Managing Water & Watersheds

MANAGING WATER & WATERSHEDS

BY Heidi Leskovitz and Dan Hager

Water 97.5% of all water

on Earth is salt water (2.5% fresh water)

Nearly 70% of that fresh water is frozen in glaciers and icecaps

Less than 1% is accessible for direct human uses

What is a Watershed?

A watershed is an area of land that catches any form of precipitation and drains or seeps into a lake, river, stream, and so on.

Also known as a drainage basin.

YouTube Clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofTdglXriug&feature=related

Types of Watershe

ds•Lakes•Rivers•Streams•Reservoirs•Wetlands•All forms of ground water•Aquifers

Human Uses/Benefits

Drinking water Household Uses

showers, baths, laundry, etc. Recreational Activities

Swimming, water skiing, fishing, etc. Irrigation Industrial Activities

How do you use your watershed?

The Human Impact Pollution

Point sourceNon Point source

Water flow reduction

Overcrowding Contamination

InvasionDistribution

1. What types of watersheds are present in your community?

2. What are some known or perceived impairments or problems with your watershed?

3. What can you do to help better manage the watersheds in your community?

4. What are the future or potential threats of these watersheds?

Issues Affecting Watersheds

Distribution Invasive speciesHazardous wastePollution

Activities done in and around watersheds that affect its well-being in some way

Lack of knowledge in the area of watersheds

The Management of Watersheds

Programs can be developed to evaluate the conditions of a watershed

Implement projects and plans to improve or maintain the health of the watershed

Monitor all activities within a watershed for precautionary measures

Examples- Massachusetts Wetland Protection Act, Boating and fishing regulations

How to get involved with your Watershed

Reduce hazardous materials Manage the sources we utilize Conserve water Start or join a lake group Look into available funds or grants to

benefit your watershed

What can you do to get involved?

Sources Ecological Literacy Earth and Mind http://

www.mass.gov/dcr/waterSupply/lakepond/downloads/LakeBook.pdf

http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/freshwater_supply/freshwater.html

http://www.conservationinformation.com/?action=learningcenter_kyw_whatisawatershed

http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/tribal/tribalworkshop/pdf/handout1.pdf

http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/watersheds.htm