Running WaterRunning Water

Rivers SystemsRivers Systems

WatershedWatershed

Land from which water runs off into Land from which water runs off into streams (drainage basin)streams (drainage basin)

TributariesTributariesFeeder streams that flow into a mainFeeder streams that flow into a main

river.river.

Where were these Where were these located on our located on our watershed diagram?watershed diagram?

A few terms to know…..A few terms to know…..

DivideDivide-ridges or elevated regions of high -ridges or elevated regions of high ground that separate watersheds.ground that separate watersheds.

HeadwatersHeadwaters-- Beginning of a streamBeginning of a stream

VelocityVelocity-- Distance water travels over Distance water travels over timetime..

More terms to know….More terms to know….

DischargeDischarge- volume of water moved by a - volume of water moved by a stream within a given time.stream within a given time.

GradientGradient- steepness of a stream’s slope- steepness of a stream’s slope

Stream ErosionStream Erosion

channelchannelThe path that a The path that a stream followsstream follows

headward erosionheadward erosion

process of process of lengthening lengthening and and branching of branching of a streama stream

How old is that river?How old is that river?

Youthful riverYouthful river straight erodes rapidly V-shaped few tributaries has waterfalls and

rapids

Mature riverMature river

meandering meandering (winding)(winding)

slow erosionslow erosion U-shaped U-shaped lots of lots of

tributaries tributaries holds lots of holds lots of

waterwater

Old riverOld rivergradient and gradient and

velocity velocity decreasesdecreases

no more no more erosionerosion

more more meanderingmeandering

River BasinsRiver Basins

A river basin is the A river basin is the land that water land that water flows across or flows across or under on its way to under on its way to a rivera river. .

Large river basins Large river basins are made up of are made up of many smaller many smaller watershedswatersheds

LakesLakesA depression in the surface of the earth that A depression in the surface of the earth that

collects and holds watercollects and holds water

Which material would Which material would collect and hold water collect and hold water better: clay, sand, or better: clay, sand, or gravel?gravel?

Lake OriginsLake Origins Natural lakes originate in different ways in Natural lakes originate in different ways in

surface depressions and low areas.surface depressions and low areas.

Oxbow LakesForm when

streams cut off meanders and leave isolated channels of

water

Lake OriginsLake Origins

Landslide Lake

Stream flow is blocked by

sediment from

landslides

Lake OriginsLake Origins

Prehistoric LakesRemnants of prehistoric lakes that have receded to lower-lying areas

Glacial LakesBasins of these lakes formed as glaciers gouged out the land during the ice ages. Glacial moraines dammed the depression = moraine-dammed lakes

Lake Origins Lake Origins

Cirque Lakes Circular depression

carved out by a glacier carved high in the

mountains by valley glaciers.

Kettle or Pothole LakesBlocks of glacial ice left behind/blocked by rocks

that melt and leave a depression

Man Made LakesMan Made Lakes(Reservoirs)(Reservoirs)

Dammed rivers that Dammed rivers that create lakes create lakes

Used to create Used to create Hydroelectric power!Hydroelectric power!

Amount of dissolved oxygen helps determine Amount of dissolved oxygen helps determine quality of lake water and its ability to support lifequality of lake water and its ability to support life

EutrophicationEutrophicationProcess by which lakes become rich in nutrients Process by which lakes become rich in nutrients

from the surrounding watershed from the surrounding watershed

EutrophicationEutrophication

SourcesSources Wastes from IndustryWastes from Industry Wastes from Sewage Wastes from Sewage

SystemsSystems Pesticide/herbicide Pesticide/herbicide

runoff from farmsrunoff from farms Illegal dumpingIllegal dumping Leaking of storage Leaking of storage

tankstanks

TypesTypes Copper = leaching from Copper = leaching from

rock weathering, rock weathering, corrosion of pipingcorrosion of piping

Nitrates = Most common! Nitrates = Most common! Septic tanks, fertilizers, Septic tanks, fertilizers, organic wastes (poop)organic wastes (poop)

Phosphates = fertilizers, Phosphates = fertilizers, industrial wastesindustrial wastes

Chlorine = from Chlorine = from disinfectiondisinfection

What this mean for people…What this mean for people…

Copper = Can lead to liver damage or anemiaCopper = Can lead to liver damage or anemia Nitrates = starve body of oxygen – “cyanosis” = Nitrates = starve body of oxygen – “cyanosis” =

“blue baby syndrome” = occurs in infants who “blue baby syndrome” = occurs in infants who drink water contaminated with nitratesdrink water contaminated with nitrates

Phosphates = excessive amounts can cause Phosphates = excessive amounts can cause algal blooms in ponds/lakesalgal blooms in ponds/lakes

Chlorine = can combine with other compounds Chlorine = can combine with other compounds forming potentially carcinogenic compounds forming potentially carcinogenic compounds

(cancer causing compounds)(cancer causing compounds)

WetlandsWetlands

Land area that is Land area that is covered with water for covered with water for a large part of the a large part of the yearyear

AKA: bogs, marshes, AKA: bogs, marshes, swampsswamps

BogsBogs Receive water from Receive water from

precipitationprecipitation Soils tend to be rich in Soils tend to be rich in

SPHAGNUM = peat SPHAGNUM = peat mossmoss

Peat moss breaks down= Peat moss breaks down= acidic soilacidic soil

Acidic soil supports Acidic soil supports unusual plantsunusual plants

MarshesMarshes Form along mouths of Form along mouths of

streams and in areas streams and in areas with extensive deltaswith extensive deltas

Grasses, reeds, Grasses, reeds, sedges, rushes, and sedges, rushes, and abundant wildlifeabundant wildlife