Watersheds Worksheet Part 1

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College of DuPage *

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1119

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Geography

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Dec 6, 2023

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docx

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Watersheds: Connecting Weather to the Environment Unit 1-3 Earth 1119 – Weather Hazards and Preparedness College of DuPage Meteorology Part I Unit 1 Watersheds 1. What is a watershed? A watershed is a region of land where all surface water—rain, snowmelt, and even groundwater— flows into a single outflow, such a river, lake, or ocean. It is also referred to as a drainage basin or catchment area. Natural hydrological units called watersheds are divided by ridges and mountains in the topography. They are vital to the distribution of freshwater resources, the maintenance of ecosystems, the supply of potable water, and the accomplishment of several human endeavors. A watershed can be small and local, draining into a nearby stream, or it can be enormous and encompassing, encompassing whole river basins or regions. Watersheds are essential for monitoring and addressing water-related problems as well as for comprehending and managing water resources. 2. What are the two ways that water makes it into the main drainage body of water? There are two basic ways that water enters a major drainage body of water, such a river or lake: a. Surface runoff is the result of precipitation, such as rain or snowmelt, flowing over the surface of the land and collecting in rivers, streams, or other bodies of water. It can aid in the flow of the primary drainage system and convey nutrients, pollutants, and sediments. b. Seepage from Groundwater: Seepage, or discharge from groundwater, is another way that water enters the main drainage body. Groundwater inherently enters a body of water when the water table is higher than the level of the river or lake. In many aquatic environments, this groundwater inflow is crucial for sustaining water levels and general water quality. 3. Very large watersheds are also known as ___river basins_____________. 4. Who conceived of a watershed and what was his physical challenge? Watershed theory is credited to John Wesley Powell. In addition to being an explorer, he was the second director of the US Geological Survey and a geologist. Powell's physical obstacle is commonly recognized as his loss of his right arm during the Civil War, leaving him with only one arm. 5. Where does the runoff in a given watershed always drain to?

The runoff in a given watershed always drains to a common outlet, which is typically a river, lake, or ocean. 6. Go to https://ec.dupageco.org/ . In which watershed is the College of DuPage located? The College of DuPage is located in the East Branch DuPage River Watershed. Unit 2 Watershed Systems 7. How many water resource regions make up the U.S.? There are 21 major water resource regions that make up the United States. 8. In what state is Triple Divide Peak? Can headwaters exist in the middle of a city? The location of Triple Divide Peak is in Montana. Since headwaters are usually the origin or beginning of a river or stream, they can really occur in the center of a metropolis. These headwaters can be found in suburban and urban settings, as well as in undeveloped areas. 9. What two factors are most important for determining runoff speed and volume? The two most crucial variables that affect runoff volume and speed are: a. Rainfall or snowmelt precipitation b. Features of the land and how it is used, such as the kind of soil, the terrain, the vegetation, and urbanization Unit 3 Water Sources Water on the Earth  1300 million cubic km total  97% is salty  36 million km 3 of water is outside the oceans  28 million km 3 is in glaciers and ice caps  220,000 km 3 is in rivers and lakes  12,000 km 3 is in the atmosphere  8 million km 3 is in groundwater

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