Watershed Systems

In 1623, an English poet by the name of John Donne wrote, No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. How true this statement is for all living organisms on our planet. Lets investigate the natural processes and human interactions that affect Earths ecosystems and watersheds. Our planet is filled with many different types of ecosystems. An ecosystem is a made up of the living, or biotic, community that interacts with the non-living, or abiotic, factors affecting the ecosystem. These abiotic factors determine the types of ecosystems, their plants and animals, and the amount of human interaction. They include topography (the shape of the land), landforms (features like mountains and valleys), geology (what the Earth is made of), soils, sunlight, air quality, oxygen availability, and water supply. Due to the importance of water supply to all of Earths ecosystems, the health of an ecosystem is directly related to its water quality. Today, more than ever before in history, water quality often depends on us. We as human organisms are part of the ecosystems around us, and our daily actions affect the health of these ecosystems. Our activities often change the abiotic parts of ecosystems and either increase or decrease the natural processes. Lets use the natural process of flooding and erosion as examples. People can decrease flooding by preserving or restoring wetland areas or increase flooding by destroying wetlands. People can decrease erosion in an area by planting trees or they can increase erosion in an area by cutting down trees. Sediments from eroded land can impact the health of a waterway and the life within it. Commercial businesses must follow careful legal rules in order to build in an area that is classified as wetlands, but everyone needs to consider ways to minimize impacts on the surrounding ecosystems.

A watershed is an area of land that water flows across on its way to a stream, lake, wetland, or other body of water. The three major regional watershed systems in Virginia lead to the Chesapeake Bay, the North Carolina Sounds, or the Gulf of Mexico. Watersheds are separated from each other by areas of higher elevations, such as ridgelines and divides. Water on one side of a divide flows in a different direction than water on the other side of the divide. Topography plays the major role in determining the watershed in which you live. In addition to serving as an important water habitat, estuaries are also important to people. Estuaries play an important role in the United States economy. They attract tourists, serve the

shipping and commercial fishing industries, and are enjoyable recreation areas for many different water sports. In addition, estuaries also help control pollution by filtering pollutants out of the water and prevent coastal flooding and erosion by absorbing storm waters before they can reach inland areas. Our nation's waters are continuously monitored by state, federal, and local agencies. Water quality monitoring involves the collection of water samples to analyze chemical and biological parameters, or conditions. Some of these parameters include pH, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and the presence of macroinvertebrates. Lets find out how scientists use these parameters to determine the health of a water habitat. PH is the measure of how acidic or basic a water source is. A pH range of 6.0 to 9.0 has been found to support and protect freshwater aquatic life. High pH levels can damage the tissues of aquatic animals and cause death. Temperature can also affect the health of a water habitat. Changes outside of the normal seasonal changes can be harmful. When human activities change water temperatures in rivers and streams, the death of aquatic life can result. Salinity is the measure of dissolved salts in a water system. High levels of salt can damage floodplains and wetlands. Salinity levels also determine what plant and animal species can live in a water habitat. Dissolved oxygen levels in a water system affect the growth and reproduction of aquatic animals. Low levels can kill animals such as oysters, clams, and fish. Turbidity has to do with the amount of suspended solids in a water system. The clearer the water is, the lower the turbidity. Increased turbidity can be caused by silt and clay from shoreline erosion as well as an increase in the numbers of microscopic plants called

phytoplankton. High levels of turbidity can block sunlight, clog the gills of fish, and smother
aquatic nurseries. The presence of certain macroinvertebrates in a water system can indicate the health of the aquatic ecosystem. By looking at the types of organisms that are living in a water habitat,

scientists can tell how healthy the water is. The water quality of a habitat is good when it is rich in oxygen and supports a variety of organisms. Water quality is fair when it has less oxygen and low levels of pollutants. Water quality is poor when it has high levels of pollutants. Some organisms can survive only in water of good quality, while others can live in any quality of water. For example, if scientists find mayfly larvae, that indicates good water quality. This is because mayfly larvae are very sensitive to pollutants and changes in the other parameters. The presence of leeches, however, may indicate a problem. This is because leeches can live in any type of water. Water monitoring also helps determine whether pollution control programs are working and to direct pollution control efforts to areas where they are most needed.