North Carolina's River Basins
Name _____________________________
Click on the link below to access the North Carolina River Basins booklet online in pdf file.
http://www.ee.enr.state.nc.us/public/ecoaddress/riverbasins/riverbook.pdf
Part 1: Start a new page in your science notebook. Title this page, "Freshwater Vocabulary". Locate the following
terms in the North Carolina River Basins booklet. Define these terms in your science notebook.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
river basin
groundwater
ecosystem
watershed
estuary
aquifer
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
topography
wetland
biodiversity
riparian
vegetative buffer
sediment
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
point source pollution
nonpoint source pollution
algal blooms
stormwater
macroinvertebrates
Part 2: Using the booklet and a map of North Carolina, draw and label the major rivers in each NC river basin.
Part 3: Using the booklet, answer the following questions.
1. What happened in the 1990's that made the public aware of the quality of water or health of our rivers in North
Carolina?
2. How is a river basin like a bath tub?
3. Where does all of the water run in a watershed?
4. Who lives in a river basin?
5. The health of an aquatic ecosystem is directly related to the __________________________________.
6. North Carolina has __________ river basins within its boundaries.
7. How many river basins originate in North Carolina?
8. How many river basins are contained entirely within the state's borders?
9. Why does our connection to rivers and streams seem less obvious today?
10. What 8 components make up your ecological address?
11. Why are wetlands important? (3 reasons)
12. How do humans depend on biodiversity?
13. Give one example of an air pollutant that return to the ground and enter the water supply.
14. Why does the stream play a vital role in human lives?
15. Describe a healthy streambed.
16. How can plants and trees influence the health of an ecosystem?
17. How do humans physically change streams?
18. What human activities reduce the land's ability to absorb runoff?
19. What is the goal of the federal Clean Water Act?
20. Why does the state require vegetative buffers along streams and rivers? (3 reasons)
21. What can we do to help maintain water quality in our river basins? List 3 actions you can take as a private citizen.