.MiSt.76.jpg What we do on our land affects our waterways http://water.epa.gov/scitech/datait/tools/warsss/images/fig32.jpg

Watershed Impacts (Urban) Land and waterway interaction What if we had a factory or industry? What impacts could that make? [CLICK] Some possible answers: maybe the industry discharges chemicals or toxin directly into the creek or onto the land next to the creek. The discharge could also be high in nutrients or organic waste or just be warm water that was a byproduct of an industrial process (such as a cooling process). Keep in mind that the possible pollution does not have to be added directly to the creek. If the land around the creek is polluted, that will still make an impact on the waterway because of how a watershed drains. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Allegheny_River_Pittsburgh.JPG What we do on our land affects our waterways http://www.twpusc.org/comdev/stormwater/photos/stream21_lg.jpg

Watershed Impacts (Residential) Land and waterway interaction What impact do you have on the watershed? Maybe at your house? [CLICK] Some possible answers: maybe you put too much fertilizer or herbicide chemicals on your front lawn and this seeps down into the groundwater. Maybe you pour inappropriate things down the storm drains/grates on the street or onto your land (like old car oil, antifreeze, old paint). If you live in the country, maybe your septic system is not functioning properly. http://farm1.static.flickr.com/11/12774549_1f8ae21d9a.jpg What we do on our land affects our waterways http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/newsletter/2002/06/images/lake_fertilizer.jpg

Watershed Impacts Downstream We are connected to others downstream Our waterway flows into other waterways Our watershed drains into other watersheds Our mess/pollution travels downstream Also remember a very important point – that the watershed that we live in is connected to other watersheds downstream. So what we do here may influence another waterway or people further downstream. Our pollution becomes their pollution. Our impact might be detected miles and miles away. [CLICK]

Watershed Impacts What will YOU do to protect your watershed? So with all of this watershed knowledge, what might you do to help protect your watersheds? Or what could your school, to help protect its watershed? There are many possibilities, but here are a few: We could study our stream, monitor it, determine its health, and keep an eye on its water quality. Perhaps do things to improve our stream like plant trees along its bank. Or other stream restoration projects, improving the water quality and habitats. Or something like storm drain stenciling in our community to encourage people not to pollute. Or educating our community about our waterways and what we have learned about them. Or sponsoring or participating in a creek clean up event. [CLICK]

Texas watershed

Texas Watersheds There are 23 major river basins that are confined within the state, shared with neighboring states, or shared along an international border. All of the state’s water drains into: Mississippi River Gulf Coast Rio Grande River

Texas Rivers All of the state’s water drains into: 15 Major Rivers. Mississippi river- such as: Red river Gulf Coast- such as: Sabine, Brazos and Colorado. Rio Grande such as: Pecos River. 15 Major Rivers. 3,700 named streams Texas river mouths are located in 7 major estuaries including: Colorado River Guadalupe River

Colorado River,TX- Watershed 18th longest river in the United States. 5th longest river in Texas (862 mi.) Longest river in Tx. having both the headwaters and the mouth located within the state. Headwaters- on the Llano Estacado near Lamesa. (south of Lubbock) Mouth- Matagorda Bay- near Bay City. A river basin is the portion of land drained by a river and its tributaries. It encompasses all of the land surface dissected and drained by many streams and creeks that flow downhill into one another, and eventually into one river. The final destination is an estuary or an ocean. Headwater= source That is the furthest place in that river/ stream from its estuary with another river. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) states that a river's "length may be considered to be the distance from the mouth to the most distant headwater source (irrespective of stream name), or from the mouth to the headwaters of the stream commonly identified as the source stream" An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. The end of a river is its mouth, or delta. At a river's delta, the land flattens out and the water loses speed, spreading into a fan shape. Usually this happens when the river meets an ocean, lake, or wetland. Estacado-large, semi-arid plateau (plain) in the S. Western U. S.

Watershed Vocabulary Tributary- a river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake. Mouth of River- where water and sediments empty into a larger body of water. Headwater- source of the river or stream. Estuary-tidal mouth of a large river- where the tide meets the stream. (A type of wetland) Watershed Divide- a relatively high ground that separates watershed basins.