Watershed Development - Get Started
There are many key but relatively unknown processes in the eco-cycle. One of these is the concept of ‘watersheds’, which play a significant role in the supply and sustainability of water.
In which river or lake does the rainwater that falls on your house end up? When all the water that falls in a particular geographical area ends up in the same lake or river, that area is denoted as a watershed for that lake or river. As raindrops fall on the mountain, they join to form small streams, which eventually flow down to a river. This integrated geo-hydro area is known as the watershed of that particular stream or river.
Watershed management ensures that the water that slopes down the hilly ridges is stored locally for use rather than flowing away. Watershed management assumes greater significance in fragile eco-systems and is important for urban areas as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How are watersheds helpful in preserving biodiversity of a region?
Biodiversity refers to the diversity or variety in life around us. Watersheds are a natural biodiversity repository as they provide a habitat for a wide variety of fishes, amphibians , birds, reptiles and mammals. Also a large number of plant species are supported by a watershed in addition to many microscopic and macroscopic life forms. The quality of life existing around a watershed is dependant on the quality of water in that watershed. Contaminated water often act as breeding grounds for many disease vectors. Watersheds are also home to a wide variety of migratory birds and thus form an important part of any well functioning ecosystem
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What are the effects of urbanization on watersheds?
As human populations continue to grow, the effects of urbanization on watersheds will become increasingly important to aquatic resource managers and land use planners. Urbanization of watersheds is almost invariably accompanied by loss and alteration of aquatic habitats, two of the most frequently mentioned causes for losses of aquatic biota. Also as the natural flow of water gets disrupted, flooding of that particular catchment area may occur. Hence urban planning initiatives must take into consideration the natural watersheds that exist in a particular locale.
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How am I connected to a watershed?
A watershed is the boundary and basic hydrological unit that delimits a drainage basin. In the U.S. and Canada this term has come to be synonymous with the terms drainage basin and catchment. " Each drainage basin has its own network of river and stream channels that drain water from and through that particular watershed. The characteristics of that drainage network play a great part in determining how water moves through the basin.However, this surface watershed may not correspond with the sub-surface movements of water. Watersheds drain into one another Thus, it is important to grasp the concept that individual drainage basins are not self-contained entities, they are parts of larger surrounding watersheds that represent only a small portion of the greater hydrologic cycle. It thus m means that whichever part of the world you live in , you are sitting on a watershed network.
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Is there a watershed near where I live? How can I identify it?
We all live in a watershed. Watersheds are the places we call home, where we work and where we play. Everyone relies on water and other natural resources to exist. What you and others do on the land impacts the quality and quantity of water and our other natural resources.Healthy watersheds are vital for a healthy environment and economy. Our watersheds provide water for drinking, irrigation and industry. Many people also enjoy lakes and streams for their beauty and for boating, fishing and swimming. Wildlife also need healthy watersheds for food and shelter.Managing the water and other natural resources is an effective and efficient way to sustain the local economy and environmental health.
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What is a watershed?
The term watershed refers to the geographic boundaries of a particular waterbody, its ecosystem and the land that drains to it. A watershed also includes groundwater aquifers that discharge to and receive discharge from streams, wetlands, ponds, and lakes. Large watersheds are sometimes referred to as river basins.
Everyone lives in a watershed. You and everyone in your watershed are part of the watershed community. The animals, birds, and fish are too. You influence what happens in your watershed, good or bad, by how you treat the natural resources, the soil, water, air, plants, and animals. What happens in your small watershed also affects the larger watershed downstream. -
What is the role of a wetland in a watershed?
Wetlands are important elements of a watershed because they serve as the link between land and water resources. Wetlands protection programs are most effective when coordinated with other surface water and ground-water protection programs and with other resource management programs, such as flood control, water supply, protection of fish and wildlife, recreation, control of stormwater, and non-point source pollution. So, What's the difference between a wetland and a watershed? A watershed is an area that drains to a common waterway, like a creek or stream -- which then drains to a larger body of water, like the ocean. Wetlands provide a link between watershed and water. Wetlands filter the water running into the stream, river or ocean, cleaning it of toxins that could cause pollution in major waterways.
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