The total land area that contributes water to a river, stream, lake or other body of water. Synonymous with drainage area, drainage basin, and catchment.
An area of land within the drainage pattern of all the connected rivers, streams, and tributaries in the area. A watershed can apply to any scale (i.e. large rivers, or small creeks.)
All the land area that drains into a particular body of water or water channel.
A large region of uplands where the slope of the topography contributes stormwater runoff to an adjacent waterbody or network of waterbodies. The watershed of the Chesapeake Bay encompasses some 16 million acres.
The region drained by, or contributing water to, a surface water body. Watershed evaluations are performed in two areas. Drainage Area: Portion of the watershed upgradient of sources at the site. Watershed: Portion of the watershed downgradient of the site. The watershed includes the surface water bodies between the PPEs and the target distance limit (i.e., the in-water segment of the hazardous substance migration path). A single watershed includes all in-water segments that intersect within the target distance limit. A site is in two or more watersheds if two or more hazardous substance migration paths from the sources do not reach a common point within the target distance limit. In these cases, each distinct watershed is evaluated separately.
that area of land from which all water drains to a single specified “outfall” point
The sum total of all the land and smaller bodies of water which drains into a particular stream or river.
The area encompassing the drainage basin of one river system or one group of river systems. "Watershed" also refers to the area from which a river receives its water.
Any sloping area that sheds water; an area of land that collects and discharges water into a single stream or other outlet.
A land area that drains water to a particular stream, river, or lake. Its boundary can be identified by locating the highest points of lands around the waterway.
A topographic boundary area that is the perimeter of the catchment area of a stream.
an area of land that is drained by a river or other body of water.
all the land that drains into a stream, river or lake. Watersheds are usually named after the largest body of water in them: e.g, the Lake Saltonstall watershed. For related information, visit one of these areas of our site: Our Lakes & Rivers, Our Treatment Plants and Wells or Where Does Your Water Come From? (a clickable map, where you can find out which treatment plant or well supplies your water).
(1) The entire geographic region supplying water to a drainage basin, river, or lake. (2) An area of land that drains naturally into a stream or other waterway.
A watershed is also the summit boundary between one drainage basin and another, for example, the North American Continental Divide which is the boundary between all waters flowing to the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
The total area from which a single river collects surface water runoff; the catchment or drainage area of a river system.
(1) A defined geographical area, usually delineated by high ground, that drains to a watercourse. (2) Region or area contributing to the supply of a stream or lake; drainage area, drainage basin, catchment are.
A region from which all water flows into a particular body of water.
Land area that captures and drains water into a river, stream, or body of water. Every body of water has a watershed that cleans the water entering it naturally unless the watershed itself becomes contaminated.
a region or area drained by a particular body of water.
The region drained by a specific water system (Harcourt).
Strictly a water parting, the dividing line between Catchment areas. The use of this terms as a synonym for Catchment or drainage area is deprecated. ( BCFT).
The land area that contributes stream or ground water recharge to a surface water body such as an estuary, pond or lake.
The region that collects water that feeds into a given drainage network.
The area where water drains from the land into a common body of water, such as a river, lake or ocean.
The land area from which water drains into a stream, river, or reservoir.
an area of land where all water collects and drains into a common body of water (such as a river or lake).
the area that supplies water to a stream by surface or groundwater runoff
(3) the total area above a given point on stream that contributes runoff water to the streamflow at that point.
Catchment area of a drainage basin.
The line of separation between contiguous drainage areas. The divide. The height-of-land. Often, but incorrectly, used for drainage-area.
a region or area over which water flows into a particular lake, reservoir, stream, or river. Go to Top
A planning term that refers to the area from which surface water drains into a common lake or river system or directly into the ocean; also referred to as a drainage basin.
The land area from which surface runoff drains into a stream, channel, lake, reservoir, or other body of water; also called a drainage basin.
The total land area draining into a given stream river, lake or reservoir; also known as a catchment area.
the area of land above a given point on a stream that contributes water to the volume of a body of surface water; also referred to as a drainage basin.
The natural upstream land drainage area above any point of reference on a stream.
Land area from which water drains toward a common watercourse in a natural basin.
