VOL. 11, issue 1 © RON CHAPPLE STUDIOS / DREAMSTIME.COM watershed is an area of land A containing streams and rivers that all drain into a single larger body of water, such as a river, a lake or an ocean. The journey of water from stream to ocean begins in our neighborhoods and backyards. Precipitation comes down as rain, hail, snow or sleet. Once it reaches the ground, some water is absorbed by trees and other plants. Water not absorbed by roots enters the ground and becomes part of the water supply or runs downhill off the surface, eventually finding its way into a stream or river. © CAPPI THOMPSON / DREAMSTIME.COM 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 How much is on Earth? hen you look at Earth from outer space, it looks like there is plenty of water on our planet. In fact, only a small amount of it is available for us to use. If all the water on Earth fit into a five-gallon bucket, less than one tablespoon of it would be available for humans and wildlife! © JULIA FREEMAN WOOLPERT / DREAMSTIME.COM Of the total supply of water on earth, 97.2% is saltwater. Only 2.8% is fresh water! Here’s where this precious supply is found: FRESH WATER 2.8% l 0.6% is groundwater (we can use some of this water) l 0.01% is in lakes and streams (we can use some of this water) © NHFG / VICTOR YOUNG PHOTO © NHFG / VICTOR YOUNG l 2.2% is in glaciers and icecaps l 0.001% is water vapor WATER HAS THREE PHYSICAL STATES, DEPENDING ON ITS TEMPERATURE. Below freezing, water is a solid. Between freezing and boiling, When water is heated, water is a liquid. it can become a gas. © KCONNORS / MORGUEFILE.COM © KCONNORS © NHFG / VICTOR YOUNG PHOTO © NHFG / VICTOR YOUNG Ice and snow are “solid” water. Streams, ponds and tap water Steam and clouds are water are “liquid” water. in the form of “gas.” More About ILLEWAERT / CC BY SA 3.0 / CC BY ILLEWAERT H ANS H © 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 M advantage of capillary O C . surface tension, the E M I T action to pull water S M A water is able to E R D / from the soil into L L O hold up the metal. R N their roots and stems. B O R © This program receives Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wild Times for Kids is published twice a year by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Multiple copies are available for schools and youth groups upon request. Send your request to: Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title N.H. Fish and Game Department, Public Affairs Division IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. 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