Applicability Reading – The Importance of Watersheds

Instructions: Read the following information article and answer the associated questions found
below in the Applicability Reading section of your passport.
Watersheds are areas of land that drain precipitation into
a common body of water. They are an important part of
the water cycle and crucial for a healthy ecosystem. Here,
we will discuss why watersheds are important, what
threats exist to watersheds, how those threats are being
addressed, and how you can help protect your own
watershed.

Why Watersheds Are Important

All of the land on Earth is part of at
A watershed is all the land that drains into the same water
body.
least one watershed. This means that
all life lives in a watershed. They are habitats for plants and animals. They are
where we build our homes, schools, and businesses. A healthy watershed
equals a healthy ecosystem for all inhabitants from grasses to humans.
Watersheds affect the quality of the water bodies they supply. If the land of a
watershed is dirty or otherwise polluted, the water body it drains into will also
be dirty or polluted. As water travels across the land or infiltrates into the
groundwater, it picks up dirt and other particles and carries them to its
destination. Vegetation and soil naturally filter out some of these particles Watersheds are wildlife
before water reaches a water body. habitat.
Vegetation serves additionally to stabilize the soil layer,
preventing it from loosening and destroying habitat or
releasing excessive dirt into the water. Similarly, tree roots
stabilize stream banks in much the same way, preventing
excess erosion and muddy streams. The layer of dead
leaves on a forest floor adds even more stabilization,
Vegetation filters pollutants and tree roots stabilize stream keeping erosion under control.
banks.
Much like the land of a watershed, the bodies of water they drain into are wildlife habitat.
Furthermore, humans use bodies of water extensively. Much of our water supply, which we drink
or use for cooking, cleaning, and agriculture, comes from groundwater. Rivers, lakes, and oceans
are both sources of food and recreation destinations. Because water bodies are connected, the
water quality in one watershed can affect bodies of water downstream in other watersheds.

Threats to Watersheds
Multiple forms of pollution threaten watersheds, from garbage to toxic waste dumping to
pesticides and herbicides to excessive nutrients from agricultural fertilizers. Pollution poses a
danger to wildlife and people. Contamination can be taken up by plants as they draw water from
the ground and then passed to herbivores that feed on the plant and predators that feed on the
herbivores. Similarly, contaminated water is dangerous to animals that drink it and those that live
in it, and pollutants can make their way up the food chain. Such bioaccumulation can eventually
lead to humans. Fertilizers used to increase crop yield are carried as infiltration into the ground
and as runoff flowing overland to bodies of water. An excess of
nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, can lead to rapid
algal growth, which can clog waterways and kill other wildlife.
When these algae die, they drift to the bottom where they are
decomposed by bacteria. These bacteria consume high amounts
of oxygen from the surrounding water, more than can be
replenished. This leads to hypoxia or low-oxygen conditions.
Hypoxia can in turn lead to die-offs of aquatic animals that require
oxygen to live. In extreme cases, anoxia, or a complete lack of
oxygen, can occur.
Development poses a multi-pronged threat to watersheds, from
the expansion in impervious surfaces to the increased pollution
collected by runoff. Impervious surfaces are those that water
can’t soak into. Increases in impervious surface mean decreases in
infiltration, increases in runoff, and the potential for flooding and
erosion. Decreased infiltration means less groundwater and thus
lowered ability to resupply streams in dry conditions. The more
Water cannot infiltrate through impervious impervious surfaces replace natural vegetation, the more
surfaces.
pollution will find its way into water bodies. Instead of being
filtered out by grasses and root systems, any contaminants on an impervious surface will wash
away with the rain, flowing overland into nearby bodies of water. In addition, greater
development leads to greater pollution due to both the materials used and the waste generated
by the humans who live in and use the buildings and roads that are developed. As runoff flows
through a town, it picks up contaminants and carries them through the watershed, where they
may infiltrate in undeveloped areas or continue flowing until reaching a body of water.
Much like development, clearcutting or deforestation can
drastically alter a watershed, reducing its ability to maintain a
healthy ecosystem. The removal of trees decreases soil
stabilization and increases the potential for erosion, possibly
leading to muddy streams and landslides. Furthermore, the
expansion of open land and reduction of trees that once took up
water increases water runoff and flooding potential. Clearcutting
further reduces wildlife habitat. If the deforested land is then
used for livestock, animal waste joins the runoff heading for the Clearcutting can lead to increased runoff and
flooding potential.
waterway, which can lead to contamination by bacteria such as
Escherichia coli.

How Watersheds Are Protected

In the United States, watersheds are protected by federal law. The Watershed Protection and
Flood Prevention Act was introduced in 1954 with modifications for conservation and financial aid
added in 1972 and 1996, respectively. The Clean Water Act, originally enacted in 1948 and
expanded in 1972, aims to limit pollution in the nation’s waters. The Environmental Protection
Agency sets water quality standards and manages a watershed protection program (the Healthy
Watersheds Program) that fosters cooperation between government officials and local
communities to maintain watershed health. Such programs include water quality monitoring,
clean-up efforts, and restoration projects (e.g., planting trees or other native vegetation). The
World Bank and United Nations work to protect watersheds globally.
In addition, organizations such as the Nature Conservancy work to preserve watersheds through
endangered species protections, ecosystem restoration, and protected area management. For
example, buffer strips, or bands of vegetation along waterways, can prevent some contaminants
from entering the water supply.

How You Can Help

There are several ways individuals can help protect their watersheds. From conserving water to
limiting your own pollution contributions, you can play a role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem
for yourself and others.
Water conservation in the home can lessen the potential for
groundwater shortage. Take shorter showers, fix leaky pipes and
faucets, and turn off the taps when you’re not using them.
To decrease pollution in waterways, be sure to properly dispose
of toxic waste instead of pouring it down the drain. Similarly, used
motor oil or antifreeze shouldn’t be poured into the street or
down a storm drain, but taken to a disposal facility. Recycle food
Turn off taps when you're not using them.
waste in a compost pile for your garden. Compost improves the
fertility of soil, decreasing the need for fertilizers. Planting vegetation that doesn’t require much
water, fertilizer, or pesticides reduces both water usage and pollution runoff. Organic and slow-
release fertilizers are better than non-organic or quick-release. Slow-release fertilizers tend not to
dissolve readily in water, meaning fewer nutrients are carried into the water system. If pesticides
are required, use as little as possible and try not to apply them near storm drains, wells, pavement,
or bodies of water.
Other ways to reduce pollution include the use of more pervious
materials for decks, patios, and walkways. Material such as wood,
brick, and gravel allow more water infiltration than asphalt or
other paving materials. If you have pets, be sure to pick up after
them to reduce bacterial influx to waterways. Finally, choosing
alternatives to driving such as walking or biking decreases air
pollution, which in turn decreases water pollution. Biking instead of driving reduces pollution.

Watersheds are an extremely important aspect of the ecosystem and their health must be
maintained for wildlife and people.

Applicability Reading – The Importance of Watersheds

1. What are watersheds?
2. List three ways watersheds are important.
3. List and briefly explain three threats to watersheds.
4. List three ways watersheds are protected.
5. List three ways you can help maintain watershed health.
References
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