1. WATERSHEDS (Drainage Basins)

2. WHAT IS A WATERSHED? A watershed, or drainage basin includes all of the land that drains into a river or bay either directly or through its tributaries. Watershed drainage includes surface runoff, streams, lakes, aquifers, and groundwater flow.

3. WATERSHED CONT… The high land that separates one river valley or watershed from the next, is called the divide.

4. No matter where you live, you live in a watershed. They supply our drinking water, water for agriculture and manufacturing, offer opportunities for recreation and provide habitat to numerous plants and animals. According to the EPA, more than $450 billion in foods, fiber, manufactured goods and tourism depend on clean, healthy watersheds. WHY DO YOU CARE?

5. Various forms of pollution, including runoff and erosion, can interfere with the health of the watershed. Understanding watersheds and how they work will help you to understand how things like pollutants can affect large and small areas.

6. HOW WILL YOU MARK WATERSHEDS? To define your own watersheds, you first have to mark the divide – the high ground. Rivers and their tributaries come together so that they make an arrow pointing downstream

7. HOW WILL YOU MARK WATERSHEDS? Next you outline the divide/ridges that you have marked You have just outlined the watershed

8. HOW WILL YOU MARK WATERSHEDS? Shade in the areas and you now have four marked watersheds