Watersheds & Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Watersheds

land that drains water into a specific place, like a river, lake, or bay

Dividers

Ridges of land, like hills, help separate different watersheds and show which way the water will flow

Vegetation and Soil

Plants and soil type affect how water moves. More plants help water soak into the ground better

Slope

If the land is steeper, water will flow faster, which can cause more soil to wash away

Soil

How easily water can pass through soil affects whether water runs off the surface or soaks in

Human Impact

Things we do, like farming, cutting down trees, building cities, building dams, or mining, can change how clean the water is in a watershed

Chesapeake Bay Watershed

area that includes parts of six states. All the water from this land flows into streams and rivers and eventually goes into Chesapeake Bay

Fresh and Salt Water

The bay has a mix of fresh water from rivers and salty water from the ocean, which helps create special habitats, like salt marshes

Productive Habitats

These areas are great for plants and animals because they have lots of nutrients

Benefits of Estuaries and Wetlands

Tourism

People visit for fun, which helps businesses like hotels and restaurants

Cleaning Water

Plants' roots help filter out pollution from the water

Homes for Animals

These areas are good places for fish and crabs to live

Storm Protection

They help protect against floods by soaking up extra water