WATERSHEDSWATERSHEDS

Produced by the COMET® Program in partnership withthe National Environmental Education Foundation

Connecting Weather to Connecting Weather to the Environmentthe Environment

Presented byPresented by

Kimberly Kimberly Bradley & Bradley & Kristen PonakKristen PonakGEI Consultants, Inc.GEI Consultants, Inc.

Watersheds:Watersheds:Connecting Weather to the Connecting Weather to the EnvironmentEnvironment

1. What is a watershed?2. The System of Watersheds3. Where does our water come fro

m?4. Weather & Watersheds:

• Rain• Flooding and Tropical Storms• Drought

5. What You Can Do

What is a watershed?What is a watershed?A watershed is an area of land from A watershed is an area of land from which all runoff drains, or which all runoff drains, or ''shedssheds'' to to the same river, lake, or other body of the same river, lake, or other body of water.water.

Everyone lives in a watershedEveryone lives in a watershed

Your own backyard is part of a watershed.

You’re already in You’re already in one!one!

You don’t need to visit the Grand You don’t need to visit the Grand Canyon to see a watershed.Canyon to see a watershed.

The System of WatershedsThe System of Watersheds

Each is part of a larger Each is part of a larger picture or mosaic.picture or mosaic.

Watersheds are like pieces of Watersheds are like pieces of a puzzle:a puzzle:

A Nested SystemA Nested SystemWatersheds are also like Russian Watersheds are also like Russian MatryoshkaMatryoshka or nesting dolls. Larger or nesting dolls. Larger watersheds contain smaller watersheds contain smaller watersheds, which contain even watersheds, which contain even smaller ones.smaller ones.

Watershed AddressesWatershed AddressesJust as our homes have street Just as our homes have street addresses, our neighborhood addresses, our neighborhood watersheds have environmental watersheds have environmental addresses.addresses.

Sacred Heart University’s Watershed Sacred Heart University’s Watershed AddressAddress

Resources for finding your Resources for finding your watershed:watershed:

USGS Science in Your USGS Science in Your Watershed: Watershed: water.usgs.gov/wsc/water.usgs.gov/wsc/

EPA Surf Your Watershed: EPA Surf Your Watershed: www.epa.gov/surf www.epa.gov/surf

CT Environmental Conditions CT Environmental Conditions Online (ECO): Online (ECO): http://www.cteco.uconn.edu/http://www.cteco.uconn.edu/

UCONN CLEAR Connecticut UCONN CLEAR Connecticut Changing Landscape: Changing Landscape: http://clear.uconn.edu/projects/landscape/

Where does our water come Where does our water come from?from?

EvaporationEvaporation

Ocean StorageOcean Storage Groundwater flow to oceans

Groundwater flow to oceans

AquifersAquifers

Infiltration into the ground

Infiltration into the ground

SpringsSpringsStreams and riversStreams and rivers

CondensationCondensationPrecipitationPrecipitation

LakesLakes

SnowmeltSnowmelt

All of our freshwater starts as precipitation, All of our freshwater starts as precipitation, which moves continually through the which moves continually through the hydrologic cycle.hydrologic cycle.

The Surface-Groundwater The Surface-Groundwater SystemSystem

Surface and underground water bodies form an inter-Surface and underground water bodies form an inter-connected system. Surface water recharges connected system. Surface water recharges groundwater storage.groundwater storage.Groundwater also flows up into surface water Groundwater also flows up into surface water

bodies.bodies.

Drinking Water SourcesDrinking Water SourcesMost water Most water systemssystems (80%) (80%) in the U.S. use a in the U.S. use a ground water ground water source for source for drinking water, drinking water, but the majority but the majority of the of the populationpopulation (66%) are (66%) are served by served by surface water surface water sources.sources.

Fairfiled’s Drinking WaterFairfiled’s Drinking Water

Identify where your city’s drinking water Identify where your city’s drinking water comes from. Visit comes from. Visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/index.hthttp://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/index.htmlml

Is it surface water or groundwater?Is it surface water or groundwater?

Weather & Watersheds: RainWeather & Watersheds: RainWhat is the most common What is the most common cause of pollution in streams, cause of pollution in streams, rivers, and oceans?rivers, and oceans?

1. Dumping of garbage by cities2. Surface water running off

yards, streets, paved lots, and farm

fields3. Trash washed into the ocean

from beaches4. Waste dumped by factories

Sources of PollutionSources of PollutionPrecipitation runoff from farms, lawns, and paved Precipitation runoff from farms, lawns, and paved surfaces is the leading source of water pollution in surfaces is the leading source of water pollution in America today.America today.

What’s in the water?What’s in the water?

Main pollutants:•Fertilizers•Herbicides•Insecticides•Oil, grease, and

toxic chemicals from urban areas•Sediment•Road Salt•Bacteria and Nitrogen•Air pollutants

Weather & Watersheds: FloodingWeather & Watersheds: FloodingA A floodflood occurs anytime a water body overflows or occurs anytime a water body overflows or when an unusual amount of water collects in dry when an unusual amount of water collects in dry areas.areas.

Flash FloodingFlash FloodingA A flash floodflash flood is a particularly is a particularly dangerous type of flood that occurs dangerous type of flood that occurs within 6 hours or even an hour after within 6 hours or even an hour after the start of rainfall.the start of rainfall.

Causes of Flash FloodsCauses of Flash FloodsFlash floods are typically caused Flash floods are typically caused by intense thunderstorm by intense thunderstorm downpours, but…downpours, but…

……the failure the failure of a dam or of a dam or

levee can levee can also trigger also trigger

flash flash flooding.flooding.

Urban FloodingUrban FloodingBecause urban Because urban watersheds watersheds contain so contain so many paved many paved surfaces…surfaces…Less water Less water goes into the goes into the ground, and…ground, and…

More heads More heads for the for the nearest nearest stream or low-stream or low-lying area.lying area.

Flooding from Tropical StormsFlooding from Tropical Storms

Hurricane Floyd (1999)

Sometimes a hurricane’s worst punch comes after the storm has passed.

This was the case with Hurricane Floyd, which left North This was the case with Hurricane Floyd, which left North Carolina inundated with historic and deadly floods days Carolina inundated with historic and deadly floods days after the storm.after the storm.

Weather & Watersheds: DroughtWeather & Watersheds: Drought

1. Reduced soil moisture (plant stress)

2. Reduced water levels in lakes, reservoirs, wetlands

4. Groundwater depletion, land subsidence

3. Reduced water flow in streams, rivers, springs

5. Water quality problems

How can drought impact a How can drought impact a watershed?watershed?

Drought in Your AreaDrought in Your Area

Is your area experiencing drought?Is your area experiencing drought?

Resources:Resources:U.S. Drought Monitor - http://drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.htmlU.S. Drought Monitor - http://drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html

Click on your state for a close-up view of drought stages.Click on your state for a close-up view of drought stages.

Protecting Watersheds: Protecting Watersheds: What You Can Do EverydayWhat You Can Do Everyday

Simple Ways to Protect Your Simple Ways to Protect Your WatershedWatershed

• Don’t Dump or LitterDon’t Dump or Litter• Water and Landscape WiselyWater and Landscape Wisely• Control the FlowControl the Flow• Pick up After RoverPick up After Rover• Fix that LeakFix that Leak• Participate in a CleanupParticipate in a Cleanup