The flow regime plays a central role in shaping aquatic ecosystems and the health of biological communities. *A stream’s flow regime refers to its characteristic pattern of flow magnitude, timing, frequency, duration, and rate of change. hydrology, sediment transport, fluvial geomorphology, and disturbance regimes expected for its location.natural vegetation in the landscape and.refugia refugiaAn isolated place of relative safety from danger and hardship the only remaining high quality habitat within an area., instream habitat habitatA place where the physical and biological elements of ecosystems provide a suitable environment including the food, cover, and space resources needed for plant and animal livelihood., and biotic communities intact and functioning headwater streams, floodplains, riparian corridors, biotic bioticOf or pertaining to living organisms.Key components of a healthy watershed include: among habitats.Ī healthy watershed has the structure and function in place to support healthy aquatic ecosystems. Connectivity of aquatic and riparian habitats in the longitudinal, lateral, vertical, and temporal dimensions helps ensure the flow of chemical and physical materials and movement of biota biotaThe animal and plant life of a given region. This, in turn, helps maintain natural geomorphic processes, such as sediment storage and deposition, that form the basis of aquatic habitats.

Natural vegetative cover in the landscape, including the riparian zone, helps maintain the natural flow regime* and fluctuations in water levels in lakes and wetlands. physical and chemical water quality conditions able to support healthy biological communities.These areas often have a high density, diversity, and productivity of plant and animal species relative to nearby uplands. habitat of sufficient size and connectivity to support native aquatic and riparian riparianAreas adjacent to rivers and streams.dynamic hydrologic hydrologicPertaining to the science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water. and geomorphologic geomorphologicPertaining to the study of physical landscapes (landforms) and the processes that create and mold them. processes within their natural range of variation,.What is a Healthy Watershed?Ī healthy watershed is one in which natural land cover supports: EPA’s healthy watersheds activities mainly focus on these smaller watersheds. You might live in that watershed, but at the same time you live in a watershed of a smaller, local stream or river that flows eventually into the Mississippi. The Mississippi River has a huge watershed that covers all or parts of 33 states. Watersheds exist at different geographic scales, too.

Because we all live on the land, we all live in a watershed - thus watershed condition is important to everyone. Every inch of the United States is part of a watershed – in other words, all land drains into a lake, river, stream or other water body and directly affects its quality. Like water bodies (e.g., lakes, rivers, and streams), individual watersheds share similarities but also differ in many ways.

How much healthy watersheds assessment has been done in the U.S.?Ī watershed – the land area that drains to one stream, lake or river – affects the water quality in the water body that it surrounds.

What is evaluated in a healthy watersheds assessment?.

What is being done to protect healthy watersheds?.

Why is EPA concerned with healthy watersheds?.

Why do watersheds need to be protected?.

How might healthy watersheds affect me?.

Watershed moment definition