Intro to Watersheds

Area of land that water drains over or through on its way to a bigger body of water such as a river, late, estuary, or ocean.

• Watershed
• River System
• Sea
• Water Filter

Where does all the rainwater and runoff  from Herndon Middle School eventually end up?

• Rappahannock River
• James River
• Chesapeake Bay
• Long Island Sound

Water from rain or melting snow that flows over the surface of the ground into streams.

• Slush
• Acid Rain
• Rainwater
• Runoff

Area of higher elevation where water flows east or west onto different watersheds.

• Mountain range
• Ridgeline (divide)
• Tributary
• River System

Group of rivers that empty water into a common waterway.

• Tributary
• Estuary
• River
• River System

Branch of a river.

• Tributary
• Riverette
• Waterway
• Estuary

In which LOCAL (medium-sized) watershed do we live?

• Potomac River Watershed
• Susquehanna River Watershed
• York River Watershed
• James River Watershed

In which REGIONAL (big) watershed do we live?

• Potomac River Watershed
• Chesapeake Bay Watershed
• Roanoke Watershed
• Cape Cod Watershed

Runoff carries this high-nutrient product from farms.  Helps plants grow.

• Old plants
• Fertilizer
• Dead animals
• Acid rain

Runoff from farms causes this process to start.  Algae grows and depletes oxygen in the water.

• Eutrophication
• Water cycle
• Carbon dioxide- oxygen cycle
• Erosion