1. River Systems

2. River Systems
A river system consists of a river and all of its tributaries

3. Headwaters
The water from which a river rises.
The source of the river

4. River Basin
A river basin is the portion of land drained by a river and its tributaries. It encompasses all of the land surface dissected and drained by many streams and creeks that flow downhill into one another, and eventually into one river.

5. River Basin
In North Carolina there are 17 River Basins Cape Fear is the largest and Savannah the smallest. Cabarrus County is in Yadkin Pee-Dee
North Carolinas 17 River Basins
Hiwassee
Savannah
Little Tennessee
French Broad
Watauga
Broad
New
Catawba
Yadkin-PeeDee
Roanoke
Lumber
Cape Fear
Neuse
White Oak
Tar-Pamlico
Chowan
Pasquotank

6. River Basin
The topography of each basin determines the area that it drains, and whether the water from creeks, rivers, springs, and aquifers flows into the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico.
Everyone Lives in a River Basin

7. Watershed
Are smaller land areas and located within a river basin that include; creeks, streams, lakes, reservoirs, groundwater, aquifers, springs and sections of a river.
We all live in a watershed. Watersheds are the places we call home, where we work and where we play. Everyone relies on water and other natural resources to exist. What you and others do on the land impacts the quality and quantity of water and our other natural resources.

8. Watershed
Healthy watersheds generally supply people in the surrounding area with drinking water and one sign of a healthy watershed is if it supports a diverse ecological environment.

9. What is the difference between a river basin and a watershed?
Both river basins and watersheds are areas of land that drain to a particular water body, such as a lake, stream, river or estuary. In a river basin, all the water drains to a large river.
The term watershed is used to describe a smaller area of land that drains to a smaller stream, lake or wetland. There are many smaller watersheds within a river basin.

11. Divide
Area of higher land that separates watersheds

12. Tributary
A stream that flows into a lake or into a larger stream.

13. Channel
The path that a stream follows

15. Stages of a River

16. Stages of River

20. River Delta
Is a landform that forms at the mouth of a river, where the river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, or reservoir. Deltas form from deposition of sediment carried by a river as the flow leaves its mouth.

21. River Delta
Important to both human activities and fish and other wildlife because they are normally home to very fertile soil as well as a large amount of vegetation.
Examples
Nile River
Mississippi River

22. How a River Delta Form
As rivers flow toward their outlets from higher elevations they deposit particles of mud, silt, sand and gravel at their mouths because the flow of water slows as the river joins the larger body of water.
Over time these particles (called sediment) build up at the mouth and can extend into the ocean or lake.
As these areas continue to grow the water becomes more and more shallow and eventually landforms begin to rise above the surface of the water.
Most deltas are only elevated to just above sea level though.

24. Alluvial Fan
A fan-shaped alluvial deposit formed by sediment being deposited at a stream where its velocity is abruptly decreased, as at the mouth of a ravine or at the foot of a mountain.

25. Alluvial Fan
The rushing water carries alluvium(sediment) to a flat plain, where the stream leaves its channel to spread out. Alluvium is deposited as the stream fans out, creating the familiar triangle-shaped feature. 

26. Alluvial Fan
Creating a settlement on an alluvial fan can be dangerous. Alluvial fans are prone to flooding. Rushing water, mud, and debris can threaten communities many kilometers away.

28. Floodplain
A flood plain is an area of land that is prone to flooding. People realize it is prone to flooding because it has flooded in the past due to a river or stream overflowing its banks.
Flood plains can be very small or very large.
Houses that are built in small flood plains often require more insurance coverage because damage due to flooding is more likely to occur there than in higher areas

29. Floodplains Flood plains usually are very fertile agricultural areas.
Floods carry sediment rich in nutrients. They spread that sediment to a wide area.
Flood plains are flat and have relatively few rocks or other large obstacles that may prevent farming.
The flood plains of the Nile River have been Egypt's center of agriculture for thousands of years.

30. Floodplains
Floods are usually seasonal and can be predicted months ahead of time.
The ability to develop agriculture, the transportation allowed by rivers, and the normally stable flood season make flood plains ideal locations to develop urban areas.

33. Factors that affect watersheds
Factors that affect the watersheds
Climate
Soil Characteristics
Human Activities
Topography of the land

34. Climate Things that raise the water table: Greater precipitation
Ice melt in the spring and summer
High humidity
All of the above prevents water from evaporating, which can raise the water table.
Things that lower the water table
Drought
Hot, dry weather that promotes evaporation

35. Soil Soils that help water infiltrate, raising the water table
Sandy soils allow water to pass through
Loose soils in dense, forested areas.
Soils that are relatively impermeable, not allowing water into the water table
Soils with a high clay content
Compacted soils with small pores with little vegetation
Rocky areas with little soil

36. Human Activity
Human activities have complex effects, though most end up lowering the water table
Clear cutting forests
Farming
Pumping
Irrigation
Construction

37. Land topography
Depending on the terrain of the land, water will either have an easier or harder time infiltrating into the ground
Sloped land decreases permeability
Example: Mountains
Flat lands increase permeability

38. Watershed Drainage Areas
Watersheds can cover HUGE areas
The Mississippi River watershed drains 41% of the continental United States
31 states and 2 provinces!

39. Runoff
Run-off: Water on the watershed that doesn’t infiltrate into the ground
Will eventually join up with a stream, river, or ocean
Does not contribute to the water table

40. Problems with Runoff
Runoff can pick up nutrients, sediment, and pollutants
Runoff contaminated with fertilizer is a huge cause of the Gulf of Mexico dead-zone
The water is so polluted, nothing can live there

41. Pollution
Watersheds naturally clean themselves as water can be filtered as it flows in the system.
However, we sometimes pollute these watersheds through industrial or municipal waste discharging into the watershed (point source pollution).
This overloads the systems and pollution increases.
Even non point source pollution (many contributors to pollution) can accumulate and cause as much damage.
Our watersheds reflect the health of our environment. Water that migrates through the different levels of the watershed nourishes biological life.

42. Pollution
The flow of pollutant through a watershed depend on where they enter
For example if the enter toward the end then very few people will be effected
However, if it enters at the headwaters then everyone along the watershed could be effected.

43. Final notes
If too much water becomes runoff, or if people use the water table faster than it has time to replenish, the level of the water table will fall
Wells run dry
Less water available for use
Example: Lake Mead in Las Vegas!

44. River System
You will need to draw and label and color the river system. You will add a written definition in your own words beside each label.
Headwaters River Basin Ocean
Watershed Channel or
Tributary Divide Gulf of Mexico
Flood Plain River Mouth
You need to choose one of NC river basins and complete your drawing using it as an example.
You will need to incorporated 10 feature specific about your river basin in your drawing
You will need explain in detail 1 environmental issue of your river basin
Your work must be neat and organized