What is a Watershed?
A watershed is a basin-like landform defined by highpoints and
ridgelines that descend into lower elevations and stream valleys. A
watershed carries water "shed" from the land after rain falls and
snow melts. Drop by drop, water is channeled into soils,
groundwaters, creeks, and streams, making its way to larger rivers
and eventually the sea. Water is a universal solvent, affected by
all that it comes in contact with: the land it traverses, and the
soils through which it travels. The important thing about
watersheds is: what we do on the land affects water quality for all
communities living downstream. The two most fundamental items of
hydrologic information about a river are “stage”, which is water
depth and “flow” or discharge, which is the total volume of water
that flows past a point on the river for some period of time. These
two key factors are measured at a location on the river called a
stream-gaging station. Watershed lands vary greatly in terms of
water yield, natural sensibilities, and the activities that they
support both on-site and downstream. The relationship between
proper management and long-term results, including erosion,
flooding, water quality and production, and wildlife habitat is
crucial. The importance of watershed management that conserves
resources while providing for the needs of people and ecosystems
cannot be overemphasized.
The Eastern Continental
Divide
The Eastern Continental Divide runs from a triple point or
triple divide on an unnamed peak near the town of Gold in northern
Pennsylvania near Wellsville (village), New York down the
Appalachian Mountains, through Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia,
North Carolina, and Georgia, and down through the tip of Florida.
There are four Continental divides in North America. The other
three are the Great Divide, also called the Continental Divide, the
Northern or Laurential Divide, and the St. Lawrence Seaway Divide.
River Basin Now that you have a clue of what a watershed is here
is how it works with another important water cycle process. A River
basin is the portion of land drained by a river and its
tributaries. It encompasses all of the land surface dissected and
drained by many streams and creeks that flow downhill into one
another, and eventually into one river. The final destination is an
estuary or an ocean. As a bathtub catches all the water that falls
within its sides, a river basin sends all the water falling on the
surrounding land into a central river and out to the sea.
Why is a Basin Important?
So without a basin water shedding from the mountains would flood
the landmass at the foot of the mountain.
The Watauga River
Basin
The Watauga River basin is the second smallest basin in the
state of North Carolina. It runs through only to counties before
dropping off in Tennessee Valley watershed. Then forming the
Watauga Dam in Tennessee. So as you can see that with just a simple
drops of water from the clouds the cycle begins and then without
the shed or basin there would be no Watauga Dam.
Getting Credit for this
Earthcache
1.) Take a picture of you and your Gps at the Sign.
2.) What direction is the Watauga River Flowing?
3.)What two counties does the Watauga River Basin in?