Watersheds & Wetlands

Dive into the world of watersheds and wetlands! This Grade 8 worksheet helps students define key terms and classify ecological features.

Watershed Watch the video and answer the questions that follow. You can watch the video as many times as you need to and feel free to take notes as you watch. What is the definition of a watershed? a building that holds water all of the water that drains from the land and supports a river system all of the water that is found in our oceans What is considered to be part of a watershed? river lake park forest parking lot all of the above Who lives in a watershed? only people near the ocean only people that live by a lake everyone on the planet Inevitably all our groundwater and surface water end up in rivers streams lakes oceans Examples of surface water includes all of the following except: rivers streams lakes aquifers The materials transported by the river is called the channel load oxbow lake meander Types of Load How does each load move by the river? Bed Load Bounce along Suspended Load Suspended within the water Dissolved Load Dissolved into the water Classify the materials below into the correct type of load. Bed Load Boulders Large Rocks Dissolved Load Calcium Oxygen Carbon Dioxide Salt Nitrogen Fertilizer Runoff Suspended Load Sediment Silt Sand Sewage Pollution How many ways might lakes form? 1 2 3 4 Artificial lakes are used for generating electricity recreation controlling floods all of the above Classifying Wetlands Click and drag the characteristics below into the correct type of wetland. Marsh Wet Meadows Found near lakes or river floodplains Contains grasses and lots of other small plants Swamp Contains a constant supply of water Found in our Southeastern states Contain Mangrove , Cedars or Cypress Trees Lots of Reptiles (including turtles alligators) Amphibians, Birds, Insects, Mammals Bog formed from a glacial depression few nutrients replenished by precipitation Contains: Peat Moss or Sphagnum Moss Wetlands: Benefits Threats Sort the following by whether it is a Benefit or Threat in regards to wetlands Threats Deforestation Land Development (filled in) Fertilizer Agriculture Runoff Invasive Species introduced Litter Erosion Flooding Pollution Population Growth Benefits Provides a rich supply of nutrients Is a habitat for organisms Increases Biodiversity Absorbs pollutants and sediment; acting as natures water filter Helps control flooding and erosion Absorbs 1 of the Worlds Carbon Lessens the impact of Global Climate Change Controls Mosquito Population Lessens Diseases Creates "Green Spaces" Increases Property Values Can provide products like: food, timber and medicines Creates Jobs Helps the Economy Helps limit the effects of hurricanes One way humans try to protect cities and towns from flooding is by creating a reservoir by using a barrier that will hold and maintain the flow of the water. We call this a dam levee floodplain One way humans try to protect cities and towns from flooding is by creating long ridges along the river bank that control and maintain the amount of discharge from floodwaters. We call these dams levees floodplain Why are watersheds so essential to society? they provide water for survival they provide places for cities they provide water for irrigation they provide rich, fertile soil for farmers they create jobs and tourism help the economy provide resources for creating products easy to transport goods all of the above To mark a word click its first letter then click its last. WATERSHED TRIBUTARY OXBOWLAKE WETLAND DELTA MARSH LEVEE SWAMP MOUTH RIVER LOAD DAM BOG