Surface Water

Where Does the Water Go? Precipitation ____________ _____________ Percolates into Soil/rock Runoff ____________ _____________ Lakes, ponds, streams Ocean, wetlands

52% 8% Surface Water 38% 1% 1%

________: Tiny water channels River Systems __________ Collects ________: Tiny water channels Merge ________________ Merge _________ Empty _________

River System _________________: Network of rivers and streams draining a river basin _____________: Feeder streams Major River Systems _______________ ________________ _________________

Pennsylvania’s Major Rivers Susquehanna (Main) Susquehanna (West) Delaware Schuylkill Juniata Lehigh Ohio Allegheny Monongahela Lackawaxen Lackawanna Youghiogheny Shenango Clarion

Major Drainage Patterns Drainage patterns depend on: ___________________: Physical characteristics of the land. Rocks over which the water travels

Types of Drainage Patterns ______________: Resembles a mature tree Most river systems in PA Main river forms trunk Uniform bedrock Function of the slope of the land

Types of Drainage Patterns ____________: “Spokes on a wheel” Streams flow from a high central area __________

Types of Drainage Patterns ______________: Rock broken by a series of faults and fractures “Bends” in stream form right angles

Types of Drainage Patterns _____________: Type of rectangular Tributary streams are parallel to each other Rock alternate between hard and soft

Types of Drainage Patterns ______________: Large body of water (lake) at the center “Feeder Streams” empty into the lake

Drainage Pattern Summary

Watersheds (Drainage Basin) Watersheds: The area of land that is drained by a river. Surrounded by topographic highs called Divides. Divide: Any ridge between two streams along which precipitation runs off. PA has 104 watersheds

Watersheds (Drainage Basin) 6 Major PA Watersheds _________________ Basin ______________ River Basin ___________________ Basin ____________________ Basin _____________________ Basin

PA Watersheds

Drainage Pattern Summary

Identifying the Boundaries of a Watershed (Delineation) Step #1: Identify the stream to be delineated. Step #2: Using a pencil and ruler, draw a series of lines (1-2 cm in length) perpendicular to the stream, spaced 1 cm apart. Step #3: At the headwaters, draw several lines radiating outward. Step #4: Follow the perpendicular lines drawn and find the highest elevation that is closest to the steam.

Identifying the Boundaries of a Watershed (Delineation) Step #5: Place an “X” at the highest elevation point. Step #6: Repeat steps #4 & #5 for all of the perpendicular lines drawn. Step #7: Connect the “X’s” to outline the boundary of the watershed.