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What is a
Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land
that drains to a common location (e.g. a lake or river).
As rainwater and melting snow run downhill, they gather sediment
and other materials and may carry them into our streams, lakes
and groundwater.
From an aerial view, watersheds
have the appearance of a large tree with branches extending
across the landscape. The largest or principle stream of
the watershed is the tree's trunk, while the larger branches are
primary streams, the smaller branches are secondary streams all
feeding into each other as they make their journey through the
watershed.
Play the Watergame!
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We
All Live in a Watershed
We all live
in a watershed. Homes, farms, forests, small
towns, big cities, and more make up a watershed.
Watersheds cross county, state, and even international
borders. In some areas watersheds are called
drainage basins.
Watersheds come in all
shapes and sizes. Some in compass hundreds of
square miles; others just a few acres. Just as a
creek drians into rivers, watersheds are nearly always
part of a larger watershed. Fore example, Ohio
contains 44 principle watersheds, but all of them drain
to either Lake Erie or the Ohio River. |
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Getting
to Know Your Local Watershed
Medina County is spilt
by the Continental Divide which separates the waters that flow
north into Lake Erie (East and West Branches of the Rocky River,
East Branch of the Black River, and Yellow Creek) from those
that work their way south to the Ohio River (Muddy Fork,
Killbuck Creek, Chippewa Creek, River Styx, Wolf Creek, and
Hudson Run).
Find Out More about the Watershed
You Live In! Getting
to Know Your Local Watershed! (This
link provides you with information on watershed
features, management considerations, and planning
opportunities.) GET
INVOLVED! These links provide you with water
related activities within your watershed. Black
River Rocky
River Tuscarawas
(Chippewa & Wolf Crs) Yellow
Creek Surf
Your Watershed (Find out all
types of information about the watershed you live in).
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How
Are You as an Individual Effecting the Health of Our Waters?
Although many people
think of point source pollution (pollution that can be easily
identified through an outlet pipe, such as an industrial plant or
sewage treatment plant) as the primary source of water pollution,
non-point source pollution (NPS) in reality is the larger problem.
NPS comes from sources all over the watershed, and its points of
origin can be very difficult to determine.
As stated above, when
it rains or when snow melts, the water washes away pollutants that
have accumulated on roads, highways, sidewalks, and parking
lots. These pollutants are carried away by water and washed
directly into local streams and rivers through ditches and storm
sewers.
That's right, water
entering storm sewers does not go to a water treatment plant
like the water in the sanitary sewer system. The
water in storm sewers goes directly to a
stream!
So what we do around
our home or at work can and will directly affect the water around
us!
What's Your
Watershed IQ?
15
things you can do to make a difference in your watershed
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Protecting
Your Watershed
Ten
Steps You Can Take to Minimize Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS)
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Water plants and/or grass early in the morning or after sunset
to reduce evaporation.
•
Redirect rooftop runoff onto your lawn or collect in rain
barrels.
•
Apply pesticides and fertilizers only when needed - at the
proper time, in the proper amounts, and according to
instructions.
•
Plant native vegetation.
•
Properly maintain vehicles and recycle used motor oil at a local
garage or the Central Processing Facility.
•
Buy cleaners that are: biodegradable, recyclable, and/or multi
purpose.
•
Inspect your septic tank annually, and have the system cleaned
out every 3 to 5 years.
•
When washing your car, use a bucket instead of a hose,
phosphate-free soap, and direct water runoff to the lawn.
•
Dispose of pet waste property - in the trash, bury, or flush
down the toilet.
•
Join a watershed organization!
NPS
Around Your Home
Green
Home Checklist
NPS
for Businesses
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Drinking
Water:
Where Does it Come From
About half of the
United States population received its water from surface water
sources, such as rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs. The
other half gets its water from the ground, where water is stored
in aquifers. This groundwater is stored in the cracks and
crevices of rocks. 75%
of the earth's surface is covered in water; however, appearance
can be deceiving. The amount of drinking water available for
human consumption is quite small, less
than 1% of the total water on earth! |
Education
Links
Ohio EPA
Science in your watershed
Bridging the Watershed
American Rivers
National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Urban
Storm Water
SMART Water Ways
Stormville
(interactive learning experience) |
Before
running water, an average family consumed around 50 to 60 gallons
of water per day; today the average family consumes around 300
gallons per day! How much do you use?
Daily
Water Use (gallons)
Flushing a
Toilet
1.5 to 7
Taking a Shower (10
min) 25 to
50
Taking a
Bath
36
Washing
Clothes
35 to 60
Washing Dishes
(Machine)
10
Washing Dishes by
hand
30
(water running)
Brushing Teeth (water
running) 2
Washing
Hands
2
Watering the
Lawn
5 to 10 per min
Leaky
Faucet (per
day)
25 to 30
Washing
Car (hose running) 180
394
billion gallons of water are used daily in the United States! |
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