Watershed Elements
Clean fresh water supplies depend on healthy watersheds
Rivers and Streams
Plains, Savannahs, Prairies
Mountains and Glaciers
Forests
Wetlands
Estuaries
Values and Services
Watershed resources serve human and natural processes.
eg: water, timber, fish & wildlife, minerals sustenance
Flood Storage and Erosion Control
Biodiversity, Riverine Habitats and Corridors
Pollution Mitigation (natural sequestration and filtration)
Agriculture, Industry, Transportation and Commerce
Recreation, Tourism, Inspiration
Threats
Pollution: industrial, nuclear, agricultural or urban waste
Infrastructure: dams, levees, roads, bridges, dredging, channels
Transportation: ecosystem disruption, pollution and habitat fragmentation
Climate Change: floods, droughts, wildfires, sea level rise, salt water intrusion
Land Use Abuse by urbanization, sprawl, farming, ranching
Resource Extraction: water, timber, minerals, fish…
Invasive Species and Monocultures
Aquaculture & Over-fishing
Solutions
Education via literature, visual arts, signage….
Citizen Stewardship via stream monitoring, river cleanups, etc….
Dam Removal, Diversions, Flood Plain Restoration, Reforestation
Restoration & Preservation of Open Space and Riparian Corridors
Governmental Regulations, Clean Air and Water Acts, EPA….
Renewable Energies to replace hydro and fossil fuel energy
Green Infrastructure (pervious paving, green roofs….
Transboundary Treaties and Cooperation
Consumption and Waste Reduction
Sanitation and Water Infrastructure
Recycled Water and Desalination
Technology and Science