WatershedsWhat is a watershed?
A watershed is an area
that drains into a single body of water, such as a stream, river,
or ocean. Sometimes watersheds are called basins or catchment basins.
The boundaries of a watershed are determined by the surface features
of the land, or its topography. Watersheds can be nested one inside
the other. For example, the United States could be divided into
three giant watersheds: one to the west of the Rocky Mountains that
drains into the Pacific Ocean, one to the east of the Appalachian
Mountains that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and one in between
those two that drains into the Gulf of Mexico. However, within each
one of these watersheds, there are many watersheds that drain into
rivers and smaller bodies of water.
The Mystic River WatershedThe Mystic River Watershed is an area of 76 square miles in eastern Massachusetts. This watershed is home to numerous species, including over 400,000 humans in 21 cities. Other noteworthy species that live in the Mystic River Watershed are alewife, blue herons, cormorants, muskrats, fox, and even an occasional coyote. Rain that falls on the Mystic River Watershed flows as runoff or through storm sewers directly into the Mystic River, or into the Mystic River through the Aberjona River, Alewife Brook, Chelsea Creek, Malden River, Mill Brook, or numerous lakes and ponds. There are 44 lakes and ponds in the watershed. The largest, Spot Pond in Stoneham, spans 307 acres.Heavy human use of the watershed has led to some major environmental problems. The land in the watershed has been developed right up to the river's banks, so natural flooding now can damage buildings and homes. Few natural or undeveloped areas are left to provide habitat for the watershed's wildlife. Without open ground to filter and clean runoff water, non-point source pollution from lawn fertilizer, other nutrient sources, and oil residue on roads runs directly into the river. Polluted waters and river sediments are also a problem in the Mystic River Watershed. Dangerous chemicals and waste products have been dumped into the river and on its banks since the watershed was first used for industrial purposes. During intense rains or when domestic water use peaks, untreated sewage sometimes spills from overflowing combined sewer networks into the Mystic River. In addition, the Mystic River has abnormally high levels of the heavy metals arsenic and chromium. To find out more about the Mystic Watershed, we recommend going to the website of the Mystic River Watershed Association. There you will find maps and a more detailed history of the watershed, as well as information about its hydrology and ecological significance. Related Links: Links For Kids: |
This website is sponsored by the Mystic Watershed Collaborative,
a partnership between Tufts University and The Mystic River Watershed Association.
Copyright © 2002 Tufts University. All rights reserved.