Watersheds and Environmental Impacts

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to watersheds, their characteristics, human impacts, and environmental processes.

Watershed

All the land that drains into a specific body of water such as a river, lake, or bay.

Ridge

A high elevation landform that acts as a watershed divide determining the direction of runoff.

Snowpack

Accumulated snow that can impact water availability when it melts.

Percolation

The process by which water moves downward through soil and rock layers.

Tributaries

Smaller streams or rivers that flow into a larger body of water.

Riparian zone

The interface between land and a river or stream, important for ecosystem health.

Subbasin

A smaller drainage area within a larger watershed.

Groundwater (aquifer)

Underground layers of water-bearing rock that can be tapped for water supply.

Precipitation

Any form of water, liquid or solid, falling from the atmosphere, such as rain or snow.

Wetland

Areas where water covers the soil, either permanently or seasonally, providing habitat and ecosystem services.

Watershed divide

Ridges of land that separate different watersheds and determine the direction of water flow.

Eutrophication

The enrichment of water bodies with nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorus) leading to excessive growth of algae.

Hypoxia

A condition in water bodies characterized by low oxygen levels, often caused by nutrient pollution.

Sediment pollution

Soil and other materials washed into waterways that can harm aquatic ecosystems.

Albedo

The measure of how much light that hits a surface is reflected without being absorbed.

Riparian buffers

Vegetated areas near a river or stream that help protect water quality by absorbing nutrients and sediments.

Biological nutrient removal

A wastewater treatment process that uses microorganisms to remove nutrients from water.

Cover crops

Plants grown to cover the soil rather than for harvest and used to improve soil health and reduce erosion.