Watersheds and Tributaries

Watersheds

• A watershed is an area of land whose streams and rivers all drain into a single larger body of water, such as a lake or ocean.
• Every watershed or land mass looks different.

Tributaries

• Tributaries are paths that water takes when it flows over the land, created by landforms in the watershed.
• Hills and mountains create valleys, allowing rivers and rain to run down and flow through.
• Tributaries control the direction of water flow and its turbulence.

Wetlands

• Wetlands are a complex natural filtration system.
• Water moves slowly through wetlands, and dirt and impurities sink to the bottom.
• Vegetation in wetlands, such as trees and plants, helps to control flooding by absorbing water and preventing overflow.

Importance of Watersheds

• The way we treat the land affects the water quality.
• Actions taken by people have a direct impact on the watershed, affecting water quality.
• Pollutants, such as gasoline, can mix with groundwater if spilled on the land.

Community Connection

• Our community is part of a watershed, and we depend on water for our well-being.
• We are connected to the water, and our actions affect the watershed and water quality.

Large Water Bodies

• Large water bodies, such as lakes and oceans, determine the name of your watershed.