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This and many other resources are freely provided by Virtual Science Teachers.

Wonderful Watersheds

Begin

Skip to End

Additional watershed activities!

This and many other resources are freely provided by Virtual Science Teachers.

Wonderful Watersheds

Begin

Additional watershed activities!

Skip to End

Select the speech bubble above to continue.

Hi there! I'm so glad you are here!Before we get started, I want you to know that you can select the sentences in this interactive to have them read aloud.

Continue

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Flush the toilet.

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Select the clean toilet water to continue.

Every time we flush the toilet, we use over 1 gallon of water.

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Time to wash hands!Please turn on the water by selecting the faucet.

Select faucet.

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All clean!Please turn the water off.

Washing hands uses about 1 gallon of water.

Select faucet.

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Select the boiling pots of water on the stove.

Meal prep and cleaning in the kitchen uses over 6 gallons of water a day.

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Select the shower to turn it off. It's important to conserve water!

A shower typically uses over 16 gallons of water.

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Select the flowers getting the water they need to live and grow.

Woah, that's a lot of water!

The average person in the United States uses over 80 gallons of water per day! -EPA

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Select the hydrologist.

Where does all the water we use every day come from?

Hi, I'm a hydrologist! I study how water moves and supports life throughout watersheds.

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Select the part of the watershed diagram that shows rainfall.

What is a watershed?

A watershed is an area of land where all the rain and melted snow flows downhill into a common body of water.

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Select the part of the graphic showing streams that are formed in the watershed.

Gravity guides rain and melted snow downhill, collecting in lower areas to form streams.

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Select the part of the graphic that shows the river formed by the tributary streams.

The streams are tributaries that feed into a larger river.

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Select the area of the graphic that shows groundwater.

Some rainwater gets absorbed into the ground, making groundwater and sometimes filling underground rivers or aquifers.

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Select anywhere on Earth that is part of a watershed.Hint- anywhere there's land!

Where are the watersheds?

Every piece of land is part of one of many watersheds on Earth!

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Source

Gulf of Mexico

Chesapeake Bay

North Carolina Sound

Atlantic Ocean

Select the part of the map that shows where the rainwater flows into rivers that lead to the Gulf of Mexico.

Every piece of land belongs to a watershed. In Virginia, for example, the land's water eventually drains into either the Gulf of Mexico, the Chesapeake Bay, or the North Carolina Sound.

Water from this area flows into rivers that lead to the Gulf of Mexico.

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Source

Gulf of Mexico

Chesapeake Bay

North Carolina Sound

Atlantic Ocean

Select the part of the map that shows where the rainwater flows into rivers that lead to the North Carolina Sound.

Water from this area flows into the North Carolina Sound.

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Source

Gulf of Mexico

Chesapeake Bay

North Carolina Sound

Atlantic Ocean

Select the part of the map that shows land that drains into the Chesapeake Bay.

Water from the largest watershed in Virginia flows into the Chesapeake Bay.

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Source

Atlantic Ocean

Select the spot on the map that represents the location of the house.

Oh cool!I now see my house on the map!

Your red house is located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, not far from the James River.

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Select the drinking water to continue.

So, this water comes from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed!

That's right!Now, let's explore the various parts of your watershed to discover more.

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Source

Blue Ridge Mountains

Atlantic Ocean

Select the spot on the map that represents the location of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

First, let's visit the western edge of the watershed at the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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What is an area made up of hills, mountains, or ridges that separates two watersheds?

Woah! That's beautiful!

Welcome to the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the hills, mountains, and ridges form a divide, directing rain either towards the Chesapeake Bay on one side or the Mississippi River on the other.

A valley

A divide

A mesa

A plain

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Select the stream formed by rain and melted snow flowing down from higher elevations.

What a lovely little stream!

Within the mountain forest is one of many small streams.

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What causes a stream to flow downhill and collect more water as it moves down the mountain?

The stream is getting bigger!

Gravity causes the stream to flow downhill, and the stream collects more water as it moves down the mountain

Capillary Action

Gravity

Condensation

Evaporation

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Select the James River.

Amazing! So much water from the mountains has gathered to form the James River!

The James River forms when tributary streams and rainwater from surrounding land converge and flow together.

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Source

Blue Ridge Mountains

Atlantic Ocean

Select the area marked on the map with a plains icon.

Water flows over all kinds of terrain throughout the watershed.

Let's visit the plains!

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Select the rain falling onto the plains.

When it rains on plains, the water spreads across the expansive, flat terrain.