A watershed is a region that drains into a particular body of water such as a river or stream. Defined as key term in Introduction to Biology 2.5.6 Studies of small ecosystems yield information on nutrient cycling
land area that collects and channels water to a common outlet. Each lake, river, and stream collects its water from the surrounding watershed.
The land area that drains into a receiving waterbody.
The geographic area that contributes runoff to a stream. It can be outlined on a topographic map by tracing the points of highest elevation (usually ridge crests) between two adjacent stream valleys. The watershed of a large river usually contains the watersheds of many smaller streams. Also referred to as a " drainage basin".
A term used for a drainage divide.
The area that drains into a stream or river. A subbasin is typically composed of several watersheds.
the complete area or region draining into a river, river system, or body of water.
A specific geographic area drained by a major stream or river
the total land area from which a lake, stream, or other body of water collects its water.
an area of land from which water drains toward a single channel (stream).
The topographic boundary within which water drains into a particular river, stream, wetland, or body of water.
The area that supplies water to a river and its tributaries or to a lake. Where the area is well vegetated, the ground cover slows the flow of rainwater over the surface, allowing the water to sink into the ground without causing erosion.
the area of land in which all water will eventually flow into the same river or body of water. (See HEIGHT OF LAND.)
The drainage area of a stream or river
the entire area of land whose runoff of water, sediments, and dissolved materials (nutrients, contaminants) drain into a lake, river, estuary, or ocean
The region drained by a river system; a drainage basin.
A basin including all water and land areas that drain to a common body of water.
the area of land that drains into a river : the watershed line usually follows the tops of hills
The region of land drained by a river, stream, or creek.
a region bounded at the periphery by physical barriers that cause water to part and ultimately drain to a particular body of water.
The areas that drain to surface water bodies, including lakes, rivers, estuaries, wetlands, streams, and the surrounding landscape.
All the land connected by the water flowing through it.
an area bounded by mountains or hills from which all rainwater flows to a single body of water. The system of visible and underground creeks, tributaries, streams and brooks feeding into a river.
The high land separating two river basins.
A region or area where surface runoff and groundwater drain to a common water course or body of water.
a ridge of land that separates two adjacent river systems
a basin-like geographical structure bounded by surrounding ridges
a basin-like landform, defined by the surrounding topography, dividing areas that are drained by different river systems
a basin-shaped area that drains into a river, lake, or the ocean
a basin-shaped area that drains to a central point where it enters a river, lake or ocean
a body of water, such as a stream, and the area of land that supplies its water
a body of water that connects to streams and rivers that empty out into a large river, an ocean or a lake
a bunch of streams flowing into a river making it's way to the ocean
a collection of streams and creeks that eventually feed into one creek or river
a defined area of land from which all precipitation collects and drains to a common stream, bay, marsh, or lake
a defined area of land that drains into a particular body of water, such as a stream, river, lake, or ocean
a delineated area of land where all of the precipitation water drains into a particular stream, river, lake or wetland
a distinct area of land that is drained by a distinct stream or river system, either into a larger system or into a common body of water
a drainage area that collects and then drains all surface water from one water source to another
a drainage area whose boundary is formed by ridge tops
a drainage basin composed of a valley and the surrounding slopes which collect and direct the flow of rainfall and snow melt runoff
a drainage basin defined by hydrology and is the basic unit for sustainable land use management and planning
a drainage basin that collects precipitation which eventually drains to a common water body (e
a dynamic system that includes the area of land delineated by the drainage basin, its aquatic components (streams and rivers, agricultural drains, lakes and ponds, riparian zones, and wetlands), and its plant and animal life
a geographical feature on the landscape where water collects and then drains to a common water body (like a stream, bay, wetland)
a geographic area defined by the flow and movement of surface water
a geographic area drained by a river or stream
a geographic area from which all waters, sediments, and dissolved materials drain to a common outlet like a stream, a pond, or Lake Erie
a geographic area in which all creeks and rivers flow toward the same destination
a geographic area in which all sources of water, including lakes, rivers, estuaries, wetlands, and streams, as well as ground water, drain to a common surface water body
a geographic area in which all the water drains to a common waterbody (e
a geographic area in which all water flows into a single river
a geographic area in which water, sediments, and dissolved materials drain from higher elevations to a common low-lying outlet or basin a point on a larger stream, lake, underlying aquifer, or estuary
a geographic area, in which water , sediments and other pollutants including trash drain into a common body of water
