Watersheds, Wetlands and Ecosystems

You can help protect and conserve the water in your watershed and downstream by understanding what a watershed is; learning the name of the watershed you live in; and knowing how and where the water from your home and property runs off to such as which streams, rivers, lakes and even oceans does it end up running into.  

A wetland is an area that has standing water, or poorly-draining, water-logged soils for all or part of the year. Wetlands are characterized by certain types of soils and are inhabited by plants and animals that have adapted to life with changing water conditions. Examples of wetlands include marshes, ponds, emergent grasslands, and bogs. 

Wetlands are found all over the world. Wetlands are an important and productive ecosystem with a rich variety of plants and animals. 

 Many animals live in water or must be near water to survive. For example, fish must live in water to survive, because they can get oxygen from the water. Beavers live in the water for part of the time, but must breathe air outside of the water to survive. Water lilies must have their roots in the mud at the bottom of the pond, but also need sunlight to survive. Some plants, like algae, live in the water all of the time. 

Draw a model of plants and animals that live in or near  a waterway in our area. Include how each one uses water and what other needs it has to survive. 

Example: Willow tree

Drinks water through roots, lives near creeks

Sunlight, habitat space, wind for pollination