Plains, with their flat or gentle slopes, slow water flow, reducing erosion and allowing more water soak into the soil.

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How can runoff from farm fields impact streams, rivers, and other bodies of water?

This runoff picks up dirt and any chemicals from the fields.

Plains are often used for farming because they are wide and flat. When it rains a lot, the extra water runs off fields like the cornfields below and flows into streams and rivers.

It decreases water levels.

It increases water clarity.

It can introduce pollutants.

It has no effect.

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How can runoff from farms with animals harm streams, groundwater, lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water?

Oh no!

Animal waste can release harmful nutrients and bacteria into streams, lakes, and rivers.

Runoff water from places where farm animals live can carry dirt and waste into streams, lakes, rivers, and larger bodies of water.

By adding harmful nutrients and bacteria

By purifying the water

By cooling thewater temperatures

By adding extra oxygen to the water

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Source

Blue Ridge Mountains

Atlantic Ocean

Select the area on the map marked with a town icon.

Cities and towns also contribute runoff water into local streams, rivers, lakes, and larger bodies of water.

Let's visit a town in the Chesapeake Bay watershed!

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Where does the water that enters a street drain usually go?

Runoff flows down streets and into drains, often carrying pollution.

Impervious surfaces, like roads, parking lots, and sidewalks, don't let water soak into the ground. In towns and cities, this creates runoff that usually flows directly into streams, rivers, lakes, and eventually into larger bodies of water.

Directly to streams, rivers, or lakes

Into the town's drinking water supply

Into a nearby forest

To a local garden

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Source

Blue Ridge Mountains

Atlantic Ocean

Select the area on the map marked with a forest icon.

Some terrains within the watershed help protect the streams, rivers, lakes, and bay.

Let's go check out a forest!

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Why are forests important to a watershed?

Forests clean the water that flows through them!

Forests act like natural sponges, absorbing rainwater through the soil and roots of trees,which helps filter out pollutants before they can reach streams and rivers.

They decrease biodiversity.

They reduce water absorption.

They increase the amount of rainwater that evaporates.

They absorb and filter rainwater.

That's amazing!

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Source

Blue Ridge Mountains

Atlantic Ocean

Select the area on the map marked with a wetlands icon.

Wetlands also play a crucial role in the watershed by absorbing large amounts of water and filtering out pollution.

Let's visit some wetlands!

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Which of the following is NOT a way that wetlands support the health of a watershed?

Wetlands can contain fresh, salt, or brackish water (a mixture of salt and fresh water).

A wetland is an area covered by water for part or all of the year. It filters water pollution with soil and plants, holds the soil in place to stop erosion, soaks up extra water to prevent flooding, and gives many animals and plants a place to live.

Reducing flooding and erosion

Filtering pollutants from water

Providing habitats for diverse wildlife

Increasing water pollution

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Select the clean drinking water.

The water at this house journeyed through various parts of the watershed before being taken from the James River for use by people.

How is water from the James River cleaned and sent to my house?

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Select the engineer from the Department of Water Sanitation.

I am an engineer from the water sanitation plant. I can tell you all about how you get your clean water!

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John H. Kerr Dam

Select the dam that blocks the river and creates a reservoir behind it.

This reservoir is created by humans to store water for homes, farms, and industries.

Many people get their water from natural lakes or man-made reservoirs.

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Select the well used to access water from the aquifer in the graphic above.

An aquifer is a layer of rock, sand, or clay underground that can store and transmit water, which people can access through wells.

Some people get their water from groundwater that is collected and stored underground in aquifers.

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This is a view from above the water sanitation plant and the James River.

Select the James River in the image above.

Most of the water that you use in your red house comes from the James River.

Rivers serve as a vital water source for many people.

James River

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Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program

Select the water as it gets filtered at the water sanitation plant.

The water is tested at the plant to ensure it's clean and safe.

The river water is filtered to remove particles and then treated with chemicals to kill germs, making it clean and safe for drinking.

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Select the pipes that carry water to the house.

We work hard at the sanitation plant to make sure everyone gets the clean water they need every day!

The clean water is pumped to homes and businesses through pipes.

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Select the water as it drains in the sink.

Where does the water go after I use it?

This water has traveled throughout the watershed, sanitation plant, and pipes to reach the sink.

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Select any of the sources of wastewater found in many homes.

Water that goes down toilets, sinks, showers, and any other drains is considered wastewater.

Wow, my home generates a lot of wastewater!