a geographic area of land in which all surface and ground water flows downhill to common point, such as a river, stream, pond, lake, wetland, or estuary
a geographic area of land where water, and the sediments and dissolved materials it contains, flow on their way to a single common outlet such as a stream, lake or river
a geographic area that captures, stores, and releases water
a geographic area that contains a common outlet into which water, sediments and dissolved materials drain
a geographic area that contains a common outlet, such as a stream, river, lake, or wetland, into which water drains
a geographic area that contributes water to a particular stream or water body
a geographic area where all water running off the land drains to a specific location
a geographic area whose rainfall and snow, streams and rivers, all flow or drain into a specific body of water, like a reservoir, river, lake or bay
a geographic area with boundaries defined by elevation from which water drains to a given point, said Craig Runyan, water quality specialist with New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service
a geo-hydrological unit or an area that drains at a common point
a geo-hydrological unit, which drains into common point
a land area affected or moisturised by lakes, rivers, ditches, and streams
a land area drained by a single network of streams
a land area in which rainwater is collected
a land area that drains into a creek, river, lake, wetland, Bay or groundwater aquifer
a land area that drains into a stream, lake, or other body of water
a land area whose runoff drains into any river, stream, lake, or ocean
a land area whose runoff drains into any stream, river, lake, and ocean
a large area of land from which water contributes to only one stream or river
a major geographic unit composed of the area from one ridge top to another and includes the intervening valley
an area drained by a body of water, such as a lake or a river
an area from which all water drains to a common point, making it an interesting unit for managing water and soil resources to enhance agricultural production through water conservation
an area from which runoff resulting from precipitation flows past a single point into a large stream, river, lake or pond
an area in which all the land drains to a particular common point or body of water
an area in which the natural hydrological boundaries drain to a common location
an area of habitats that are followed by the sources of natural water
an area of land and water from which all water drains to a common location
an area of land, bounded by topographic features that drain water to a shared destination such as a lake, river or ocean
an area of land drained by a common stream, river or lake
an area of land drained by a single stream network
an area of land draining to a specific body of water
an area of land from which all the incoming water drains to a common destination, such as a stream, pond, lake, river, wetland, or estuary
an area of land from which all the water drains to the same place
an area of land from which all water, sediments, and dissolved materials drain into a common outlet
an area of land over and through which water flows to the lowest point - a stream, river, wetland, or lake
an area of land , such as a mountain or valley, that collects rainwater into a common outlet
an area of land than drains to a particular waterway, be it a lake, stream or river
an area of land that catches and drains precipitation to a common body of water such as a river, lake or ocean
an area of land that catches rain and snow and drains into a lake or river
an area of land that catches rainfall and melting snow, which in turn, drain into low lying bodies of water
an area of land that catches rainfall and snowmelt which then drain into low-lying bodies of water
an area of land that collects the precipitation that ends up in a particular body of water
an area of land that collects water and channels it to a particular watercourse or body of water
an area of land that contains multiple rivers and streams that run into one body of water
an area of land that drains all the streams and rainfall to a common outlet such as the outflow of a reservoir, mouth of a bay, or any point along a stream channel
an area of land that drains downward to lower elevations
an area of land that drains into a body of water such as a lake, river, or stream
an area of land that drains into a given river, lake or other water body
an area of land that drains into a river system
an area of land that drains to a given point
an area of land that drains to a particular river or water body
an area of land that drains towards a given river, lake or wetland
an area of land that drains water, sediment and dissolved materials to a common receiving body or outlet
an area of land that drains water, sediment, and dissolved materials to a stream, pond, or estuary
an area of land that forms the drainage system for a stream or river
an area of land that is drained at a single outlet or has a sink with no outlet
an area of land that water flows across as it moves toward a common body of water, such as a stream, river, lake or coast
an area of land that water flows across or through on its way to a particular water body, such as a stream, river, wetland, lake or coast
an area of land that water flows over and under on its way to a stream, river or lake
an area of land usually quite large floods france that
an area of land (usually quite large) that drains into a particular river or stream
an area of land where all of the water, both surface and groundwater, drains to a common point
an area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains from it goes into the same place
an area of land where all the water above and below ground drains into a single waterway
