Lessons on the Lake
Lessons on the Lake Chapter 1: Walk in the Woods
Lesson 1.5 Lesson 1.6 Lesson 1.7 Lesson 1.8 Lesson 1.9 Lesson 1.10 Lesson 1.11 Lesson 1.12 Lesson 1.13
Lesson 1.1 Lesson 1.2 Lesson 1.3 Lesson 1.4

Lessons on the Lake -> Chapter List -> Chapter 1 -> What is a Watershed?

WHAT IS A WATERSHED?

  • A watershed is the total land area that contributes runoff to a specific body of water.
  • The runoff is the water which flows off the land surface.
  • The elevation and slope of the land determines which way the surface water will flow.
  • The lowest areas in the watershed that act as collecting basins include rivers, bayous, canals, ditches, streams and lakes.
River:
1 : a natural stream of water of usually considerable volume
Canal:
: an artificial waterway for navigation or for draining or irrigating land
Stream:
1 : a body of running water (as a river or brook) flowing on the earth; also : any body of flowing fluid (as water or gas)
Ditch
: a long narrow excavation dug in the earth (as for drainage)
Lake:
: a considerable inland body of standing water; also : a pool of other liquid (as lava, oil, or pitch)
Bayous :
1 : a creek, secondary watercourse, or minor river that is tributary to another body of water
2 : any of various usually marshy or sluggish bodies of water
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An anole can escape from a predator by leaving its tail behind as a distraction. A new tail will eventually grow back.

  1. Chapter 1 Intro
  2. Essential Questions
  3. Facts
  4. What is a Watershed?
  5. Activity: Guided Imagery
  6. Where does the water come from?
  7. Activity: Water in the Basin
  8. How does precipitation affect the watershed?
  9. How does groundwater affect the watershed?
  10. How does surface runoff affect the watershed?
  11. Activity: Learning about the Basin
  12. Activity: Travelin' Troupe
  13. Activity: Surfin' the Basin and Beyond