Wetlands. What is a watershed? It is not a shed that holds water!! A watershed is an area of land...
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Transcript of Wetlands. What is a watershed? It is not a shed that holds water!! A watershed is an area of land...
WetlandsWetlands
What is a watershed?What is a watershed?It is not a shed that holds water!!A watershed is an area of land that water
flows across as it moves to a larger body of water
Now that you know what a watershed is and you have some knowledge of what wetlands are:◦Make a T chart: One side my Watershed and the
other My Community.◦Make a list of words describing the watershed
found here and also where your house is◦Then write a summary in one sentence how they
are alike
WatershedsWatershedsNow that we know the river basins that
affect our school yard, think about how people alter these basins.◦List these (at least 3 ways)
Draw a basic map of the school property◦Label the direction water travels/drains when it
rains◦Show high and low areas (pond, parking lots,
buildings, etc)
FactoidFactoid - Did you know?- Did you know?
…If you viewed a watershed from an airplane, you would most likely see a very interesting sight below? The drainage patterns of the watershed may look like the branches of a tree, a complex road system or even the human nervous system.
…in one year a large oak tree will transpire about 40,000 gallons of water (152,200 liters)? That’s a lot of water!
What is a wetland?What is a wetland?
According to the EPA, wetlands are areas where water covers the soil or is present at or near the surface.◦In other words it is land that at one point
becomes saturated?
Swamp – NE NC Bog – Plymouth, NC
Wetlands include a wide variety of aquatic plants
Wetlands are transition areas between dry uplands and aquatic systems (ie. Rivers, lakes or oceans)
To be considered a wetland, a region must have wet soils or be covered by a shallow layer of water for at least part of the year
WetlandsWetlands
Wetlands, cont.Wetlands, cont.
Wetlands are natural reservoirs that hold water, much like a sponge in your kitchen.
Since water and soil is saturated, we use the term “hydric”
North Carolina Wetland MapNorth Carolina Wetland Map
Eastern North Carolina is the land of many wetlands.◦More than 40 different types have been
identified by botanists
Types of WetlandsTypes of Wetlands
More Wetland Types…More Wetland Types…
EstuariesSwamps
◦Freshwater (forested)◦Slough
FensMangrove WetlandsWet PrairieSedge MeadowRiparian WetlandsMarshes
◦Salt water◦Fresh water Tidal Fresh water Marsh
Description of wetlandsDescription of wetlands
Importance of WetlandsImportance of Wetlands
There are 5 functions of wetlands:1)Improve water quality:2)Provide Flood Protection3)Prevent Shoreline Erosion4)Provide Wildlife Habitat5)Provide areas for recreation
Improve Water QualityImprove Water QualityWetland plants and soils act as a filter,
trapping pollutants as they move through the ecosystem. •If the water eventually seeps into underground water supplies, it is much cleaner than it was when it entered the wetland.• Known as “nature’s kidneys”
Improve Water QualityImprove Water Quality
Wetlands are known as “nature’s kidneys” because they help clean out the pollutants that move through them◦They purify and filter contaminants from
agriculture activities◦They filter water that drains and flows off the
surface of the land
Provide Flood ProtectionProvide Flood ProtectionDuring periods of heavy precipitation,
water often flows into low-lying wetlands.
•These wetlands can store excess water and prevent damage to residential or commercial areas.
Provide Flood ProtectionProvide Flood Protection
Wetlands act as giant sponges They absorb heavy rainfall
Those located along the coast serve as a natural barrier from storm surges
Store WaterStore WaterWetlands are important storage areas that
collect rainwater. ◦Some of the water soaks into the ground to
refill the aquifer.
Some is gradually released either back to the atmosphere or to other surface bodies of water
Provide Wildlife HabitatProvide Wildlife HabitatMany plant and animal species depend on
wetlands for survival. They help serve as a nursery
In addition, sheltered and nutrient-rich wetlands serve as ideal nursery areas for a wide variety of animals
Provide Areas of RecreationProvide Areas of Recreation
Humans can visit wetlands to enjoy a number of outdoor activities, including hunting, fishing, boating, hiking and bird watching.
Stormwater SystemsStormwater Systems
A stormwater system is a tool for managing the runoff from rainfall◦When water can’t soak directly in the ground it
flows into grates, swales or ditches located around town.
◦These in turn send water into a stormwater pond (if one has been created)
◦The purpose of this pond is to prevent flooding and remove pollutants before water can infiltrate into the ground water.
Stormwater SystemsStormwater Systems
SwaleDitchGrate
A linear retention system. Constructed or natural to allow water to flow to other
bodies of water.
Water QualityWater Quality
We tend to think water will always be clean forever.
Water is the GREATEST gift of nature…◦But, we pollute a lot.◦We, as humans, have exploited our great
natural gift to a level where water pollution is impossible to control.
• Water Pollution is the contamination of water bodies.
Water PollutionWater Pollution
Industries and Agriculture are big contributors of water pollution◦It not only affects the water quality, but it
damages the life of aquatic species◦When it gets into the water supply like a lake or
pond it can create Eutrophication
EutrophicationEutrophication
Water Pollution FactsWater Pollution Facts
14 Billion pounds of garbage (mostly plastic) is dumped into the ocean every year
About 70% of industrial waste is dumped into water and it pollutes the usable water supply.
In America, 40% of the rivers and 46% of the lakes are polluted and are considered unhealthy for swimming, fishing or aquatic life.
Water pollution is the major cause of various diseases like cholera and typhoid.
U.S. EPA estimates, every year in the U.S, 1.2 trillion gallons of sewage from household, industry and restaurants is dumped in to U.S. water annually.
Water Pollution Facts, Cont.Water Pollution Facts, Cont.
About 700 million people worldwide drink contaminated water.
Storm water from streets, parking lots, and otherpaved surfaces (known as urban runoff) carries pollution directly into our waters
Agricultural runoff is also one of the leading sources of water impairment for rivers and streams, estuaries, and lakes
In 2008 the Gulf of Mexico dead zone was estimated to be 7,988 sq. miles, roughly the size of New Jersey.
Nonpoint Source PollutionNonpoint Source Pollution
Nonpoint Source comes from many different sources.◦Excess fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides
from agricultural lands and residential areas◦Oil, grease, and toxic chemicals from urban
runoff and energy production◦Sediment from improperly managed
construction sites, crop and forest lands, and eroding stream banks
◦Salt from irrigation practices and acid drainage from abandoned mines
◦Bacteria and nutrients from livestock, pet wastes, and faulty septic system
Point Source PollutionPoint Source Pollution
EPA Defines this as “any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are discharged”
•Factories and sewage treatment plants are 2 common sources.
Protecting WaterProtecting Water
Clean Water Act of 1972 was put into place in order to protect our water.◦It regulates the discharge of pollutants into the
waters of the US.◦It regulates the quality standards for surface
waters.◦This act has set wastewater standards for
industry
PreservingPreserving
Promote Water EfficiencyPreserve Water EcosystemsReduce air pollution, wasted energy and
amount of deforested lands to correct climate change
Careers in Wetland EnvironmentsCareers in Wetland Environments
Botanist – Studies plants and plant lifeAquatic Biologist – Studies plants and animals
that live in freshwater ecosystems, including wetlands
Geologist – studies earth and physical processes that change it
Zoologist – studies animals, not necessarily those at a zoo
Environmentalist – Studies the environment and advocates the protection of the environment
Make your own WatershedMake your own Watershed
Now we are going to create our own watershed.◦Get into groups of 2-3◦Take 1 lab sheet per group◦Grab all the supplies for the lab (except the
pollutants◦Begin by reading the background knowledge