an area of land where rain water , streams and small rivers all drain into one large area of water such as a large river , lake or ocean
an area of land where water drains downhill to the lowest point
an area of land which drains into a river or other body of water
an area of land which drains to the lowest point, usually a stream or bay
an area of land which drains water (and everything the water carries) to a common outlet
an area of land within which all precipitation drains into a single major body of water
an area where all the water running off the land drains into a specific body of water
an area where water from rain or snowmelt drains from a high point into a body of water such as a creek or lake
a natural drainage area draining off water to a common point which ultimately meets with a river
a natural geographic area drained by a watercourse and its tributaries
a natural unit of land defined by the area that drains into a river and its tributaries
a natural unit of land that define boundaries for water (surface and subsurface), energy and chemical cycling
an entire region (or "basin"), which drains into a river or river system
a particular area that drains into a creek, river, lake, other waterway or dry channel -- in other words, a drainage area
a patch of land, not a prescription
a physical feature on the landscape defined as the basin which collects rain water and directs it (by the slope of the land) to a stream (see Stream Ring )
a place where water drains and is collected in a water body
a precipitation collector Most of the precipitation that falls within the drainage area of a stream's monitoring site collects in the stream and eventually flows by the monitoring site
a region in which all land drains to a particular body of water or common point
a region of land that drains downward to a particular body of
a region of land where water drains downhill into a specified body of water A body of water is any significant natural pool of water such as an ocean, a lake, or a river, covering the Earth or another planet
a region of land where water drains downhill into a specified body of water, such as a river, lake, sea, ocean or wetland
a region that shares a common outlet for water drainage
a region where all water flows and drains into a major basin
a region where surface water drains into a river, a river system, or a body of water
a ridge that sits on highland and is divided into two different rivers by flowing water
a river, stream, lake, pond, or wetland along with the surrounding land and water that drains into it
a series of interconnected creeks, rivers, lakes, and wetlands that all share a common drainage
a small dam built beside a picnic area in San Luis
a specific area of land and habitats that are marked by boundaries that follow the source of natural water
a term describing the land through which water flows and the body of water into which the water collects, such as a river, lake, wetland, or ocean
a topographically delineated area that is drained by a stream system
a topographic region in which all precipitation flows from an area of uplift toward a central valley
a unit of land which contributes water to a single drainage
a valley or system of depressions that water drains through and eventually follows into the ocean
The area of land that collects all the rainwater that flows into a given river or stream.
an area where water from precipitation (snow, rain, etc.) drains into a particular body of water (stream, pond, river, bay, etc.)
watershed is the land that drains into a creek, river, or body of water. The Santa Catalina Mountains drain rainwater and snow melt into Sabino Creek.
The land area contributing freshwater to an embayment.
an area from which water drains to a single point.
a region or area from which water flows to a single point.
The land area that drains runoff to the stream, or other surface water body. Also called a drainage basin. For management purposes, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection recognized 27 major watersheds in Massachusetts.
the drainage area of a stream, river, or estuary.
An area of land that contains ground and surface water resources that drains into more concentrated surface waters.---------------X-Y- Home | | Bottom
A relatively large area of land that drains water into a river, creek or into an aquifer (an underground reservoir or lake). In Central Texas, water draining into an aquifer usually flows into recharge features such as caves or fractures in the ground.
the land area from which surface water and groundwater drains into a stream system; the area of land that generates total runoff (surface flow, interflow, and baseflow) for a particular stream system
A geographic area, delineated by topography, in which water, sediments, and dissolved materials drain to a common water body.
The entire surface landscape that contributes water to a lake or river. See drainage area.
all the land and tributaries draining to a body of water.
An area drained by a river or stream system.
The whole geographic surface area that drains excess rainfall and contributes to water to a collecting river or lake.
The total land area that contributes runoff to a body of water. Jump to Top
The geographic area which drains into a specific body of water. A watershed may contain several sub-watersheds.
The area drained by a watercourse.
the area which has been zoned under municipal regulations.
The total land area that from which water drains or flows to a river, stream, lake or other body of water.
the land that drains into a given stream or pond
a geographic region within which water drains into a particular river, stream, or body of water. The highest ground around the watershed forms its boundaries.
All the land that drains to a specific stream, river, or lake.
the land area that ccontributes surface runoff to any point of interest.