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Select the sewage pipes that carry wastewater back to the sanitation plant.

Back to the sanitation plant- the water goes!

Sewage pipes carry wastewater back to the water sanitation plant to be cleaned.

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Source

User:Konsciousimages, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Select the James River, where cleaned wastewater gets returned.

We clean the wastewater and put it back in the river.

Wastewater is cleaned at the sanitation plant before being returned to the James River.In some places, the wastewater is cleaned and recycled back to homes and businesses for use!

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Is it important to conserve water?

The process of providing clean water for people to use consumes a lot of energyand takes water from the environment that wildlife depends on.

No!It is always important to use only the water you need!

Only duringa drought

Only if you live in a dry place

Nah, use all the water you want!

Yes, it's always important to conserve water.

Is it okay to use as much water as I want?

Skip to End

Source

Blue Ridge Mountains

Atlantic Ocean

Select the Chesapeake Bay on the map.

After making its way through the various terrains of the watershed, water eventually reaches the Chesapeake Bay.

Let's visitthe Chesapeake Bay!

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Select the water of the Chesapeake Bay.

Welcome to the Chesapeake Bay! Here, water from mountains, farmland, plains, cities, forests, and wetlands across the watershed flows together into this vibrant estuary.

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What makes the Chesapeake Bay an estuary?

The Chesapeake Bay is an estuary because its water is brackish,a mixture of fresh water from the rivers that flow into it and the salty ocean water.

It is where river freshwater mixes with ocean saltwater.

It is entirely saltwater and supports coral reef ecosystems.

It is a freshwater lake with diverse aquatic life.

Estuaries provide unique and essential conditions that many species need to thrive.

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Let's review what we've learned about watersheds.

Watersheds truly are wonderful! They contain so many different terrains and ecosystems!

Yes! And they give us and all living things the water we need.

That's why we need to take care of them!

Continue

Skip to End

Wonderful Watersheds

Select here when you know the code word.

Skip to End

Source

Blue Ridge Mountains

Additional watershed activities!

Atlantic Ocean

or a hydrologist who studies and protects watersheds!

Great work learning about watersheds!

Perhaps one day you will be an engineer that cleans water...

Help VST!Provide us feedback about this interactive.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chesbayprogram/52988990991

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chesbayprogram/52989129769/in/photostream/

Not quite.

Wetlands filter pollutants, reduce flooding and erosion, and provide habitats for a diverse array of wildlife.

Try again!

Not quite.

The hills, mountains, and ridges that form a divide in a watershed act as boundaries that determine the direction in which water flows.

Try again!

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/va-watersheds-color.pdf

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/va-watersheds-color.pdf

The River Runner

The River Runner website enables you to select any location and track how a drop of water flows through the watershed. Select a location upstream from where you live and watch how the waterdrop's path compares to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed featured in this interactive.Please be aware that the site uses animations which may affect individuals with visual sensitivities or motion sickness.

Open River Runner U.S. in a new tab.

Additional Activities

Open River Runner Global in a new tab.

Research the specific source of your drinking water, where the treatment plant is located, and where wastewater from your community ends up.

Investigate sources of water pollution in your community and consider how you can positively impact YOUR watershed.

Water Testing and Water Sampling Simulations from Conserve Water Interactives

Yes!

Runoff that enters street drains typically flows directly into streams, rivers, lakes, and eventually into larger bodies of water.

Continue

Not quite.

Runoff that enters street drains typically flows directly into streams, rivers, lakes, and eventually into larger bodies of water.

Try again!

Not quite.

The hills, mountains, and ridges that form a divide in a watershed act as boundaries that determine the direction in which water flows.

Try again!

Not quite.

Forests absorb water and help filter out pollutants before they can reach streams and rivers.

Try again!

Not quite.

Runoff that enters street drains typically flows directly into streams, rivers, lakes, and eventually into larger bodies of water.

Try again!

Yes!

Animal waste from farms can release harmful nutrients and bacteria into streams, groundwater, lakes, and rivers.

Continue

Not quite.

Runoff from farm fields often carries harmful pollutants like herbicides and pesticides into nearby streams, rivers, and other bodies of water.

Try again!

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/va-watersheds-color.pdf

Not quite.

Runoff from farm fields often carries harmful pollutants like herbicides and pesticides into nearby streams, rivers, and other bodies of water.

Try again!

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/va-watersheds-color.pdf

Not quite.

Wetlands filter pollutants, reduce flooding and erosion, and provide habitats for a diverse array of wildlife.

