Embedded Files
Watershed 6-8
Watershed 6-8
Class Discussion:
What term describes water that flows across the Earth's surface after a storm or other precipitation event (snow, ice storm, etc.)?
Stormwater is water that flows off roads and buildings into storm drains, which often lead directly to streams, rivers, lakes, etc. Some stormwater will soak into the ground.
When stormwater runs along the ground towards a larger body of water, it may pick up various pollutants and pull them into a body of water, creating stormwater runoff.
Stormwater runoff is the #1 cause of stream impairment in urban areas.
What are things that could contribute to water pollution as part of stormwater runoff?
There are many things that can cause water pollution:
- Throwing trash or litter
- Leaking chemicals such as oil, gasoline, or other common household chemicals (paint, car wash soap, cleaners, etc.)
- Leaking sewage pipes or septic tanks
- Pet waste-- not picking up after dogs
- Construction areas loosening dirt
- Farms or households using too much fertilizer or pesticides
- Other chemicals or waste from factories or industry
All of this pollution is pushed into our watershed due to stormwater runoff. A watershed is an area of land where all of the water flows in one direction, toward a larger body of water.
The direction that water travels in a watershed is based on the topography, or how the land is shaped in regards to features and elevation. The topography of the land shapes the watershed.
We all live in a watershed. Which watershed do you think we live in?
Hint: Which river runs through the wetlands?
The Upper Oconee Watershed
What would happen if we caused pollution in the Oconee River?
It could become caught in any of the streams, lakes, riverbanks, or wetlands where the Oconee River flows. It could also end up in the Atlantic Ocean!
The Oconee River joins the Altamaha River in Southern Georgia before the water moves to the Atlantic Ocean. Not all watersheds in Georgia lead to the Atlantic Ocean-- notice the direction of each watershed in the image below:
In this Georgia Watersheds map, the arrows show the general direction that water will flow in the state of Georgia. Watersheds in the eastern part of the state will flow towards Georgia's Barrier Islands and the Atlantic Ocean.
Towards which body of water will water on the western side of the state flow?
Water from these watersheds may flow into neighboring Alabama and Florida before reaching the Gulf of Mexico.
Class Activity: Watershed Post
Materials: writing utensils, colored pencils or markers, postcard printouts (https://drive.google.com/open?id=1fDYX5aF7caxBO2-qxiy_XxhZoX4EMkI84FisM6EzddI)
- For this activity, students will write a postcard to a watershed polluter explaining how watershed pollution can affect waterways in the entire state
- For example, a student could write to a farmer who may have used too much fertilizer or to a neighbor who cleans paint brushes with a hose outside
- Students could also write their postcard as a Public Service Announcement for a school, business, neighborhood, community group, etc.
- Students may design the front of the postcard to relate to the pollution topic they are addressing in their postcard
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