The area of land that drains into a river and its tributaries; the area of land from which rain or melting snow drain into a river stream or other body of water.
An area of land thats total surface drainage flows to a single point in a stream.
a geographic basin formed by water and other natural forces; often defined by major river drainages.
is the land area where water soaks through the earth filling an underground water supply or aquifer. It is also called a recharge area.
a region defined by patterns of stream drainage. A watershed includes all the land that contributes water to a particular point of interest on a stream, river, lake, or coastal feature.
All the water from precipitation (snow, rain, etc.) that drains into a particular body of water (stream, pond, river, bay, etc.)
The land area that is drained by a river or estuary and its tributaries. Watersheds range in size from a few acres to large areas of the country.
The land area drained by a stream or river.
The land area that directly drains to a common stream, river or lake, often considered synonymous with a drainage basin or catchment. Watershed (drainage basin) boundaries follow topographic highs. The term watershed is also defined as the divide separating one drainage basin from another.
An area that drains into one or more river systems or bodies of water.
all land and water within the confines of a drainage divide List of Glossary Terms
The area of land that drains to a single outlet and is separated from other watersheds by a topographic or subsurface drainage divide.
The land surface and groundwater aquifers drained by a particular river system.
all the area that drains into a stream.
all land and water within the confines of a drainage divide, or, the land which is tributary to a given river, lake, or stream.
The region or area drained by a river or stream. The highest elevation ridge or line that divides drainage areas.
geographic area of land from which all runoff drains into a single waterway.
The boundary between two river drainage basins or catchments.
land area from which water drains to a particular surface water body.
is the area of land that drains into a common waterway. Parts of seven counties in southeast Michigan drain into the Huron River and make up its watershed. The Huron, in turn, drains into Lake Erie and is part of the Great Lakes Watershed.
the land area that is drained by a river, estuary or tributary; a drainage basin.
The surrounding land area that drains into a lake, stream, river or river system.
An area of land that drains to a single water outlet.
The topographic area drained by a river. Watershed boundaries can be defined for the contributing area to any portion of a river system. Watershed areas can be defined for most wetlands and include the total land area from which hydrologic input may be derived. In very flat areas, wetland watersheds are difficult to define.
All the land area and water within the confines of a drainage divide in which all surface runoff will drain through one point, such as a stream or river. Determined by topographic high points.
land area draining to a river or a water body, such as a lake
(1) A total area of land above a given point on a waterway that contributes runoff water to the flow at that point. (2) A major subdivision of a drainage basin.
An area of land where all the rain/sleet/snow that falls on it drains downhill to a larger body of water like a stream, lake, or ocean.
The watershed of a creek, stream or river is all of the land that sheds water into that stream when it rains. When rain falls on land, it drains or runs off to the nearest stream or river that is downhill
The area drained by, or contributing water to, a stream, lake or other body of water. Imagine a maple leaf. The stalk in the leaf is a river. The veins threading into the stalk are the tributaries flowing into the river. The complete leaf represents a river drainage system, or watershed.
The land area that drains into a stream. An area that contributes runoff to a specific body of water. Same as drainage basin, hydrologic basin.
The land area that contributes water to a specific waterbody. All the rain or snow that falls within this area flows to the waterbodies as surface runoff, in tributary streams, or as groundwater.
The drainage or collection of water on a site.
The drainage basin contributing water, organic matter, dissolved nutrients, and sediments to a stream or lake.
A land area from which water drains into a particular body of water.
That surface area which drains to a specified point on a water course, usually a confluence of streams or rivers.
Total land area that drains to a lake or pond.
the land area that drains toward a surface water system such as a lake, pond, or stream.
the area of land that slopes or drains toward or into a lake, river, stream, or wetland.
The land area that contributes surface water drainage to a stream or river. The watershed of a larger river like the Kinnickinnic may encompass a number of smaller tributary subwatersheds, such as the one draining Sumner Creek.
a region or area defined by patterns of stream drainage. A watershed includes all the land from which a particular stream or river is supplied.
All land and water within a drainage area, defined by topographic high points.
an area of land that drains into a particular river or body of water usually divided by topography.
The line separating waters flowing into different rivers, basins or seas. Often used to mean catchment area or river basin.
a geographical portion of the Earth's surface from which water drains or runs off to a single place like a river; also called a drainage area
The land and water within the confines of a drainage basin. A sloping area of land that collects, directs, controls, and discharges the flow of rainwater into a single stream or other outlet through a series of smaller tributaries.
