1. River Basins and Watersheds

2. What is a River Basin?
A River Basin is the portion of land that drains into a river.
Water flows downhill over the land, into streams, creeks and eventually into one river.
The water eventually
reaches an estuary, and
then the ocean.

3. Shape of River Basin
The topography of each basin determines the area that it drains, and whether the water (from creeks, rivers, springs, and aquifers) flows into the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico.

4. Everyone lives in a River Basin!
Even if we don't live near the water, we live on land that drains to a river, lake or estuary.
Our actions on that land affect water quality and quantity far downstream.
There are 17 river basins in North Carolina, draining 52,337 square miles of
surface waters.

5. Which River Basin do we live in?
Neuse River Basin

6. What is a Watershed?
Both river basins and watersheds are areas of land that drain to a lake, stream, river or estuary.
The term watershed is used to describe a smaller area of land.
A River Basin is made up of many smaller Watersheds.

7. Things to Remember… River Basins are “Big” Watersheds are “Shmall”
Water flows through a river basin and watershed from the highest point to the lowest point.