Water Sheds

What Is A Watershed? The area of land that catches rain and snow and drains or seeps into a marsh, stream, river, lake or groundwater.

You're sitting in a watershed now Homes, farms, ranches, forests, small towns, big cities and more can make up watersheds. Some cross county, state, and even international borders. Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. Some are millions of square miles, others are just a few acres. Just as creeks drain into rivers, watersheds are nearly always part of a larger watershed. 

Who and What are Affected by Watersheds? Watersheds are the natural habitat of most people of the world and therefore the ecosystem complex is mostly impacted by human exploitation, ignorance and carelessness. In day-to-day activities, people can cause some of these pollutants to enter storm drains and creeks without knowing that they are causing harm to the environment.

More on Watersheds Watersheds include not just surface waters, but aquifers, ground waters and the hyporheic zone. What is a hyporheic zone?

Hyporheic zone The hyporheic zone is defined as a subsurface volume of sediment and porous space adjacent to a stream through which stream water readily exchanges. Although the hyporheic zone physically is defined by the hydrology of a stream and its surrounding environment, it has a strong influence on stream ecology, stream biogeochemical cycling, and stream-water temperatures. Thus, the hyporheic zone is an important component of stream ecosystems.

Head Waters Headwaters are composed of many small, branching streams that form the headwaters, representing most of the total stream length within a watershed. Leaves, fruit, branches and whole trees of stream side forests fall into these headwater streams. Fungi and bacteria grow on the surface of this detritus and begin to break down the complex cellulose molecules of dead plant material.

Our Watershed

What is a Watershed Again? A watershed is simply the land that water flows across or through on its way to a common stream, river, or lake. A watershed can be very large (draining thousands of square miles to a major river or lake or the ocean), or very small, such as a 20-acre watershed that drains into a pond. A small watershed that is inside of a larger watershed is sometimes referred to as a subwatershed.

Watershed Area

Watershed Management There are three management zones when discussing watershed management--the water body, riparian, and upland zones. Water body Channel Upland Zone Riparian Zone

Waterbody A term that includes any stream, river, pond, lake, estuary or ocean.

Riparian Zone The non-cultivated, vegetated area between the water body edge and the upland area. Riparian means "of the river" and the riparian zone is intimately connected with the waterbody. This zone often includes, but is not limited to, wetlands and bordering waterbodies.

Upland Zone The upland area is not an exact term, but usually is defined as the land above a high water mark (for example: 100 year flood plain).

Natural Processes at Work in a Watershed Importantly, no matter where we live or work, we are in a watershed full of unique, inter-related natural processes. These natural forces help shape the watershed landscape, its water quality, and--therefore--our lives. In mountain upland areas, there are unique blends of climate, geology, hydrology, soils, and vegetation shaping the landscape, with waterways often cutting down steep slopes.

Look closely at the next picture and the many things that influence water quality: chemicals from the minerals, weathering of rocks, from the decay of vegetation, and from groundwater. Notice how the vegetation shades the water, influencing temperature and what can live in the water.

In an upland plains area, you find grassy plains, hardy vegetation, and slower moving, meandering streams and rivers. In the coastal area, where oceans meet land, there are again different blends of features and processes shaping the environment. In lowland areas between upland and coastal waters, where tidal wetlands are prevalent, processes serve entirely different functions.

Pollution Pollutants enter our creeks and rivers through storm drains that collect and convey runoff from most streets in our communities. Pollution in our watersheds degrades the environment, harms wildlife habitat, impacts the economy and jobs, causes higher taxes and fees, and ultimately affects the health of humans as well.

Pollution Continued Doesn’t polluted water get treated through the sewer system? Wastewater treatment plant processes cannot remove all solvents, metals, or organic chemicals from wastewater.

How Do We Prevent Pollution Of Watersheds? Find some alternative ways to control pests inside and outside your home. Clean up trash outside your home Recycle the waste oil at the curb or take it to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event. (oil change in your car)

Control erosion around your property to prevent dirt and debris being carried into the storm drain. Rinse latex paint brushes, pans and rollers in the sink. Pick up your pet droppings and dispose of them in the trash or in your toilet. Use kitty litter or other absorbent materials  (not your hose) to clean up spills and leaks on paved surfaces.

How do wetlands mangrove forests and salt marshes protect our estuaries?