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Watersheds, and watersheds on Salt Spring Island.
What is a Watershed?
What is a Watershed?
Did you know that Salt Spring Island is comprised of more than 25 different named watersheds, plus numerous un-named watersheds? But what exactly determines an area to be a watershed?
A watershed is defined as an area of land that drains all the streams and precipitation to a common outflow point such as reservoirs, bays, and the ocean. The word "watershed" is sometimes referred to as drainage basin or catchment. The watershed consists of surface water, such as lakes, streams, reservoirs, and wetlands, and all the underlying groundwater.
Larger watersheds contain many smaller watersheds, or “sub-watersheds” that contribute to its overall drainage. All the land that drains water to the outflow point is the watershed for that outflow location. Each watershed is separated from adjacent basins by a geographical barrier such as a ridge, hill or mountain, which is known as a water divide.
Not all water flows directly to the ocean, however. When rain falls on dry ground, it can infiltrate into the ground. This groundwater remains in the soil, where it will eventually seep into the nearest stream. Some water infiltrates much deeper, into underground reservoirs called aquifers. Groundwater can move through the aquifer and resurface through springs and wells. Thus, our groundwater and surface water are very much “connected” to each other.
Watersheds are important because the streamflow and the water quality of a river are affected by both natural and human activities occurring on the land area associated with the river-outflow point. For more general information on watersheds, visit here: https://www.crd.bc.ca/education/our-environment/watersheds/watershed-basics.
Do you know your SSI watershed? To learn more about watersheds on Salt Spring Island, including the watershed you live in, have a look at our website "Resources", the various Watershed Notes page, or our SSI FWC webmap. And, consider going on a SSI Watershed Walk.
Our thanks to Christina S. for this "copy" article contribution.
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