Why are watersheds important? Healthy watersheds are vital for a healthy environment and economy. Our watersheds provide water for drinking, irrigation and industry. Many people also enjoy lakes and streams for their beauty and for boating, fishing and swimming. Wildlife also need healthy watersheds for food and shelter.

A watershed can be defined as the area of land that drains to a particular point along a stream. Each stream has its own watershed. Topography is the key element affecting this area of land. The boundary of a watershed is defined by the highest elevations surrounding the stream. A drop of water falling outside of the boundary will drain to another watershed.

Pennsylvania is part of 6 major watersheds We are part of the watersheds but these extend out to numerous other states

Ohio and Susquehanna River Basins Ohio river Basin Susquehanna

Where does our watershed go? http://maps.howstuffworks.com/united-states-watersheds-map.htm Can you trace the watershed from start to finish? Use the map of rivers to try to trace the path of our watershed all the way to the Gulf of Mexico The picture in the bottom left corner is a picture of how they sometimes map the boundaries of a watershed

Start here If you have a promethean board have a student come up and map the path of the river nearest to us to the Gulf. If you do not have a board, have the students use the handout of the same map.

What is your natural address? Sewickley creek, Ohio River Basin More specifically, the local watershed includes: all of New Stanton, Youngwood, South Greensburg, Southwest Greensburg,Madison, Arona and Hunker boroughs; all of Sewickley Township; part of Hempfield, Unity, East Huntingdon, North Huntingdon, South Huntingdon, and Mount Pleasant townships; and part of the City of Greensburg. The local web address for the local watershed http://www.sewickleycreek.com/ Ask anyone if they know their natural address

Issues affecting watersheds Pollution Increasing Populations Improper watershed management Money Lack of education Pollution Satellite photo of the Susquehanna (upper left) where it empties into Chesapeake Bay (center) The environmental group American Rivers named the Susquehanna "America's Most Endangered River for 2005" due to the excessive pollution it receives. Most of the pollution in the river is due to excess animal manure, agricultural runoff, urban and suburban stormwater, and raw or inadequately treated sewage. In 2003 the river alone contributed 44% of the nitrogen, 21% of the phosphorus, and 21% of the sediment flowing into the Chesapeake Bay. Pennsylvania may be subject to EPA sanctions if it does not reduce its pollution in the watershed by 2010. [1] It was designated as one of the American Heritage Rivers in 1997. In the past, most water quality problems were traced to the most obvious cause ... point-source pollution. This means the problem can be traced to a specific location such as a pipe or disposal site. Technical and regulatory methods have been used to detect and control these problems. Much progress has been made in preventing further water quality problems from point sources. However, water quality problems from nonpoint-source pollution are more difficult to isolate and control. These sources are often hard to identify and difficult to measure. This type of pollution results from a wide variety of activities over a wide area. Nonpoint-source pollutants are in the water that runs off crop or forest land. Others include failing septic systems, parking lots, construction sites, irrigation systems and drainage systems. It can even result from automobile exhaust getting in the atmosphere and falling back to earth in the rain. The more people there are around and in a watershed the greater the chance of pollution. Think about the idea that if you isolate yourself you have less of a chance to get sick. The more contact with people the greater your chance to contract an illness. The watersheds are typically mismanaged and micromanaged. They do not receive enough funds to maintain and monitor the quality of the water and actually a lot of money is spent in the clean up rather than the prevention of problems These problems all stem from the lack of education for the public. People are not realizing that the water they drink comes from the water shed they live in. They assume someone else is taking care of it. http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/KYW/process/GettingToKnow.html The website above has a ton of additional info on the topics of watersheds.