The area drained by a river or river system enclosed by drainage divides.
The area of land that water flows across or under on its way to a river, lake or ocean. Includes all surface water and adjacent estuaries and marine areas. A legal framework for watershed boundaries is provided through Washington's designation of Water Resource Inventory Areas (see Watershed Resource Inventory Area).
is a geographical area which contributes stormwater runoff to a particular point of interest (also commonly referred to as a drainage area, a catchment, or a river basin).
The land contributing surface runoff to a stream or lake; a drainage basin.
the land around a stream, river or other body of water that catches rain and snow. All the water falling into the area eventually can drain into the water body.
Area draining into a stream or river.
a region of land that is crisscrossed by smaller waterways that drain into a larger body of water. For example, thousands of creeks, streams and rivers in the midwest ultimately drain into the Great Lakes. The land that these streams and rivers drain from is considered the Great Lakes watershed or basin.
The area of land that drains into a river system.
is a catch basin that guides all precipitation and runoff (water, sediment, and dissolved materials) to a common watercourse or body of water.
The region drained by, or contributing water to, a stream, lake, or other body of water. Synonym: basin or drainage basin.
The area drained by a river or lake system
the geographic region within which water drains to a particular river, stream or body of water.
The region draining into a river, river system or body of water; the total land area, regardless of size, above a given point on a waterway that contributes runoff water to the flow at that point; all the land that serves as a drainage for a specific stream or river.
An area from which water drains into a lake, stream or other body of water. A watershed is also often referred to as a basin, with the basin boundary defined by a high ridge or divide, and with a lake or river located at a lower point.
The total area drained by a river and its tributaries. Same as river basin.
The entire region drained by a single river.
The region drained by or contributing water to a specific point that could be along a stream, lake or other stormwater facilities. Watersheds are often broken down into sub-areas for the purpose of hydrologic modeling.
a geographic area that drains into a single river system and its tributaries.
a region bounded by a water parting and finally draining to a particular body of water or watercourse.
may also be called a drainage basin, is the area in which all water, sediments, and dissolved materials flow or drain from the land into a common river, lake, or other body of water.
The land that surrounds and drains into a body of water.
All the land and streams that drain to a particular water body or point in a stream. Since water flows downhill, points of high elevation generally determine watershed boundaries.
An area of land with a characteristic drainage network that contributes surface or ground water to the flow at that point: a basin or a major subdivision of a drainage basin.
Geographical area that drains to a specified point on a water course, usually a confluence of streams or rivers. Also known as drainage area, catchment, or river basin. (In the UK the term "watershed" refers to what in the US is called the drainage divide, and the term "catchment" refers to what in the US is called a watershed.)
An area of land that contributes runoff to one specific delivery point; large watersheds may be composed of several smaller "subwatersheds," each of which contributes runoff to different locations that ultimately combine at a common delivery point.
The land area that drains into a stream, river, lake, estuary, or coastal zone (USEPA Region 5).
The land area in which water drains toward a lake, stream, or river at a lower elevation.
The total land area that drains directly or indirectly into a particular stream or river. The watershed is generally named from the stream or river into which it drains.
A land region which drains into a river, stream, creek, or body of water.
A natural boundary separating the headwaters of different watercourses or river systems. Forest Management
the entire area of land whose runoff of water, sediments, and dissolved materials drains into a body of water such as the Peconic Estuary
Topographic boundaries which contribute or may contribute runoff to surface waters or an area of recharge.
All of the land that drains surface water to a given stream above a designated point (usually its mouth); also called a stream drainage or drainage basin.
either the dividing line between two water catchments or the catchment itself
The divide separating one drainage basin from another and in the past has been generally used to convey this meaning. However, over the years, use of the term to signify drainage basin or catchment area has come to predominate, although drainage basin is preferred. Drainage divide, or just divide, is used to denote the boundary between one drainage area and another. Used alone, the term "watershed" is ambiguous and should not be used unless the intended meaning is made clear.
