GROUP 1

GROUP 1ACOSTA.CABRITO.DIMAYUGA.MANGLICMOT.ROLAGOWatersheds: Connecting weather to the environment

WxATERSHEDAn area of land from which all water drains to the same river, lakes, or other body of water.

An area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place.

WATERSHEDThe outlet is the watersheds lowest point, typically within a stream channel, and often at a junction with a larger body of water.WATERSHEDRidges and hills that separate two watersheds are called the DRAINAGE DIVIDE.

WATERSHEDJOHN WESLEY POWELL, scientist geographer, defined watershed as:

"area of land bounded by hydrologic system, within which all living things are inextricably linked by their common water course and where, as humans settled, simple logic demanded that they become part of a community."

WATERSHED SYSTEMWatersheds within a broadcast area will usually be part of a nested hierarchy of multiple, interconnected watersheds. Because of this, weather events usually have impacts beyond the watersheds where they occur. Therefore, the health of your local watershed depends on the health of upstream watersheds, and what happens in your local watershed can affect the quality of downstream watersheds.

WATER SOURCESThe total volume of water on Earth is estimated at1.386 billionkm (333 million cubicmiles).

WATER SOURCES97.5% is salt water and 2.5% being fresh water. The total earths fresh water is 34, 650,000 km, 72% of it is snow and ice and only 28% is liquid fresh water.WATER SOURCES99 % of the liquid freshwater is GROUND WATER and some of it was unobtainable.

Less than 1% of liquid freshwater is stored on surface body of water.

WATER SOURCESAn aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock, rock fractures or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or silt) from which groundwater can be extracted using a water well.Aquifers are underground layers of rock that are saturated with water that can be brought to the surface through natural springs or by pumping.WATER QUALITYHOW GOOD IS THE WATER?

WATER QUALITYANSWER:The quality of water depends on how the water body is used.

WATER QUALITYExample:Water produced from industrial use might be UNFIT for drinking, swimming, watering plants and, etc.

WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENTWatershed Management is a holistic approach to managing water resources for quantity and quality within a watershed. It is also a useful, proactive approach in areas without immediate problems. The figure demonstrates the Watershed Approach to Water Quality Management. By looking at watersheds, the state can evaluate all the sources of pollution that may be affecting the water quality and quantity.

WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENTConservation Tillage- the practice of leaving harvested plant materials on the soil surface to reduce runoff and soil erosion;

Crop Nutrient Management- managing all nutrient inputs helps ensure that nutrients are available to meet crop needs while reducing nutrient runoff;

Pest Management- using various methods for managing pests while protecting soil, water, and air quality;

Conservation Buffers- using vegetation strips to provide additional barriers of protection which prevent potential pollutants from running off into surface waters;

AGRICULTURALIrrigation Management- increasing irrigation efficiency can reduce non-point source pollution of ground and surface waters;

Grazing Management- managing livestock grazing to lessen the water quality impacts (e.g. reduce erosion potential);

Animal Feeding Operations Management- using runoff control, proper waste storage, and nutrient management to minimize the impacts of animal feeding operations;

Erosion and Sediment Control- using practices to conserve and reduce the amount of sediment reaching water bodies, overall protecting agricultural land and water quality.

WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT1. Use Fertilizers Wisely -Apply at the right time and in the right amounts. If more fertilizer is applied than the grass can utilize, it can wash into nearby streams and lakes. -Get a soil test to see what your soil needs. -Fertilizer with slow release nitrogen is better for the environment.2. Apply Pesticides Wisely -Identify the pest, disease, or cause of the problem. -Learn when and where pesticides are needed. -Select chemicals that are the least toxic or that break down quickly. -Always read the label before mixing and applying pesticides.URBANUse Landscaping Practices that Prevent Erosion -Protect soil by planting groundcover vegetation or by using mulch. Soil washed away by rain can pollute streams and lakes. -Gardens and construction sites with areas of bare soil, especially on sloped land are prone to erosion. -4. Wash Your Vehicle Wisely -Use a commercial car wash.Waste water from these businesses does not enter the storm drains and is sent to a water treatment facility. -If washing your car at home, pull your vehicle onto the grass before you start washing.This will help water the yard as well as keep the soapy water from running straight into the storm drain.