Ch4-L3: Fresh Water Resources

What is a watershed?

• An area of land where water drains into a specific river

• A large body of water that contains fresh water

• A process in which water is cleaned and recycled

• A type of pollution that affects fresh water

How much rainwater falls on the United States each day?

• 16 trillion liters (4.2 trillion gallons)

• 4.2 cups

• 50 U.S. States in trillion liters

• A full day

What happens to most of the rainwater that falls on the United States?

• It evaporates back into the air

• It seeps into the ground

• It runs into rivers and then into the ocean

• It is stored and recycled

How many major watersheds does California have?

• 10

• 3

• 5

• 7

What do plants do to help control the flow of water in a watershed?

• They absorb all the water in a watershed

• They release chemicals that clean the water

• Their roots hold the soil in place

• They create barriers to stop the flow of water

What can happen if water flows into rivers more rapidly than they can carry it away?

• A flood can occur

• The water level in the ocean rises

• The water becomes contaminated

• The rivers dry up completely

What are some signs that water is polluted?

• It might look clear but contain harmful organisms

• It might be a strange color or have dead fish in it

• It might smell or be cloudy

• All of the above.

What can contaminate water as it flows over the land?

• Chemicals and harmful organisms

• Salt used to melt ice and snow

• Ice cream

• Spilled motor oil and trash

What laws have been passed to protect freshwater resources?

• Safe Drinking Water Act

• Freshwater Protection Act

• Water Resource Management Act

• Clean Water Act

What is the purpose of the Safe Drinking Water Act?

• To clean and recycle water in treatment plants

• To control the flow of water in watersheds

• To set rules for communities to keep drinking water clean and safe

• To prevent pollution in surface waters