Watersheds
Scott A. Sinex production (modified by Barbara Gage
A map of streams in an area
N
Main Stream
streams
tributary to the main stream
tributary to the main stream
Major stream in watershed
Drainage divide N
high spot or ridge
N
What is general
streamflow direction?
Any water flowing north?
Teachers’ Creek
N
Teachers’ Creek watershed
If the stream is Teachers’ Creek, the
watershed is called the Teachers’ Creek
watershed or drainage basin.
Drainage Divide
Runoff to the west
Runoff to the east
Looking north up ridge
headwaters
Major streams in watershed
N
Watershed boundary
headwaters
Tributary
to major
stream
mouth
main channel
mouth
N
Area of collection
of precipitation
Watershed
subwatershed
Even smaller
subwatershed
N
Nested
watersheds
airshed
Watershed is like a
funnel
watershed
Container such as
Chesapeake Bay
Watershed and Airshed of
Chesapeake Bay
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/streams/acid/page4.html