A watershed is the land area from which surface water drains into a common stream channel, lake, reservoir, or other body of water. It is the geographical area of land that collects, stores, and transports water. A watershed can be large, like the Mississippi River watershed, or small, such as all the water that drains to a small pond. Large watersheds are often called basins, and contain many small watersheds. 

Everything we do in a watershed affects the water quality. The water from your tap and in nearby lakes or streams is part of a much larger water system. While not everyone lives next to a pond or stream, we all live in a watershed.

Common activities like driving your car or hiking along a river can affect water quality. By paying careful attention to how you manage activities around your home and in places you like to visit, you can protect your watershed and the water you drink.  Find out ways to help, both at home and in the community: some ways you can help.

RIPARIAN VEGETATION

Vegetation along streambanks provides shade, food and shelter for aquatic macroinvertebrates and helps stabilize the banks. Steep, bare spots along a stream may have increased risk of erosion.

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STREAM TEMPERATURE

Many of Utah's streams have cold-water fish, macroinvertebrates, and amphibians that require cold temperatures (maximum: 20 degrees Celsius, 68 degrees Fahrenheit) to survive. Temperatures may fluctuate across seasons, but drastic temperature changes can hinder the metabolic activity of organisms.

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ALGAE GROWTH

Scattered algae indicates a healthy stream. Matted or hairy algae may indicate poor health. An algae bloom indicates excess nutrients, which may come from fertilizers, manure and leaf litter. To learn more about the effects of excess nutrients in streams click here.

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FOAM

In a stream foam can be natural or anthropogenic. Natural foam will have an earthy or fishy smell and will be white, cream-colored, or brown. It will usually be described as more "pillowy" rather than "sudsy". Pollution from detergents can create foam that may smell like soap or perfume and will be white and sudsy. 

RIFFLES, RUNS, AND POOLS

Riffles are the shallow sections of a stream where the water breaks over cobbles, boulders and gravel. A run is the sections of a stream where water is flowing rapidly, generally downstream from riffles. Runs are deeper than riffles. Pools are the deepest and slowest moving sections of a stream. The ideal habitat for many aquatic animals is a mix riffles, runs and pools.