Schuykill River Watershed

http://maps.waterdata.usgs.gov/mapper/index.html

http://www.schuylkillwaters.org/schuylkill_celebrateDetail.cfm?wsid=29

Watershed water movement

When water enters a watershed (by precipitation –rain or snowmelt), it will either

-runoff to streams and rivers or-infiltrate into groundwater

runoff

infiltration

Importance of infiltration

-water infiltrates into the soil- It continues to move vertically down through the soil profile-it is treated by the soil (cleans out impurities)-it joins with the local groundwater-enhancing the quantity of groundwater available for local use.

Factors that influence how much rainfall will runoff and how much will infiltrate into

the ground:• . • 1. The topography• 2. The size of the watershed• 3. The type of land cover

TopographyDefinition-the features (such as mountains and rivers) in an area of land

• The topography and elevation of the watershed will impact the speed in which runoff will reach the lake. The steeper the watershed land area, the faster the runoff

The size

• . The greater the amount of land area in a watershed the more opportunities for runoff to reach the lake, river, or ocean via streams.

Type of land cover

• .Watersheds covered in vegetation and forests provide a chance for rainfall to be absorbed by plants and filtered into the ground.

• Watersheds covered in hard or impervious surfaces cause the rainfall to runoff more rapidly because there is no plant material to stop and absorb the flow of water.

Topographic Map

• Shows relief using contour lines• -Relief – highs and lows of Earth’s surface• Relief can be calculated• 1. Take the difference between the highest

point an the lowest.(ex. Mountain peak- 20m lake = 10 m 20m – 10m = 10m The relief of this area is 10m

Reading a topographic map-Contour Lines

Contour lines -Lines on topographic maps-Connect points of equal elevation. Everything connected to that line has the same elevationElevation – the distance something is above sea level. (sea level = 0m or 0 ft.)

Use of Topographic maps with watershed studies

• Topographic maps are used to show the direction of waterflow over a watershed.

Slope direction is calculated perpendicular to the contour lines

...so the direction of flow is always perpendicular to the contour lines

Point source pollution

• Water pollution that comes from a single, discrete place, typically a pipe.

Nonpoint source pollution

• As water from rainfall and snowmelt flows over and through the landscape, it picks up and carries contaminants from many different sources.

What are some types of nonpoint pollution?

• http://protectingwater.com/index.html

– Lower water depths during non-storm periods– Higher than normal water levels during wet

weather periods– Increased sediment loads– Higher water temperatures– Native fish and other aquatic life are stressed by

run off

• Conserve water – inside and out• Do not fertilize your lawn before a

rain storm or over-fertilize it so that the excess runs off into the streets

• Take your car to a car wash where the water is treated and recycled.

• Do not pour anything down your storm drain

• Look for alternative forms of transportation, i.e.car pool, public transportation, bike, etc.

• Clean up after your pets• Smart waste disposal, i.e. recycling, using

proper receptacles to dispose of waste and hazardous waste, i.e. car batteries, solvents, pesticides, etc.

• Become involved, join your local watershed group or volunteer monitoring organization

• Get informed, learn all you can about your local watershed and about NPS pollution, with knowledge, we can make a difference