Watershed Educational Information

Educational information and links for water and water-related issues for people of all ages.

"What ...?"

• Is a Watershed?
• What is Riparian Habitat? [exit DNR]
  • Information from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Riparian areas are the zones along water bodies that serve as interfaces between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Riparian ecosystems generally compose a minor proportion of the landscape. Typically, however, they are more structurally diverse and more productive in plant and animal biomass than adjacent upland areas. ...
• Are NPS problems from Agriculture and how can they be managed (EPA site) [exit DNR]
  • The United States has over 330 million acres of agricultural land that produce an abundant supply of low-cost, nutritious food and other products. American agriculture is noted worldwide for its high productivity, quality, and efficiency in delivering goods to the consumer. However, when improperly managed, agricultural activities can affect water quality. ...
• Is Stormwater and how can it be managed? (EPA site) [exit DNR]
  • To protect surface water and ground water quality, urban development and household activities must be guided by plans that limit runoff and reduce pollutant loadings. To this end, communities can address urban water quality problems on both a local and watershed level and garner the institutional support to help address urban runoff problems. ...
• Are Best Management Practices, or "BMPs"? (EPA site) [exit DNR]
  • Best management practices are methods that have been determined to be the most effective and practical means of preventing or reducing pollution. ... The EPA, working with partners in industry and the academic community have established and published best management practices for soil erosion, wastewater treatment, fuel storage, pesticide and fertilizer handling and the management of livestock yards. The ultimate goal of these practices is to increase efficiency while reducing pollution.

"How to?" Information

• Stream Corridor Protection (USDA Site) [exit DNR]
  • There´s more to a stream than the rushing or meandering water. A stream corridor, or stream valley, is a complex and valuable ecosystem which includes the land, plants, animals, and network of streams within it. Recognition of the value of stream corridors has come with the understanding of what has been lost through uninformed or misguided actions on many streams and the watersheds that nourish them. ...
• What you can do to prevent nonpoint source pollution
• How to reduce stormwater runoff and erosion [exit DNR]
• How to start a water quality monitoring program [exit DNR]
  • Water Action Volunteers (WAV) is a statewide program for Wisconsin citizens who want to learn about and improve the quality of Wisconsin's streams and rivers. ...

Kid´s Stuff

• EEK! Environmental Education for Kids
• USEPA´s Nonpoint Source Kids Page [exit DNR]
  • This site introduces kids to nonpoint source concepts through the use of games such as "Darby Duck and the Aquatic Crusaders" [exit DNR].
• Watershed Teaching Activity [exit DNR, PDF 620KB]
  • There are several Water activities in this PDF booklet, on the truth about water and how pollutants are carried from watersheds to bodies of water. Some of the activities also demonstrate the relationship between small and large watersheds.