Streams & Watersheds
Most of us know that “approximately 97% of the water on Earth is salt water and there is approximately 3% fresh water on Earth” to fulfill the needs of life on Earth as we know it. We also know that “most of the human body is made up of water, with cells consisting of 65-90% water by weight,” and with out water there would be no survival. These simple facts seem to be common knowledge. So if water is so important, why is this valuable resource often taken for granted?
What is a watershed?
Is it a shed with water in it? How about a shed where our water comes from? Neither of these is correct. A WATERSHED is all the land that water flows across or under on its way to a stream, river, lake, or any other specified point (USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service). Watersheds can be of all sizes - ranging from your backyard, to all the land draining to the Ohio River. Every watershed is important, and since we all live in a watershed, our actions can help protect and maintain the quality of water from our backyards all the way to the Golf of Mexico!
