US Environmental Protection Agency

WATERSHED

Oklahoma University

River Valleys

Drains 1,485 square miles. Mainstem 110 miles long.

Russian River

Watershed

• Streams with no tributaries are 1st

order• Two first order

streams joining form a 2nd order stream, etc.

• Entrance of smaller order tributaries does not change the order of a stream

Stream Order

• Headwaters – cold, well oxygenated waters with trout, algae and mosses and macroinvertebrates

• Transition – warmer water with gentler slopes and fewer obstacles – increase of phytoplankton with mixed warm and cool water fish

• Flood plain – deep rivers along flat broad valleys. Similar makeup to lakes

Streams

Water storage In " Condensationthe atmosphere

Transpirat ion

t

Water storagein oceans

The Water Cycle

• The overall amount of water on the Earth stays about the same.

• The water cycle is a process of water movement between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere.

• The sun provides the energy that drives the water cycle.

• Heat from the sun evaporates water from the ocean, lakes, rivers, soil, plant leaves, and body of organisms.

• Water vapor cools in the atmosphere it condenses and forms droplets in clouds.

• When clouds meet cold air the water returns to the Earth as precipitation.

• Precipitation is rain, sleet, and snow.

Water Cycle

1. Answer Questions From PCR:– What is the problem with desalination?– Give 4 services of a healthy watershed.– Give examples of places incentivizing healthy

watersheds.– Give 3 ways we can grow more food for the

world using less water.

Assignment(s) for Each Group

Author, Sandra Postel, describes 3 areas of the water crisis:

(1) fresh water shortage (2) water contamination, and (3) water privatization

Thought Experiment:

Imagine that you are sitting next to someone on a very long airplane or bus ride, both drinking your bottled water. Thirsty, you both run out of water. You have just finished reading this article, and you exclaim your concern about the current global water crisis. In response, the person says, "What Crisis? What's the big deal? There is plenty of water, and even so, I can always buy more bottled water, because that's what its for." How would you respond to them in regards to the 3 areas above?

Water: Adapting to the New Normal

• Summary of Estimated Water Use in the United States in 2005

• Explore Water Conservation

• Water Footprint Calculator

Links:

• Cost less than $1500 to build

• Softer Water: 5mg/gal of dissolved minerals as compared to 500 in city water.

• Cut water use by 95%

• Many use similar system for laundry and toilets.

Rainwater Harvesting for Consumption