Exploring Watersheds in North America Activity Source: Written by AGI for ESW 2024 Watersheds serve as natural drainage systems, collecting rainfall and channeling it towards a common outlet such as lakes, rivers, or oceans. The health of watersheds directly impacts the availability and cleanliness of water for drinking, agriculture, and ecosystems. Additionally, watersheds play a critical role in regulating water cycles, mitigating floods, and replenishing groundwater reserves. Understanding and managing watersheds is essential for sustainable water resource management and ecosystem conservation, ensuring the well-being of both human and natural communities. [Read More]

Make a Watershed Model Activity Source: Source: TERC. Adapted with permission.by Earth Science Information Partners. After rain falls on relatively high land, it moves downwards into drainage areas called watersheds. You will create a model of a watershed by spraying rain on a plastic cover representing Earth’s surface. By watching how it flows, you can identify drainage divides and learn about the movement of water. Materials Per group • Large aluminum roasting pan [Read More]

Visualizing Your Watershed Activity Source: Source: American Geophysical Union. Adapted with permission. Watersheds can be as small as a lake or thousands of square miles. The natural or human-made surface of the land and the sediments and rocks below are all part of a watershed. Rainfall supplies watersheds, and water moves across the surface or infiltrates and moves through the ground. In this activity you will use a computer model to explore the movement of water within your watershed. [Read More]