Try again!

Yes!

The Chesapeake Bay is an estuary because its water is brackish, a mixture of fresh water from the rivers that flow into it and the salty ocean water.

Continue

Not quite.

The Chesapeake Bay is an estuary because its water is brackish, a mixture of fresh water from the rivers that flow into it and the salty ocean water.

Try again!

Not quite.

Forests absorb water and help filter out pollutants before they can reach streams and rivers.

Try again!

Yes!

The hills, mountains, and ridges that form a divide in a watershed act as boundaries that determine the direction in which water flows.

Continue

Not quite.

Wetlands filter pollutants, reduce flooding and erosion, and provide habitats for a diverse array of wildlife.

Try again!

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/va-watersheds-color.pdf

Yes!

Forests absorb water and help filter out pollutants before they can reach streams and rivers.

Continue

Not quite.

The Chesapeake Bay is an estuary because its water is brackish, a mixture of fresh water from the rivers that flow into it and the salty ocean water.

Try again!

Not quite.

Gravity is the force that causes water to flow downhill.

Try again!

Not quite.

Gravity is the force that causes water to flow downhill.

Try again!

Not quite.

Gravity is the force that causes water to flow downhill.

Try again!

Yes!

It's important to always conserve water because providing clean water for people to use consumes a lot of energy and takes water from the environment that wildlife depends on.

Continue

Not quite.

It's important to always conserve water because providing clean water for people to use consumes a lot of energy and takes water from the environment that wildlife depends on.

Try again!

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/va-watersheds-color.pdf

Yes!

Wetlands filter pollutants, reduce flooding and erosion, and provide habitats for a diverse array of wildlife.

Continue

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/va-watersheds-color.pdf

Yes!

Runoff from farm fields often carries harmful pollutants like herbicides and pesticides into nearby streams, rivers, and other bodies of water.

Continue

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/va-watersheds-color.pdf

Not quite.

Runoff that enters street drains typically flows directly into streams, rivers, lakes, and eventually into larger bodies of water.

Try again!

Not quite.

It's important to always conserve water because providing clean water for people to use consumes a lot of energy and takes water from the environment that wildlife depends on.

Try again!

Not quite.

Forests absorb water and help filter out pollutants before they can reach streams and rivers.

Try again!

Not quite.

Runoff from farm fields often carries harmful pollutants like herbicides and pesticides into nearby streams, rivers, and other bodies of water.

Try again!

The River Runner

The River Runner website enables you to select any location and track how a drop of water flows through the watershed. Select a location upstream from where you live and watch how the waterdrop's path compares to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed featured in this interactive.Please be aware that the site uses animations which may affect individuals with visual sensitivities or motion sickness.

Open River Runner U.S. in a new tab.

Additional Activities

Open River Runner Global in a new tab.

Research the specific source of your drinking water, where the treatment plant is located, and where wastewater from your community ends up.

Investigate sources of water pollution in your community and consider how you can positively impact YOUR watershed.

Water Testing and Water Sampling Simulations from Conserve Water Interactives

The River Runner

The River Runner website enables you to select any location and track how a drop of water flows through the watershed. Select a location upstream from where you live and watch how the waterdrop's path compares to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed featured in this interactive.Please be aware that the site uses animations which may affect individuals with visual sensitivities or motion sickness.

Open River Runner U.S. in a new tab.

Additional Activities

Open River Runner Global in a new tab.

Research the specific source of your drinking water, where the treatment plant is located, and where wastewater from your community ends up.

Investigate sources of water pollution in your community and consider how you can positively impact YOUR watershed.

Water Testing and Water Sampling Simulations from Conserve Water Interactives

Not quite.

Animal waste from farms can release harmful nutrients and bacteria into streams, groundwater, lakes, and rivers.

Try again!

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/va-watersheds-color.pdf

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/va-watersheds-color.pdf

Not quite.

Animal waste from farms can release harmful nutrients and bacteria into streams, groundwater, lakes, and rivers.

Try again!

Not quite.

The hills, mountains, and ridges that form a divide in a watershed act as boundaries that determine the direction in which water flows.

Try again!

Not quite.

It's important to always conserve water because providing clean water for people to use consumes a lot of energy and takes water from the environment that wildlife depends on.

Try again!

https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/va-watersheds-color.pdf

Yes!

Gravity is the force that causes water to move downhill.

Continue

Not quite.

Animal waste from farms can release harmful nutrients and bacteria into streams, groundwater, lakes, and rivers.

Try again!