WATERSHEDS 6 th Grade Science LDC

Watersheds: 1.What is a watershed?What is a watershed? 2.Movement of Water Through WatershedMovement of Water Through Watershed 3.Human ImpactHuman Impact

What is a watershed? A watershed is an area of land from which all runoff drains, or 'sheds' to the same river, lake, or other body of water.

What is a watershed: Everyone lives in a watershed Your own backyard is part of a watershed. You don’t need to visit the Delaware River to see a watershed. You’re already in one!

The System of Watersheds Each is part of a larger picture or mosaic. Each is part of a larger picture or mosaic. Watersheds are like pieces of a puzzle:

A Nested System Watersheds are also like Russian Matryoshka or nesting dolls. Larger watersheds contain smaller watersheds, which contain even smaller ones.

Watershed Addresses Just as our homes have street addresses, our neighborhood watersheds have environmental addresses.

PA’s Watersheds Malvern

Movement of Water through Watershed Evaporation Ocean Storage Groundwater flow to oceans Aquifers Infiltration into the ground Springs Streams and rivers Condensation Precipitation Lakes Snowmelt All of our freshwater starts as precipitation, which moves continually through the water cycle (also known as the hydrologic cycle)

Human Impact: How do we use water? 1.Drinking Water-Water must be treated to ensure water quality 2.Water use in the home 3.Agriculture / Irrigation 4.Business / Industry

Human Impact on Watersheds: Some Examples… 1.Dumping of garbage by cities/ waste dumped by factories 2. Sewage/Human Waste 3. Run off in cities and from farms 4. Acid Rain – Smoke and exhaust combining with precipitation 5. Agricultural chemicals may lead to more algae (eutrophication)

Human Impact: Sources of Pollution Precipitation runoff from farms, lawns, and paved surfaces is the leading source of water pollution in America today.

Human Impact: What’s in the water? Main pollutants: Fertilizers Pesticides Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban areas Sediment Road Salt Bacteria and Nitrogen Air pollutants

Protecting Watersheds: What You Can Do Everyday Simple Ways to Protect Your Watershed Conserve waterConserve water Don’t dump or litterDon’t dump or litter Cleanup watershedCleanup watershed Water and landscape wiselyWater and landscape wisely Be aware of environmental lawsBe aware of environmental laws