What parts of the enviroment, natural and manmade, make up a watershed?
http://www.epa.gov/watershed/whatis.html
A watershed is an area of land where all the water flowing through it drains into a common outlet, such as a river, lake, or ocean. It includes both natural and manmade features that influence the movement and quality of water within the area.
To identify the parts of the environment that make up a watershed, you can follow these steps:
1. Start with a topographic map: A topographic map shows the elevation and physical features of an area. Look for the high points, such as mountains or hills, as these form the boundaries of the watershed.
2. Identify the ridgelines: The ridgelines or mountain ranges along the higher elevations are often a primary feature of a watershed. These ridgelines direct the flow of water down into lower areas.
3. Locate the drainage channels: As water travels down the slopes, it creates channels or streams. These channels collect and convey water, eventually merging into larger bodies of water, like rivers or lakes. These water bodies become the main outlet for the watershed.
4. Observe natural features: Within the watershed, there are various natural features that contribute to its formation. These include valleys, forests, wetlands, marshes, swamps, and ponds. These features regulate the flow of water, filter pollutants, and provide habitat for diverse plant and animal species.
5. Consider manmade structures: Human activities and structures can also impact a watershed. Infrastructure like dams, reservoirs, canals, levees, and stormwater drainage systems can alter the natural drainage patterns and affect the overall water quality within the watershed.
By combining these natural and manmade elements, you can understand the composition of a watershed and how different factors interact to shape water distribution, movement, and quality within the area.
What parts of the environment, natural and manmade, make up a watershed?
Give examples of each. Look at the diagram in resource site 3. What parts of the
diagram are