Rivers and Streams

1. Rivers and
Streams
2017

2. watershed = land area drained by a
stream or river and all of its
tributaries

3. What divides a watershed?
A “watershed divide,” a physical
divide such as a mountain, hill, etc.

4. streams
physical divide
(mountain, hill)
river
Water Source
(rain, springs,
snow melt)
High point

5. How many watersheds do
we have in
Pennsylvania?

6. How many major river basins
or watersheds do we
have in Pennsylvania?
6

7. What is the name of the
watershed we live in?

8. What is the name of the
watershed we live in?
Susquehanna
Watershed

9. Pennsylvania’s 6
Watersheds

10. How much of the state
drains into the
Susquehanna watershed?

11. How much of the state
drains into the
Susquehanna
watershed?
1/2

12. Physical Features
1. bigger than streams
2. deeper water
3. colder water due to:
a. movement
b. tree shade
4. often don’t freeze
Rivers
Benefits
1. Provide electricity
2. Drain rainwater to prevent flooding
3. Provide habitats
4. Travel routes for people
5. Carry nutrients and organisms to
crops and animals

13. Physical Features
1. smaller than rivers
2. shallow water
3. warmer water
Streams
Benefits
1. Help drain rainwater to prevent flooding
2. Provide habitats
3. organisms to fish and other animals

14. 1. Start at a high point
2. Are different shapes and sizes
3. Come from water sources like rain, springs,
snow melt
4. Eventually run into a large inland of water
like a lake or the ocean
Both

15. Rivers/Streams vs.
Ponds/Lakes
moving water still water
More oxygen from bubbling over rocks
colder temps warmer
typically do not freeze freeze

16. Fish need trees.
WHY ?!?!?!?

17. For Shelter from
1. Weather
2. Predators
3. Moving water
4. The sun

18. Find Shelter in
1. Streamside trees and roots
2. Rocks and boulders
3. branches
4. shadows

19. Anatomy of a River

20. Anatomy of a River
river source where a river begins; also called headwaters;
can be from underground spring, mountain
snow, or small streams
tributary river or stream that feeds into another river
river channel the path a river carves across the landscape;
shape of it depends on:
•how big the river is
•how old the river is
•the soil, rock, and vegetation
river bank land next to the river
mouth or delta end of a river, land flattens out, water slows
down, fan-shaped, usually meets ocean, lake, or
wetland

21. Anatomy of a River
river source where a river begins; also called
headwaters; can be from
underground spring, mountain
snow, or small streams
tributary
river channel
river bank
mouth or delta

22. Anatomy of a River
river source
tributary river or stream that feeds into
another river
river channel
river bank
Mouth or delta

23. Anatomy of a Riverriver source
tributary
river channel the path a river carves across the
landscape; shape depends on:
•how big the river is
•how old the river is
•the soil, rock, and
vegetation
river bank
Mouth or delta

24. Anatomy of a River
river source
tributary
river channel
river bank land next to the river
Mouth or delta

25. Anatomy of a River
river source
tributary
river channel
river bank
mouth or delta end of a river, land flattens
out, water slows down, fan-
shaped, usually meets
ocean, lake, or wetland

26. Riparian Zone
Riparian Zone = Edge of a stream
•Trees live here
•Hold streambanks together
•Stabilize soil
•Provide shelter for trout and other fish
•Provide shade to cool water temps
•Have leaves that are food for aquatic insects

27. What part of a river is
this?

28. bank

29. What part of a river is
this?

30. channel

31. What part of a river is
this?

32. tributaries

33. What part of a river is this?

34. headwaters

35. What part of a river is
this?

36. delta or mouth

37. Riparian Zone
Riparian Zone = Edge of a stream
•Trees live here
•Hold streambanks together
•Stabilize soil
•Provide shelter for trout and other fish
•Provide shade to cool water temps
•Have leaves that are food for aquatic insects