Virginia’s Water ResourcesBy Miss Oberlander

WatershedAn area over which surface water (and the

materials it carries) flows to a single collection place.

Virginia’s 3 WatershedsMatch the watershed name with its location on

the map.

A. Chesapeake BayB. Gulf of MexicoC. NC Sounds

Our Watershed AddressSchool Creek

Algonkian CreekPotomac River

Chesapeake Bay

How can you identify a place’s watershed address?If there is a creek or river nearby that would

be the beginning of that place’s watershed address. If there is a bigger creek or river or bay that it flows into, that will be the second part. When you get as general as possible, that is the end of the watershed address.

Virginia’s Water Resources include:

1. Groundwater2. Lakes3. Reservoirs4. Rivers5. Bays6. Atlantic Ocean

GroundwaterWater that

exists beneath the earth's surface in underground streams and aquifers

LakesA body of water that

is usually fresh.

Lake Drummond Smith Mountain Lake

Lakes are considered resources because they provide sources of food, water and recreation.

Reservoirsan artificial or

natural lake where water is collected as a water supply

Nearly all lakes in Virginia are man-made reservoirs, created by dams that block streams and flood land to form a lake.

Riversa large stream that flows across land.

What are Virginia’s 4 major rivers?

James RiverYork RiverRappahannockPotomac

Baysan inlet of the sea or some

other body of water, usually smaller than a gulf.

The Chesapeake Bay is Virginia’s largest water resource.

Bays are extensions of larger bodies of water, such as lakes or oceans. The Chesapeake Bay is an extension of the Atlantic Ocean and it is salt water.

Atlantic Ocean

We all live Downstream….

Everything we throw away or dump down the drain affects us.

The pollutants flow into the watershed and into the rivers and oceans.

We all live Downstream (continued)…The polluted water then

evaporates and comes down as rain which we drink.

We need to take care of the

earth because humans and animals need clean water.

A River Ran Wild

“Pollute the Potomac” Simulation