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Surface Water

All the bodies of water above the surface of the land, including lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, floodwater, and runoff.

Groundwater

the water that is beneath Earth's surface

Water Table

The upper level of the saturated zone of groundwater

Channel

The path that a stream follows.

Tributary

A stream or river that flows into a larger river

Watershed

the area of land that is drained by a river system

Divide

the boundary between drainage areas that have streams that flow in opposite directions

Aquifer

A body of rock or sediment that stores groundwater and allows the flow of groundwater.

Porosity

the percentage of the rock that is composed of pore space

Permeability

Measure of how easily water can flow through an aquifer.

Which type of soil can hold the greatest amount of water?

High porosity and high permeability

Recharge

Surface water that trickles down into the ground can reach the water table and enter an aquifer.

Discharge

The process by which groundwater becomes surface water.