Virginia Save Our Streams Program

by: Christine Lamb

 

What is a watershed?

It is the area of land that drains into streams and rivers.

How to make a watershed model

 

How do they become polluted?

  • Point source pollution
    • litter
    • trash dumping
    • factory
    • power plant

  • Non-point source pollution
    • acid rain
    • fecal matter
    • agriculture
    • urban runoff

 

How do we monitor watersheds?

More information can be found at http://www.people.virginia.edu.

Why do we monitor watersheds?

  • acceptable vs. unacceptable ecological condition

  • increase and sustain biodiversity
  • reach fishable and swimmable waters again
  • they are in everybody's backyard

Questions:

  • What helps in monitoring the health of watershed communities?
  • Describe one macroinvertebrate that is somewhat sensitive to the level of water pollution.
  • How can water communities become polluted?
 
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