Wetlands Three main types: Marshes Bogs Swamps Defined by being covered by water at some point in the year Importance Diversity, filtering, reduce flooding Marshes nonwoody plants water the majority of the year Swamps have trees water for most of the year Bogs acidic peat water for a small part of the year

Functions of Wetlands Control Flooding Filtration Wildlife Spawning area Cycling of nutrients Food sources Plants and animals The main thing to point out here is that the plants and bacteria play a vital role of the peat maintenance and absorption of pollutants The Bill Nye video is a total of 8 minutes. If you have it ready on the web, I would suggest the following: Minutes 1:42 to 3:33- this is a demo of the importance of wetlands to reduce flooding Minutes 6:05 to 8:12- this is a demo to show how wetlands retain water and slow the flow of water. Bill Nye You tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJZTjfsefAU&feature=PlayList&p=DDE86B2FEF7AD3F3&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=18

Hydrophytes Hydrophytes are water loving plants that grow in wetlands. They typically can absorb a large amount of water and take in toxins and pollutants and release them as a less toxic substance. Pitcher plant

Major Causes of Wetland Loss & Degradation Biological Alterations Chemical Alterations Physical Destruction or Degradation

Biological Alterations Removal of riparian vegetation next to stream due to residential development.

Biological Alterations Farming up to edge of stream.

Biological Alterations Introduced Weeds pose a threat to those plants that are native to the areas Compete for space, water and nutrients

Chemical Alterations Agricultural runoff carries pesticides, fertilizers and manure 1. Release of pollutants & toxic chemicals 2. Change in nutrient levels

Livestock corral on streams allows manure (nutrients) to enter stream unfiltered by vegetation.

Sediment plume discharging into river and then entering lake.

Physical Destruction Stream channeling to alter waterways for human needs You can see the old stream bed in the center of the picture

C. Physical Destruction or Degradation 1. Filling 2. Draining 3. Dredging & Stream Channelization 4. Peat Mining 5. Flooding & Changes in Sediment Deposition Patterns due to Dam Construction. 6. ATV/Recreational Uses

Physical Destruction Flooding (and flood damage) is much greater when streams are straightened and riparian vegetation has been removed.

Test-taking strategies Carefully read each Question and Answer. Look closely at the visual information Graphs, pictures, tables Use your knowledge to eliminate answer choices. Answer every question. Mark those you wish to review again Use your best handwriting Answer all parts of the open-ended questions

Sample Question 1 Use the diagram below to answer question 2. 2. Which statement describes how this ecosystem is likely to change after many years of succession? A The variety of fish will increase. B The number of plants will increase. C The level of the water will increase. D The elevation of the hill will increase. A After many years of succession, the pond would fi ll in due to deposition, which would reduce habitat availability for any aquatic species, like fi sh. B Key: After many years of succession, the pond would fi ll in due to deposition, which would increase habitat availability for a greater variety of plants. C After many years of succession, the pond would fi ll in due to deposition, and water levels would decrease. D After many years of succession, the elevation of the hill will likely decrease due to erosion.

Sample 2 A small lake has an algae bloom, and the water is very green. Which change is most likely the cause of the algae growth? A an increase in the amount of fertilizer used near the lake B an increase in the amount of fresh water fl owing into the lake C an increase in the number of people fishing in the lake D an increase in the number of boats using the lake A Key: Fertilizer runoff that increased nutrients in the lake is the likely cause. B Increased amounts of fresh water added to the lake would dilute nutrient levels. C Too many people fi shing is not likely to cause an alage bloom. D Boats are not likely to put nutrients into the lake.

Sample 3 Which statement correctly describes a water cycle process? A Evaporation can occur when water gains energy from the Sun and changes into water vapor. B Condensation can occur when liquid water molecules in clouds lose energy and fall to Earth. C Transpiration can occur when atmospheric water vapor gains energy and moves higher in the atmosphere. D Precipitation can occur when atmospheric water vapor loses energy and forms liquid water droplets. A Key: This is a correct description of the process of evaporation. B Condensation occurs when water vapor turns into liquid water molecules. C Transpiration occurs when water evaporates from plants. D Precipitation occurs when water vapor condenses in the air and falls to Earth.

Sample 4 Part One: Circle the environment in which these webbed feet would be most helpful for survival. A. Desert B. Forest C. Lake D. Meadow Part Two: Explain your answer.

Sample 5 Looking at the diagram below, what organism can you remove from a wetland without any effect on the ecosystem? Cannot really remove any of them Plants are needed for food and removal of waste, retention of flood waters etc. Ducks eat the small insects etc Frogs insects Hawks eat the fish and the frogs Insects eat the small aquatic protists, algae etc Snails eat vegetation especially that which is decaying Bacteria break down the dead materials