Water and Watersheds

Our planet is shaped by its water, from this amazing resource. and even gets its welcoming blue hue from this amazing resource.

has unique characteristics that enable photosynthesis, Most people know that water constitutes about 70% of the earth’s surface, and about 65% of the human body. But did you know that it has unique characteristics that enable photosynthesis, fertilization, and cell division?

In addition, we have all the water that we have almost ever had, since life began, or may ever have.

Of the water we do have: 97.5% is saltwater 2.3% is in ice or groundwater; and, only .3% is readily accessible and drinkable.

four continuous actions that allow life to flourish All our water moves around the planet in a system called the Hydrologic Cycle. This cycle consists of four continuous actions that allow life to flourish while they erode mountains and carve river valleys.

The 4 continuous actions of the Hydrologic Cycle are: Condensation Precipitation Accumulation Evaporation

The hydrologic cycle, climate, and other conditions present a series of interesting realities for Canada. For example, while we have both rain and snow, Canada has a temperate climate with relatively balanced precipitation throughout the year, with no major wet or dry seasons.

However, while most people think that we have an abundance of water, the facts are quite different.

First of all, Canada has about 7% of the world’s land mass, and receives about 7% of land-based precipitation.

Secondly, while most of our population lives close to the US border, most of our water flows North, to the Arctic, Hudson Bay, and the Labrador Sea.

world’s lake-water, the annual flow and we have no water to waste . An interesting aspect of this is that, despite the fact that the Great Lakes have a large percentage of the world’s lake-water, the annual flow from each of 3 Canadian rivers that drain north is greater than the flow from the Great Lakes – St Lawrence. So, we really don’t have more than our share, and we have no water to waste .

Regardless of where you live, water runs downhill, in watersheds. In North America, our watersheds are framed by the highest ridges of land, collectively called the 6 Continental Divides.

including a sliver of the drainage area flowing to Canada has portions of 5 of the 7 watersheds formed by the 6 Continental Divides, including a sliver of the drainage area flowing to the Gulf of Mexico.

These areas, called Primary Watersheds, consist of the following in Canada: The Pacific - pink The Arctic - orange Hudson Bay - blue The Atlantic – green The Gulf of Mexico – yellow, in the circle

Our 5 Primary Watersheds are further divided into 23 Secondary Watersheds Well-known examples of these include: The Mackenzie; The Fraser; and, The Great Lakes – St Lawrence River Basin.

Within each secondary watershed, such as the Great Lakes - St Lawrence Basin… there are hundreds of tertiary watersheds, including: The French; The Grand; The Credit; The Rouge; and The Kawartha.

Regardless of their size, whether the compact Credit, or the mighty Mackenzie, our social & economic vitality is tied to the health of our watersheds.

Wherever you live, work, or play, get to know: Your watershed; Where your drinking-water comes from; and How we can protect our precious aquatic resources.

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