Apes Unit 4: Watersheds

watershed

all the land that drains water into a stream, river, or bay.

what states flow into the chesapeake bay?

new york, PA, delaware, maryland, DC, and virginia

estuary

body of water where fresh and salt water mix

watersheds are defined by...

-area
-length
-slope
-soil
-land use
-vegetation types

how does area affect watersheds?

larger area, greater chances of materials flowing down with water

how does length affect watersheds?

larger length, greater chances of materials flowing down with water

how does slope affect watersheds?

steeper slope = faster run-off

how does soil affect watersheds?

some soil types are better at absorbing water and will slow contamination of water source, EX: Soils with a lot of sand allow for rapid infiltration of water and reduce run-off

how does vegetation types affect watersheds?

similar to soil - plants absorb water through their roots thus reducing run-off!

how does land use affect watersheds?

he way that humans use the land also has a significant impact on water quality (pollution, contamination, etc)

facts about streams and watersheds in maryland

-100,000 streams are a part of 640,000 square miles of watersheds
-because we live in a temperate deciduous forest, all of those leaves that fall every autumn make the waters slightly acidic.