Water Sheds

What Is A Watershed? The area of land that

You're sitting in a watershed now Homes, farms, ranches, forests, small towns, big cities and more can make up watersheds. Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. Just as creeks drain into rivers, watersheds are nearly always part of a larger watershed. 

Who and What are Affected by Watersheds? Watersheds are the of most people of the world and therefore the ecosystem complex most impacted by human . In day-to-day activities, people can cause some of these pollutants to enter without knowing that they are causing harm to the environment.

More on Watersheds Watersheds include not just surface waters, but aquifers, ground waters and the . What is a hyporehic zone? (Go Find Out!)

Head Waters Headwaters are composed of , representing most of the total stream length within a watershed. Leaves, fruit, branches and whole trees of stream side forests fall into these headwater streams. grow on the surface of this detritus and begin to break down the complex of dead plant material.

Hyporheic zone The hyporheic zone is defined as a subsurface volume of sediment and porous space adjacent to a stream through which stream water readily exchanges. Although the hyporheic zone physically is defined by the hydrology of a stream and its surrounding environment, it has a strong influence on stream ecology, stream biogeochemical cycling, and stream-water temperatures. Thus, the hyporheic zone is an important component of stream ecosystems.

Our Watershed

What is a Watershed Again? A watershed is . A watershed can be very large (draining thousands of square miles to a major river or lake or the ocean), or very small, such as a 20-acre watershed that drains into a pond. A small watershed that is inside of a larger watershed is sometimes referred to as a .

Watershed Area

Watershed Management There are three management zones when discussing watershed management--the water body, riparian, and upland zones. Water body Channel Upland Zone Riparian Zone

Waterbody

Riparian . Riparian means “ " and the riparian zone is intimately connected with the . This zone often includes, but is not limited to, .

Upland The upland area is not an exact term, (for example: 100 year flood plain).

Natural Processes at Work in a Watershed Importantly, no matter where we live or work, , inter-related natural processes. These natural forces help shape the watershed .

In mountain upland areas, there are unique blends of climate, geology, hydrology, soils, and vegetation shaping the landscape, with waterways often cutting down steep slopes. Look closely at the next picture and the many things that influence water quality: chemicals from the mineral weathering of rocks, from the decay of vegetation, and from groundwater. Notice how the vegetation shades the water, influencing temperature and what can live in the water.

In the coastal area, where oceans meet land, there are again different blends of shaping the environment.

In lowland areas between upland and coastal waters, where tidal wetlands are prevalent, processes serve entirely different functions from other areas. In an upland plains area, you find grassy plains, hardy vegetation, and slower moving, meandering streams and rivers.

Pollution Pollutants enter our in our communities. Pollution in our watersheds degrades the environment, , and ultimately affects the health of humans as well.

Pollution Continued Doesn’t polluted water get treated through the sewer system? .

How Do We Prevent Pollution Of Watersheds? Find some alternative ways to control pests inside and outside your home. Recycle the waste oil at the curb or take it to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event. (oil change in your car)

Control erosion . Rinse latex paint brushes, pans and rollers in the sink. Pick up your . Use kitty litter or other absorbent materials  (not your hose) to clean up spills and leaks on paved surfaces.