What is a Watershed?

Often called a drainage basin, the watershed is the area in which water, sediments, and dissolved minerals drain from higher elevations to a larger body of water, such as a stream, river, lake, estuary or ocean. Because any body of water is a product of the elements in its watershed, the watershed is essential to the health of the ecosystem.

To underscore the importance of the watershed, let's look at the ecosystem of a healthy lake.

Soil on the land contains natural minerals and nutrients from dead plant life and animal excretions.
During a rainstorm, some of the soil travels to a nearby marsh or other wetland.
The wetland (watershed) absorbs the excess nutrients from the soil and releases the correct amount to a stream.

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