Surface Water (Lakes, streams, ponds, wetlands, etc.)
The total area from which a stream draws its water. The boundaries of the drainage area are called drainage divides The total area from which a stream draws its water. The boundaries of the drainage area are called drainage divides Drainage Basin (Watershed)
Major North American Drainage Basins & Divides
Discharge: 17,500 m 3 /sec
Colorado River Drainage Basin Continental Divide
Bottom Line: Know your watershed - everything that is in the watershed can end up in the stream. The precipitation, evaporation, and % runoff of the basin will determine how much water is available.
Groundwater GW Recharge Area (Infiltration) GW Discharge GW Flow
Porosity = The percent void space in a rock or sediment Permeability = The ability of a material to transmit a fluid
Unsaturated Zone: Pores include both air and water Saturated Zone: Pores filled with water Groundwater Table Groundwater Recharge
Aquifer = A geologic unit capable of storing and transmitting water in sufficient quantities to supply wells Generally not an “underground cave” = A geologic unit capable of storing and transmitting water in sufficient quantities to supply wells Generally not an “underground cave”
Groundwater Flow & Discharge
U.S. Groundwater Withdrawals:
Groundwater Impacts 1.Groundwater depletion 2.Land subsidence 3.Saltwater intrusion
Groundwater Use and Supply
Groundwater Impacts 1.Groundwater depletion 2.Land subsidence 3.Saltwater intrusion
Groundwater Impacts 1.Groundwater depletion 2.Land subsidence 3.Saltwater intrusion Venice, Italy
Groundwater Impacts 1.Groundwater depletion 2.Land subsidence 3.Saltwater intrusion San Joaquin Valley, CA
The Winter Park Sinkhole, Florida (Photo by Leif Skoogfors)
Groundwater Impacts 1.Groundwater depletion 2.Land subsidence 3.Saltwater intrusion
Solutions Find More or Use Less
Solutions Finding More Water 1.Enhanced Recharge 2.Other Sources Desalination Icebergs 3.Dams Recharge Pond, Long Island
Solutions Finding More Water 1.Enhanced Recharge 2.Other Sources Desalination Icebergs 3.Dams Desalination Plant
Solutions Finding More Water 1.Enhanced Recharge 2.Other Sources Desalination Icebergs 3.Dams Icebergs
Solutions Finding More Water 1.Enhanced Recharge 2.Other Sources Desalination Icebergs 3.Dams Ross Dam, WA
Solutions Using Less Water 1.Use Less Water 2.Improved Efficiency Agriculture Home Use 3.Water Reclamation & Reuse
Solutions Using Less Water 1.Use Less Water 2.Improved Efficiency Agriculture Home Use 3.Water Reclamation & Reuse Grow Local
Solutions Using Less Water 1.Use Less Water 2.Improved Efficiency Agriculture Home Use 3.Water Reclamation & Reuse Drip Irrigation
Solutions Using Less Water 1.Use Less Water 2.Improved Efficiency Agriculture Home Use 3.Water Reclamation & Reuse
Solutions Using Less Water 1.Use Less Water 2.Improved Efficiency Agriculture Home Use 3.Water Reclamation & Reuse Rooftop Harvesting - King Street Center, Seattle