Water and Streams

St. Louis County and Watersheds

• Discussion begins with a mention of St. Louis County, emphasizing its significance as a notable geographical location.
• Inquiry into other features within St. Louis County.
    - Watershed Explanation:
      - The county is involved in the division of two watersheds for oceans.
      - Watershed is explained as a natural border that influences where water flows depending on its side of the divide:
        - If precipitation (rain or snow) falls on one side of the watershed, it will flow into one stream.
        - If it falls on the opposite side, it flows into a different stream.

Aerial Photo and Local Geography

• Reference to an aerial photo showing geographical features.
    - Mention of a "flat meandering stream" as an example of the type of water bodies present.

Notable Geographical Landmarks

• Niagara Falls:
    - Description of Niagara Falls as a famous tourist destination located on the border of Canada and the United States.
    - The falls consist of American Falls and Canadian Falls, both described as magnificent.
    - Personal anecdote about visiting as a child at age eight, emphasizing the spectacular nature of the waterfalls due to their flow volume.

Definition of a Stream

• Introduction of the concept of a stream:
    - A stream is defined as "water that flows in channels due to gravity."
    - Important characteristics of streams include:
      - Water is contained within specific locations (channels).
      - Streams flow from higher elevations to lower elevations.
    - This definition is contrasted with other scenarios where water movement is not gravity-driven, such as:
      - Water flow through buildings or through the use of pumps.

• Alternate Definition from Wikipedia:
    - Streams are identified as a continuous body of surface water flowing within the banks of a channel.
    - Key similarities between the speaker’s definition and the one from Wikipedia include:
      - The presence of water and the necessity of being in a channel.
        - Channels can be natural rather than artificially constructed.
        - Example: Water flowing through a city in tunnels beneath structures (e.g., an elementary school).

Differentiation of Surface Water Types

• Terminology for Surface Water:
    - Any surface water that does not fit the definition of a stream is typically referred to as "runoff."
      - Runoff is characterized as water that moves over the land surface and may include various terminological distinctions, including:
        - Sheet flow: A thin layer of water flowing over a surface.
        - Overland flow: Similar to sheet flow, emphasizing water moving across land.
    - The speaker's intent is to maintain consistency in terminology while also acknowledging the diversity of terms to describe water movement outside of defined channels.

Summary of Key Concepts

• Both streams and runoff represent water movements in the environment, with streams being constrained within channels and runoff representing water that moves freely over land surfaces. Both relate intricately to geographical and hydrological processes, highlighting the interaction between land, water, and urban development.