A watershed is the region of land whose rain and snowmelt drain into a specific body of water. It is also known as a drainage basin.
Watersheds matter
The land surrounding a river or stream directly affects the stream’s flow rate, temperature, plants, animals and communities of people that live there. People who garden on land surrounding a stream directly impact — and so can improve — the health of the community in which they live.
You can make a difference
We’ve altered our watersheds and changed how they function through many activities — farming, urban development and straightening. How you garden can maintain or restore some of the functions of a healthy streamside.
Save your land by planting native trees and plants
Often, homes that are on streams have lawns leading directly up to the edge of the water. The shallow roots of grass are not adequate to protect the bank from erosion. Every time it rains, the streambank that is not protected by native plants erodes, leading to property loss. Tree roots, stems, debris and limbs can slow water flow, allowing sediments to settle out, which means clearer water and improved soil.
Fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides
Chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides are designed to promote or stop biological growth. Either way, they are made to alter the natural ecology, so they are contaminants to stream health. Anything you apply on your garden will eventually end up in the stream, our shared water supply and ecosystem.
Resources
We all live in a watershed. For more information, go to this website: Surf Your Watershed.
