What is watershed?

Watershed is a geo-hydrological unit having a common drainage point. A watershed can be as small as the area of land that drains into a pond, or as large as the area of the land that drains into a major river system. Watersheds represent the most logical basis for managing water resources, because they are defined by the natural hydrology.

Why are watersheds important?

To minimize Land degradation, soil erroison, waterscarcity and deforestation characterize rain fade areas.
To reduce ecological disasters that is drought and flood.
Humans use the rivers or streams contained in a watershed for drinking water, irrigation, transportation, industry and recreation.
Watershed provide habitat for plants and animals.
Watershed protects rivers drain into lakes and into the ocean.

Name the ways that humans impact watersheds.

The Possible ways that humans impact watersheds are:

• Farm waste
• Fertilizers
• Dams
• Pollution-chemicals, garbage, etc.
• Industrial pollution
• Levees
• Transportation (gas, oil, boat motors)
• Lawn products-leaves, fertilizers, grass, clippings

How much of the world’s drinking water is provided by rivers?

Rivers are providing 90% of the drinking water .

List few things that you could do to protect or improve the health of a watershed.

The health of a watershed can be protected or improved with the possibility to:

• Pick up garbage.
• Encourage people to not use phosphorus in their lawn fertilizers.
• Plant native plants along the edge of a river or stream to decrease erosion.
• Mark storm drains as a reminder to not dump chemicals.
• Monitor river quality

How does the quality of your watershed impact the health of the ocean?

Eventually all streams empty into larger rivers that find their way to the oceans. If pollution is a problem in your local watershed it will eventually impact the ocean.

What is the nation’s worst water quality problem?

Nonpoint source pollution is the largest source of water quality problems.

What is non-point source pollution?

Non-point source pollution is the introduction of impurities into a surface-water body or an aquifer, usually through a non-direct route and from sources that are "diffuse" in nature.

Examples of NPS pollution include: automobile emissions, road dirt and grit, and runoff from parking lots; runoff and leach ate from agricultural fields, barnyards, feedlots, lawns, home gardens and failing on-site wastewater treatment systems; and runoff and leach ate from construction, mining and logging operations.

Most NPS pollutants fall into six major categories: sediment, nutrients, acid and salts, heavy metals, toxic chemicals and pathogens,

What is an aquifer?

An aquifer is a subsurface layer of rock or other material that is permeable enough to allow the storage and flow of significant quantities of groundwater.

What is watershed protection?

There are numerous examples of water sources that have had to be abandoned or required extensive treatment to be safe for human consumption. It is far more economical, effective, and environmentally responsible to protect a watershed rather than allowing contamination to occur and then trying to clean it up. By using the watershed approach, all of the stressors on water quality can be identified, prioritized, and addressed.

What is stormwater?

Stormwater is the same thing as rainwater. That water flows across the land and either soaks into the ground or runs into storm drains and waterways.

Where does stormwater go after it drains into a storm drain?

Stormwater entering storm drains travels through underground pipes directly into a creek or lake often carrying pollutants with it. Many people mistakenly believe that storm drains direct stormwater into the sewer system. Since stormwater is untreated and unfiltered, pollution can quickly impact our creeks.

What are some common types of stormwater pollution?

Litter, fertilizers and pesticides used when gardening; vehicle fluids left on the driveway and street; hazardous chemicals dumped into storm drains; pet waste left on the ground