VOL. 11, Issue 1 Awatershed Is an Area of Land Containing Streams and Rivers That All Drain Into a Single Larger Body of Water

VOL. 11, issue 1 A that alldrainintoasinglelarger body ofwater, suchasariver, a lake oranocean.Thejourneyof water fromstreamtoocean containingstreamsandrivers watershed isanareaofland begins inourneighborhoods and backyards. as rain,hail,snoworsleet. Precipitation comesdown Once itreachestheground, not absorbedbyroots entersthe ground andbecomes part ofthe trees andotherplants.Water some waterisabsorbedby water supply or runs downhill off its wayinto astreamorriver. the surface,eventually finding New Hampshire’s Downstream Journey

A watershed can cover a small area or a large stretch of land. Small watersheds are usually part of larger watersheds. For example, the Merrimack River watershed is a large watershed in New Hampshire and Massachusetts that is formed by many smaller watersheds. The Baker River, Pemigewasset River, Winnipesaukee River and Contoocook River are all 2. tributaries in New Hampshire that collect rainwater from the surrounding hills and mountains and flow together to form the Merrimack River, which eventually flows through Massachusetts and drains photo © nhfg / staff into the Atlantic Ocean. There are five major watersheds in New Hampshire.

NEW HAMPSHIRE WATERSHEDS

Androscoggin River and watershed

Connecticut River and watershed © nhfg / victor young photo © nhfg / victor young

Merrimack River and watershed

Piscataqua River and watershed A river begins at its source or Saco River headwaters, usually at a spring, and watershed 1. swamp, marsh or lake in the mountains.

The upper parts of rivers are usually steep, and the water flows fast, carving a narrow channel. With the tumbling motion, the stream picks up small particles of soil and dead plant material and mixes oxygen into the water. The water is cold, with little growing in it, and dense tree cover blocks the sunlight. Stonefly nymphs and black-nose dace live here. Downstream Journey ollowing water’s journey downhill may take you through many different kinds of Fwaterbodies – streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and estuaries – each providing the habitat needs for a wide variety of animals.

As the water continues downhill, pools form between cascades of rushing water, allowing some soil 2. and plant material to settle out. This kind of habitat is home to brook trout, mussels and mink. © nhfg / staff photo © nhfg / staff © nhfg / victor young photo © nhfg / victor young © richard gunion / dreamstime.com photo © nhfg / victor young © terry spivey / bugwood.org © chuck szmurlo / gfdl 1.2 © chuck szmurlo © usfws / eric engbretson photo © julia freeman woolpert / dreamstime.com

As the landscape flattens out, the water flows more slowly. You may find freshwater wetland areas along the banks. Here, you can find beaver, smallmouth bass and damselflies. © steve nanz.com 3. © nhfg / victor young photo © nhfg / victor young © nhfg / victor young photo © nhfg / victor young

Water has three physical states, depending on its temperature. Below freezing, water is a solid. © nhdfl photo

The point where rivers flow into another waterbody is called the mouth of the river. In New Hampshire, rivers meet the ocean as they 4. go through estuaries. An estuary is where the fresh water of the river mixes with the saltwater of the ocean. This habitat is teaming with Ice and snow are “solid” water.

wildlife like horseshoe crabs, mummichog fish and great blue herons. © usfws / gary kramer photo © julia freeman woolpert / dreamstime.com © nhfg / victor young photo available forhumansandwildlife! the water on Earth fit into a bucket, five-gallon less than one tablespoon of it would be How much Below freezing, waterisasolid. Ice andsnow are “solid”water. W on our planet. In fact, only a small amount of it is available for us to use. If all water of plenty is there like looks it space, outer from Earth at look you hen ater

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is on physical Between freezingandboiling, Streams, ponds andtapwater Earth? Of the total supply of water on earth, 97.2% is is 97.2% earth, on water of supply total the Of

states saltwater. Only 2.8% is fresh water! Here’s where l are “liquid” water.are “liquid” water isaliquid. 0.001%iswatervapor this precioussupplyisfound: l 2.2%isinglaciersandicecaps l l 0.01% is in lakes and streams (we can use some of this water) 0.6%isgroundwater(wecanusesomeofthiswater) , FRESH WATER depending 2.8%

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temperature Steam andclouds arewater When waterisheated, it canbecomeagas. in theform of“gas.” .

ater (H2O) is attracted to other water molecules. This is called cohesion. Surface tension is the name we give to the cohesion of water molecules at the surface of a body of water. Surface tension allows insects like water striders (above) to “skate” across the top of a pond.

Water can also be attracted to other kinds of molecules (adhesion). Capillary ACTIVITY action is related to the adhesive You can experiment properties of with surface tension. water. You can see Try floating a pin capillary action or a paperclip on for yourself by the top of a glass placing a straw of water. A metal into a glass of pin or paper clip is water. The water heavier than water, “climbs” up the but because of the straw. Plants take

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