The entire area of land that drains into a particular channel or water body.
the entire drainage area of a river or stream and their tributaries
Land area that delivers the water, sediment and dissolved substances via small streams to a major stream.
the land area that drains water to a particular stream, river, or lake. It is a land feature that can be identified by tracing a line along the highest elevations between two areas on a map, often a ridge. Large watersheds, like the Mississippi River basin contain thousands of smaller watersheds.
A watershed is defined as an area of land that is connected by lakes, rivers and streams that drains into a large body of water. More
The entire region drained by a waterway, lake, or reservoir. More specifically, a watershed is an area of land above a given point on a stream that contributes water to the streamflow at that point.
the geographic reach within which water drains into a particular river, stream, or body of water. A watershed includes both the land and the body of water into which the land drains.
Area of ecosystem(s) bounded by the highest topographic points and focused around where water flows, often streams. It is helpful to remember that all water in an area and the pollutants it carries flows to the center of the watershed. Note that in 1869 John Wesley Powell advocated the use of watersheds, rather than the grid, to determine political boundaries. He thought that policy decisions would better suit the ecological conditions of a particular site.
A topographical basin or drainage that funnels water into one major river, lake, water body or other location.
An entire drainage basin including all living and nonliving components of the system.
The surrounding geographical area that contributes surface and groundwater flow to a stream, lake, or other body of water. This can also be referred to as the “catchment basin†or “drainage basin.
The land area drained by a given river; synonymous with drainage basin (also catchment).
A watershed consists of all of the land area that drains to a particular body of water.
A geographic area in which water, sediments, and dissolved materials drain to a common outlet, typically a point on a larger stream, a lake, an underlying aquifer, an estuary, or an ocean. A watershed is also sometimes referred to as the "drainage basin" of the receiving waterbody.
All land and water within the confines of a drainage divide. Watersheds are defined by the collection area for a specified location on a stream, such as a dam, mouth of a stream, or any single point on a stream or drainageway. A drainage area is a watershed.
the land area draining into a specific stream, river, lake or other body of water. These areas are divided by ridges of high land.
A ridge of high land dividing two areas that are drained by different river systems. Also called a waterparting. Also, the region draining into a river, river system, or other body of water.
the area of land that drains into a specific waterbody.
The land above a given point on a waterway that contributes runoff water to the flow at that point; a drainage basin or a major subdivision of a drainage basin.
entire drainage area or basin feeding a stream or river; includes surface water and groundwater
A region defined by patterns of stream drainage. A watershed includes all the land that contributes (i.e., drains) water to a particular stream or river, while a headwaters watershed drains to the smallest streams in the larger stream system.
An area of land drained by rivers that flow into a common body of water, such as the Chesapeake Bay or the Mississippi River .
The physical land area that naturally drains into a lake, river or stream system.
The physical area drained by a single river or stream, physically separated from other watersheds by ridge top boundaries.
the area of land from which rainfall (and/or snow melt) drains to a single point. Ridges of higher ground generally form the boundaries between watersheds, and at these boundaries, rain falling on one side flows toward the low point of one watershed, while rain falling on the other side flows toward the low point of a different watershed
boundary zone between river systems, headwaters
The region or land area that contributes to the drainage or catchment area above a specific point on a stream or river.
an area of land that drains into a common reservoir such as a stream, river, lake, or ocean; also referred to as a drainage basin or catchment area.
The area drained by a single stream or river. The Arkansas River watershed, for example, includes that area from which water eventually flows into the Arkansas River.
The area from which water drains to a single point.
An area where water runoff collects and drains into a river or stream.
an area of land that drains surface water runoff into a water body
An area which drains all of its water to a particular water course or body of water.
A topographically defined area or region of land drained by a river/stream or system of rivers/streams such that all outflows are discharged through a single outlet.
An area drained by a river or river system
The land area that drains into a stream; the watershed for a major river may encompass a number of smaller watersheds that ultimately combine at a common point.
The lands above a given point on a waterway that contribute water run-off.
1. Land area where water collects. 2. Dividing point that sends water runoff flowing into different drainage areas.
The land area drained by a river or stream. The watershed is the natural hydrologic unit associated with numerous ecological and physical processes involving water. Increasingly, the watershed is being accepted as the most appropriate geographic unit for management of water quality.
the ridge between the regions drained by two different river systems. On one side of a watershed, rivers and streams flow in one direction; on the other side, they flow in the opposite direction. [AHDOS