▪ More of What Is a Watershed

▪ Why do we delineate our

watershed?
▪ Obtaining Topographic Maps
Online
▪ Reading A Topographic Map
▪ How to Delineate a watershed

Michele Drostin
UNC Institute for the Environment
July 22, 2014
 WHAT IS A WATERSHED?
1. The area of land that drains to
a common outlet, such as a
lake, river or stream segment.

2. Watershed boundaries are

based on topography –highest
points are ridges and lowest
are valleys and streams.

3. Delineating a watershed
provides a bounded area in
which natural processes occur
AND that people can see and
communicate about.
All Land is part of a watershed
Watersheds are “nested”
MAPPING YOUR WATERSHED
What
• Delineate your watershed and map the land uses and
potential and actual pollution sources. Learn the geography
and history of your water body and its watershed.
Why
• The health of your stream, river, lake or estuary is directly
impacted by land uses and activities in the watershed.
• You cannot study water without knowing about the land
from which the water drains!
When
• Every year the land uses in your watershed will change. This
will have a direct impact on your water body of interest.
POLLUTION SOURCES
• Erosion/Sediment
• Fertilizers, pesticides
• Animal wastes
• Illicit spills and illegal dumping
• Leaking septic systems
• Runoff from roads, parking
lots and roofs