Upstream, Downstream: Exploring Watershed Connections

Upstream, Downstream: Exploring Watershed Connections — page 1
Introduction Ask me for my mailing address and I’ll give you a house number and street name a city province and country Ask me for my watershed address and I’ll tell you Douglas Creek Pacific Ocean This little creek drains 1,295 acres 524 hectares of land in my neighborhood and then flows straight into the Pacific Ocean I haven’t always had such a straightforward watershed address Years ago I lived in the city of Ottawa Ontario and had this address Rideau River Ottawa River St Lawrence River Atlantic Ocean What’s your watershed address If you shrug your shoulders shoulders in answer you aren’t alone Many people have no idea what their watershed address is but it’s really a good thing to know Here’s why First where does your drinking water come from From a watershed near you Where does your home’s gray water washing water and black water toilet water end up In a watershed near you Second what happens when a forest gets cut down to build houses or when a road gets paved It changes the land in a watershed A watershed isn’t just the water in an area it’s all Me at Douglas Creek near my home TRAVIS COMMANDEUR 8 8