Why Watersheds?

Wondering what all the fuss over watersheds is about?  Here you will find entry-level material introducing the basic concepts of watersheds, how land use changes and urbanization negatively impact aquatic systems, and why watershed management is critical for maintaining and restoring our nation's valuable water resources.

wa·ter·shed [waw-ter-shed] The area of land where all of the water that drains off goes into the same stream, lake or other water body. A watershed can cross county and state lines. We all live in a watershed!

Glossaries

8 Tools of Watershed Protection Glossary

Slideshows

Why Watersheds? An Introduction to the Whys and Hows of Water Resource Protection
Authors: Center for Watershed Protection Released: 1999

Provides an introduction to the whys and hows of watershed protection, explaining everything from what a watershed is to how development impacts water resources, to steps all can take to protect local watersheds. Comes with extensive speaker notes and can be run as-is, or cut-and-paste slides to tailor the information to individual needs. Compatible with both PC and Mac systems.

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Approaches to the Impacts of Urbanization CD
Authors: Center for Watershed Protection Released: 1999

Outlines the hydrologic, morphologic and biologic impacts to streams that result from the increased impervious cover associated with urbanization and includes both a pop-up dictionary and an interactive self-test. Updated info available in companion "Impacts of Impervious Cover Manual" PC/Mac compatible. PowerPoint a requirement for running on Mac OS.

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Impacts of Impervious Cover on Aquatic Systems
Authors: Center for Watershed Protection Released: 2003
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A comprehensive exploration of more than 225 multi-disciplinary studies documenting the hydrological, physical, water quality, and biological impacts of urbanization and its accompanying impervious cover. Covering many different eco-regions, climatic zones and stream types and with more than 100 graphics and tables, this 150-page report represents the Center's most thorough examination of imperviousness to date.

The Practice of Watershed Protection Articles

Below are articles from The Practice of Watershed Protection that pertain specifically to this topic. To purchase the hardbound book or CD of these articles, please visit our store. For citing these articles, add the article author and title to the following: The Practice of Watershed Protection. 2000. T. Schueler and H. Holland, eds. Center for Watershed Protection. Ellicott City, MD. Authors of each individual article can be found underneath the title in the file. To view comprehensive list of all downloadable articles from this book, visit the Practice of Watershed Protection Articles page.

1. The Importance of Imperviousness
8. Is Rooftop Runoff Really Clean?
126. Understanding Watershed Behavior
127. On Watershed Education

Links

A Watershed Approach Info page

Why a watershed approach is the most effective framework to address today's water resource challenges, from the U.S. EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans & Watersheds.

Silent Streams

The Washington Post Magazine’s cover story, from November 2005, describes many Center principles regarding the impact of impervious cover on water resources.

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