Tag Archives: watershed

“Model My Watershed” – fun app to simulate water balance

Ever wonder how changes in land use affect the balance of how much water infiltrates the ground, how much runs off, and how much evaporates? With this handy interactive online app, see how changes in the amount of rainfall, the surfaces on which the rain falls and the texture of the soil change where the water goes.

Try it here: http://www.stroudcenter.org/mmw/mini/

Image from: wikiwatershed.org


Decide how much rain will fall by using an easy to manipulate slide bar.  Then select the land-cover type where the rain will fall. Finally, pick a soil type – from sandy soils to clay loam. As the simulation runs, follow where the water flows…

It’s a generic model, but a good fundamental learning tool. For regions in the US they are taking this tool a step further by incorporating GIS / Google Maps data to apply  rainfall scenarios to exisiting land-cover and soil conditions. Then they use the “Modify my Watershed” modelling tool to to make changes to the underlying environmental conditions and model parameters, implement best management practices and calculate the impact of the changes from an economic, social, ecosystem and water quality perspective.

We think that is pretty cool!  – See more at: http://wikiwatershed.org/model.php#sthash.3TMH6rFt.dpuf



We all live in a watershed

Watersheds are places we call home.

A watershed is an area of land that catches rain and snow and where water flows downward into a specific river, stream, lake, or aquifer (water in the ground).

Think about your local creek, river, or stream.

Where does it come from?

What type of landscapes does it pass through?

Where does the water in your backyard go?

All of the area covered is your watershed.