Exploring Watersheds
As we paddled to Brule Lake, we traveled through small lakes and streams. We
portaged around places where the streams formed rapids. Dave and I began to think
about water and where it flows. This week's Notes from the Trail is all about
watersheds.
A watershed is the area of land where its water drains into a common place. Rivers,
tributaries, wetlands, ponds and lakes all are features of watersheds. Mountains,
grasslands, deserts and forests are also important features of a watershed. A
watershed acts like a funnel that helps to transport water to the sea. Watersheds
come in all shapes and sizes, they cross county, state and national boundaries.
Water is always moving downhill. Due to gravity, water always finds the lowest spot
on a surface and collects there, just like puddles form when it rains. If rain falls
anywhere in the watershed, it will flow downhill until it reaches a stream, river, pond
or other type of water body. Generally watersheds are named for the major rivers
that carry the fresh water to the sea.
When it rains where you live, where does the water flow?
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is actually at the top of two
watersheds. We have passed over the the Laurentian Divide, several times. The
Laurentian Divide is a continental divide. Rain that falls on the north side of the
Laurentian Divide is in the Rainy River Watershed, which eventually makes its way
north to Hudson Bay and the Arctic Ocean. Rain that falls on the south side of the
Laurentian Divide flows towards Lake Superior and the Great Lakes Watershed,
making its way east into the Atlantic Ocean. The state of Minnesota is at the top of
three major watersheds. The third watershed is the Mississippi watershed, flowing
into the Gulf of Mexico.
What watershed are you in? What are some major lakes, rivers or bodies of water
near where you live?
Brule Lake, where we are right now is south of the Laurentian Divide. Several small
streams flow into Brule Lake. Water flows out of Brule Lake in two different places.
The water that flows out of the lake to the west eventually forms the Temperance
River. The water that flows out of Brule Lake to the east forms the Brule River. The
Temperance and Brule Rivers flow into Lake Superior.
In the natural world, water is an incredibly important element. Water is the basis for
all life. With over 70% of the earth being covered in water, water seems like a
resource that is dependable and ever-present. However, for humans there is a
limited amount of usable water. Think about how much of the water is salt water in
the oceans. Since fresh water is such an important resource, it is helpful to recognize
it in its various forms and how water shapes our lives and our natural environment.
How do you use water on a daily basis?
In order to ensure safe drinking water and successful habitats for animals and
plants, watersheds need to be healthy and clean. Since water travels such great
distances, it is important to remember that pollution is often carried those distances
as well.
Name: _____________________________________
May22,NotesfromtheTrail
StudentResponseWorksheet(Lower)
ExploringWatersheds
1. A_____________________________isaplacewhereallofthewater
flowsintoa____________________________place.
2. Dueto________________________waterisalwaysmoving
_______________________________.
3. Whatoceandoeswaterthatfallsonthenorthsideofthe
LaurentianDivideendupin?_________________________________
4. RainthatfallssouthoftheLaurentianDivideendsupinthe
___________________________Ocean.
5. TheTemperanceandBruleRiversflowinto
_______________________________________________.
Bonus:Whatistheclosestrivertoyourschool?Whatocean
doesthewaterfromthatriverendupin?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Name:___Answers______
May22,NotesfromtheTrail
StudentResponseWorksheet(Lower)
ExploringWatersheds
1. A____watershed__isaplacewhereallofthewaterflows
intoa____common__place.
2. Dueto__gravity___waterisalwaysmoving
_____downhill________.
3. Whatoceandoeswaterthatfallsonthenorthsideofthe
LaurentianDivideendupin?___ArcticOcean____
4. RainthatfallssouthoftheLaurentianDivideendsupinthe
__Atlantic___Ocean.
5. TheTemperanceandBruleRiversflowinto___Lake
Superior_______.
Bonus:Whatistheclosestrivertoyourschool?Whatocean
doesthewaterfromthatriverendupin?_____Answerswill
vary___________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Name:_____________________________________
May22,NotesfromtheTrail
StudentResponseWorksheet(Upper)
ExploringWatersheds
1. Whatarethreethingsyouknewaboutwatershedsbefore
readingthisweek’sNotes?_________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. Whydoyouthinkearlytravelerstothisareaportagedaround
rapids,justlieDaveandAmydo?__________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. Whatoceansarefedbythewatershedsthatmakeupthe
BoundaryWaters?__________________________________________________
4. TheTemperanceRiverand______________________Riverflowinto
________________________________________.
Bonus:Whatistheclosestrivertoyourschool?Whatoceandoes
thewaterfromthatriverendupin?__________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Name:_____Answer____
May22,NotesfromtheTrail
StudentResponseWorksheet(Upper)
ExploringWatersheds
5. Whatarethreethingsyouknewaboutwatershedsbefore
readingthisweek’sNotes?___Answerswillvary______
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
6. Whydoyouthinkearlytravelerstothisareaportagedaround
rapids,justlieDaveandAmydo?__________________________________
__________Answerswillvary_________
________________________________________________________________________
7. Whatoceansarefedbythewatershedsthatmakeupthe
BoundaryWaters?____ArticandAtlantic_______
8. TheTemperanceRiverand___Brule__Riverflowinto_Lake
Superior_____.
Bonus:Whatistheclosestrivertoyourschool?Whatoceandoes
thewaterfromthatriverendupin?__________________________________
_______Answerswillvary
______________________________________________________________________