This document discusses several topics related to watersheds and water resources: 1. It provides information on the Russian River Watershed in California, noting it drains 1,485 square miles and its mainstem is 110 miles long. 2. It explains the ordering system for streams, with smaller tributaries joining to form higher order streams. 3. It describes the characteristics of headwater, transition, and flood plain areas of streams, including differences in temperature, slope, fish and plant life. 4. It outlines the water cycle, noting the sun provides energy to evaporate water from various sources, which condenses to form clouds and returns to Earth as precipitation.

1. US Environmental Protection Agency
WATERSHED

2. Oklahoma University
River Valleys

3.  Drains 1,485 square miles.
 Mainstem 110 miles long.
Russian
River
Watershed

4. • Streams with no
tributaries are 1st
order
• Two first order
streams joining form a
2nd order stream, etc.
• Entrance of smaller
order tributaries does
not change the order
of a stream
Stream Order

5. • Headwaters – cold, well
oxygenated waters with
trout, algae and mosses
and macroinvertebrates
• Transition – warmer water
with gentler slopes and
fewer obstacles – increase
of phytoplankton with
mixed warm and cool
water fish
• Flood plain – deep rivers
along flat broad valleys.
Similar makeup to lakes
Streams

6. Water storage In " Condensation
the atmosphere
Transpiration
t
Water storage
in oceans
The Water Cycle

7. • The overall amount of water on the Earth stays about
the same.
• The water cycle is a process of water movement
between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere.
• The sun provides the energy that drives the water
cycle.
• Heat from the sun evaporates water from the ocean,
lakes, rivers, soil, plant leaves, and body of organisms.
• Water vapor cools in the atmosphere it condenses and
forms droplets in clouds.
• When clouds meet cold air the water returns to the
Earth as precipitation.
• Precipitation is rain, sleet, and snow.
Water Cycle

8. 1. Answer Questions From PCR:
– What is the problem with desalination?
– Give 4 services of a healthy watershed.
– Give examples of places incentivizing healthy
watersheds.
– Give 3 ways we can grow more food for the world
using less water.
Assignment(s) for Each Group

9. Author, Sandra Postel, describes 3 areas of the water crisis:
(1) fresh water shortage
(2) water contamination, and
(3) water privatization
Thought Experiment:
Imagine that you are sitting next to someone on a very long
airplane or bus ride, both drinking your bottled water. Thirsty, you
both run out of water. You have just finished reading this article, and
you exclaim your concern about the current global water crisis. In
response, the person says, "What Crisis? What's the big deal? There
is plenty of water, and even so, I can always buy more bottled water,
because that's what its for." How would you respond to them in
regards to the 3 areas above?
Water: Adapting to the New
Normal

10. • Summary of Estimated Water Use in the United
States in 2005
• Explore Water Conservation
• Water Footprint Calculator
Links:

11. • Cost less than $1500 to build
• Softer Water: 5mg/gal of dissolved
minerals as compared to 500 in city
water.
• Cut water use by 95%
• Many use similar system for laundry and toilets.
Rainwater Harvesting for Consumption