1. Freshwater Systems
less than 1% of the water on Earth is available for us as freshwater
freshwater exists as
surface water
groundwater

2. Surface Water lakes and ponds → standing water
in a pond sunlight reaches the bottom
in a lake sunlight does not reach the bottom
wetlands → areas that are saturated with water
rivers and streams → flowing water
speed, temperature, clarity varies
more dissolved oxygen than in standing water

3. Lakes near shore, lots of plants
open water, affected by wind and currents
near surfa ce, lots of
light & life
Winds in spring and fall help water circulation and transport of oxygen throughout the lake
Summer winds also help transport heat and cold – bottom of the lake is often warmer… denser water sinks
Even in winter when the surface freezes the water at depth remains about 4 degrees C
PROFUNDAL ZONE
deep & dark, little life
bottom-dwelling life that eats mainly waste from above

4. Lake Succession
sediments slowly fill in lake… and vegetation grows in from the sides

5. Rivers
rivers are powerful forces… because they move they erode the land they flow over
rivers can move vertically (cutting down) and horizontally (cutting sideways)
rivers transport a lot of sediment with the water

6. sometimes river channels get cutoff leaving an OXBOW LAKE
old channels will eventually fill in like a lake
rivers also dump tons of sediments into lakes and oceans
sediments dropping out of suspension form deltas

7. Groundwater
most precipitation that falls on the Earth becomes groundwater
groundwater sits just above bedrock
the layer of saturated soil is called the WATER TABLE
the water table is closer to the surface in wet years… and deeper from the surface in drier years
it is similar to a surface river system… except underground
25% of Albertans get their water from groundwater… mainly for agriculture
when a well is drilled pressure forces groundwater to the surface in the well
when groundwater gets heated up it often erupts to the surface as a GEYSER

8. Run-off and Erosion factors affecting run-off
amount of precipitation & form (rain vs snow)
time it takes to fall/how fast it melts
slope of the land
type of soil
vegetation cover
the movement of sediments from one place to another is called EROSION
after sediments are transported they are deposited … this is called DEPOSITION

9. How can we reduce erosion?

10. Watersheds the area of land that drains into a body of water
upstream areas or start of watershed is called HEADWATERS
downstream areas or end of watershed is called OUTFLOW

11. Watershed Management slow down water flow keep vegetation on surface
protect river banks
vegetation
rip rap
direct water

12. Watershed Management
control what goes into our waterways