Watersheds

What is a watershed?

• A really big building that holds water.

• An area of land where all the water drains to the same body of water, such as a stream, river, or ocean.

• An underground cave that holds water.

• All of the surface and underground water in a state.

Answer explanation

A watershed is an area of land where all of the water drains to one place.

Fairfax County has 30 major watersheds, but each watershed is made of smaller watersheds. Smaller watersheds are nested within larger watersheds, like measuring cups.

Which watershed(s) is our school located in?

(Select all that apply)

• James River watershed

• Patuxent River watershed

• Potomac River watershed

• Chesapeake Bay watershed

Answer explanation

Belvedere is in the Potomac River watershed and the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

All of the watersheds in Fairfax County flow into the Potomac River and are part of the Potomac River watershed. The Potomac River watershed is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Which states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed in addition to Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC?​

(Select all that apply)

• Ohio

• West Virginia

• Delaware

• Pennsylvania

• New York

Answer explanation

Parts of six states, including Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York, plus Washington, DC, are in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

True or False: The Patuxent River watershed has no connection to the Potomac River watershed.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Both the Potomac River and the Patuxent River are part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

How does the Belvedere community impact the Chesapeake Bay watershed?

Give at least one impact.

What is a pollutant?

• Anything made by humans

• Natural items

• Anything introduced into the environment that is harmful

• Only chemical spills

What is water pollution?

• Bodies of water that are contaminated by pollutants

• Water that looks dirty

• Water with limited life in it.

• Water that is not blue

True or False:

Native plants can help the environment.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Planting native helps enrich the environment by providing food and habitat for many species. The local plants have evolved with our local insects, birds, and wildlife and they rely on each other for survival. Many of our native plants are also hosts for caterpillars, which turn into butterflies, and are an important food source for growing chicks in the nest. Flowers can provide nectar for moths, butterflies and hummingbirds and pollen for bees, flies and beetles. These animals in turn help pollinate plants to make fruits and seeds. Those seeds in turn will be eaten by many birds and mammals in the fall and help them survive the winter.

Sources: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Office-of-Sustainability-and-Environment/Ecology/Native-Plants/Why-Plant-Native-Plants

Native plants typically have deeper roots which allows for better absorption of water than non-native species.

Source: https://stormwater.allianceforthebay.org/take-action/installations/rain-gardens/attachment/root-depth-comparison-natives-nonnatives

Can we prevent water pollution?

• No, but I wish we could

• No, we can't do anything about it

• Yes!

Answer explanation

There are many ways we can prevent and reduce pollution.

What is an invasive plant?

• A non-native plant that spreads slowly and doesn't cause any problems at all.

• A plant that grows over 5 feet tall.

• An aggressive, non-native plant that causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm.

• A plant that is native, but grows really quickly.