1. Watershed 1 Eric Peterson

2. Agenda What is a watershed? What is a watershed? How does water move through a watershed? How does water move through a watershed? What is the connection between watersheds and water quality? What is the connection between watersheds and water quality? How do we protect our watershed? How do we protect our watershed?

3. What is a watershed? Geographic area within which all water drains to a common point.

4. Watersheds are defined by structure and by function

5. Elements of watershed structure Total precipitation, precipitation patterns Size, latitude, longitude, elevation, aspect Climate Geography Human uses Geology Vegetation / Animals Formation - volcanic, sedimentary, basic rock types, soil types and depth, erosion potential Type, native/non native, riparian areas, uplands, patterns of use and migration Development and land use patterns

6. Functions of watersheds Water Water Collect Transport Process and store Sediments, soils Sediments, soils Dissolved minerals, metals, nutrients Dissolved minerals, metals, nutrients Biological material Biological material

7. What watershed are we in now? Bear River Watershed Lower Bear River Watershed

8. Watersheds are nestedWatersheds are nested The scale you work at depends on the question you want to answerThe scale you work at depends on the question you want to answer

9. What is causing “dead zones” in the Gulf of Mexico?

10. What is causing the scum in my back yard pond?

11. Watersheds are the logical geographic unit for planning:

12. What is the connection between watersheds and water quality? Everything that happens in a watershed can affect the quality of the water downstream ….“we all live downstream”

13. Water quality is regulated through Clean Water Act (1972) Waters of U.S. must be “fishable and swimmable” by 1983 Waters of U.S. must be “fishable and swimmable” by 1983 Eliminate all pollution discharge to waters by 1985 Eliminate all pollution discharge to waters by 1985 Cuyahoga River, June 22 1969 http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/cuyahoga_river_fire_40_years_a.html

14. What is Clean Water? Safe to drink ? Distilled? Crystal clear?

15. There is no single definition of clean water. The Clean Water Act defines clean water according to how we use it.

16. How do we use water? Beneficial uses: Drinking water AgricultureRecreation Fisheries and other aquatic life AestheticsIndustry

17. Monitoring Elements to Consider: Physical Physical Biological Biological Chemical Chemical

18. Protecting Beneficial Uses Through the Implementation of a TMDL

19. Resources and Links  http://www.waterquality.utah.gov/TMDL/in dex.htm http://www.waterquality.utah.gov/TMDL/in dex.htm http://www.waterquality.utah.gov/TMDL/in dex.htm  extension.usu.edu/waterquality extension.usu.edu/waterquality  Utah Water Watch – http://extension.usu.edu/waterquality/htm/c itizen_monitoring/uww http://extension.usu.edu/waterquality/htm/c itizen_monitoring/uww http://extension.usu.edu/waterquality/htm/c itizen_monitoring/uww  bearriverinfo.org bearriverinfo.org  http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/inde x.cfm http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/inde x.cfm http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/inde x.cfm

20. For more information, contact USU Water Quality Extension at (435)797-2580 or visit http://extension.usu.edu/waterquality/  Utah Water Watch  SSS Workshops  Advance Macro Workshops  CMAP