What is a Watershed?

A watershed is an area of land that catches rainwater and other precipitation, which then flows downhill into rivers and lakes. The watershed is the land that drains into a particular river, lake, or estuary and is typically divided into two main components: the upper and the lower. At the upper end, the land that catches the water is known as the “catchment” or “catchment area” and the lower is the outlet. Many cities and towns are built in watersheds, and even though you may live miles away from a waterway, whatever you do in your catchment area will affect water quality downstream.

The Importance of Watersheds

Watersheds provide us with many essential services and supports. They are the source of drinking water for many communities and are home to a variety of fish, wildlife, and vegetation. They also absorb stormwater and pollutants, help prevent floods and droughts, and provide recreation opportunities. Watersheds play an important role in the global water cycle by providing natural storage and recharging of water that feeds into aquatic ecosystems, wetlands, riparian areas, and even oceans.

Protecting and Managing the Watershed

In order to protect the valuable resources of the watershed, it’s important to understand how everyday activities can affect the water quality downstream. These activities can include parking surfaces, road runoff, over-fertilization, manufacturing, and fuel spills. To reduce these impacts, activities such as science-based management, integrated land use planning, stewardship, and sustainable development should be used to protect our watersheds. Additionally, we can work to reduce and restore wetlands, improve urban drainage, and promote conservation activities like rainwater harvesting.

In short, a watershed is an area of land that receives and drains rainwater into rivers and lakes. Protecting the quality of waters in these areas is essential for many aspects of our lives and requires collaboration and sound management practices. We can all play a role in preserving the precious resources of the watershed, and supporting organizations and initiatives that help promote healthy watersheds is a great way to start.