physical and chemical water quality conditions able to support healthy biological communities.These areas often have a high density, diversity, and productivity of plant and animal species relative to nearby uplands. habitat of sufficient size and connectivity to support native aquatic and riparian riparianAreas adjacent to rivers and streams.dynamic hydrologic hydrologicPertaining to the science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water. and geomorphologic geomorphologicPertaining to the study of physical landscapes (landforms) and the processes that create and mold them. processes within their natural range of variation,.What is a Healthy Watershed?Ī healthy watershed is one in which natural land cover supports: EPA’s healthy watersheds activities mainly focus on these smaller watersheds. You might live in that watershed, but at the same time you live in a watershed of a smaller, local stream or river that flows eventually into the Mississippi. The Mississippi River has a huge watershed that covers all or parts of 33 states. Watersheds exist at different geographic scales, too. Because we all live on the land, we all live in a watershed - thus watershed condition is important to everyone. Every inch of the United States is part of a watershed – in other words, all land drains into a lake, river, stream or other water body and directly affects its quality.
Like water bodies (e.g., lakes, rivers, and streams), individual watersheds share similarities but also differ in many ways. How much healthy watersheds assessment has been done in the U.S.?Ī watershed – the land area that drains to one stream, lake or river – affects the water quality in the water body that it surrounds.What is evaluated in a healthy watersheds assessment?.What is being done to protect healthy watersheds?.
Why is EPA concerned with healthy watersheds?.Why do watersheds need to be protected?.How might healthy watersheds affect me?.