1. WATERSHEDS AND POLLUTION

2. What is a Watershed? A watershed is simply: an area of land where runoff collects and then is a water supply to a large lake or river. It is also known as a Drainage Basin Watersheds consist of surface water & groundwater. Groundwater: underground water - aquifer reservoirs, water table Surface water: - runoff, streams, rivers, - Lakes reservoirs Groundwater link http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/groundwater/ http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/groundwater

3. Are we in a watershed? http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/state.cfm?statepostal=TX Click the link and find your watershed

4. What is a Watershed? The larger the body of water, the larger the watershed. Mississippi River WatershedColorado River Watershed

5. Divide – A ridge of land that separates one watershed from another. Tributary – A stream or river that flows into a larger body of water. Watershed- an area of land that drains into a stream, river or lake.

6. Russian Dolls and Watersheds? Russian Dolls – each large doll has a smaller doll inside Watersheds – each large watershed is formed by many smaller watersheds. In Texas there are approximately 210 watersheds! What local watershed are we part of ?

7. Who Lives in a Watershed? Everyone! Major US Watersheds Lower West Fork Trinity River

8. How are Watersheds Different? Each watershed has its own unique characteristics Climate – rainfall, temperature, etc. Geology – elevation, slope, soil, underlying rock, etc. Vegetation – grass, trees, desert Land Use by Humans – forests, wetland, agriculture, urban

9. Why Should We Care About Watersheds? Because what we do in a watershed affects our water quality and our lives! It affects our water for drinking, and industrial use It affects flooding and coastal erosion It affects our health It affects the health of ecosystems Healthy ecosystems = Healthy environment = Healthy, happy people

10. Surface and Groundwater Surface water - Water that is found on Earth’s surface. EX: streams, lakes, ponds or oceans. Reservoir – Groundwater – A lake that stores water for human use. Water that is located underground.

11. Aquifer – any underground layer of rock or sediment that holds water.

12. Human Impact Much of what human’s do every day can have an impact on the groundwater in the surrounding areas? Take a moment and discuss with your shoulder partner how you think this might happen. Are the effects positive or negative?

13. Cone of Depression: wells can drain groundwater and lower the water table

14. Groundwater Contamination: wastes and chemicals can seep through the soil into groundwater.

15. Runoff of Fertilizers Runoff of fertilizers used in commercial farming and even for private use can cause algal blooms to appear in otherwise fresh groundwater.

16. Improper Chemical Disposal Most people do not know how to properly dispose of items that are hazardous to the groundwater supply. Things such as oil, batteries, paint, and grease can pollute groundwater if not disposed of correctly.

17. Roadway Runoff What gets left behind on the roads anyway? After a rain storm, all of the grease, oil, rubber, gasoline, and trash has the potential to become part of the runoff that makes its way into the nearby groundwater.

18. Industrial Pollution Industrial Pollution is one of the leading causes of groundwater pollution from illegal dumping, to runoff.

19. Protecting our water supply - Cities must consider 1. type of liner, 2. type of trash and 3. the maximum amount that the landfill can hold when properly planning a landfill that will not pollute ground water!. Open pits no longer acceptable- we now line bottoms. Complex impermeable bottom layers to trap contaminants Daily deposits are covered by layer of dirt. Methane gas and leachate monitoring wells

20. Sanitary Landfill

21. Fracking : there are many people concerned that the natural gas wells in this area can cause water pollution because of the fracturing (fracking) process needed to drill into the Barnett shale. Click here for an article from Discovery: http://news.discovery.com/earth/ groundwater-fouled-by-fracking- contamination-natural-gas- 120509.htm

22. Summary What is a watershed and how does it affect Earth’s water supply? Supplies water to area rivers and lakes that we use in our homes. What is the relationship between groundwater and surface water in the watershed? Both groundwater and surface water are needed to supply the rivers and lakes in a watershed.