Watersheds In Winter (Page 4 of 4) in pdf

Watersheds In Winter Page 4

Land Uses on the Watershed and their Effects on Streams and Lakes

After melting snow or rain run off these lands, what effects might they have on streams and

lakes? Hint: Read about the effects of the natural forest and think of how the other land uses

could change those effects.

Land Use

Effect of Land Use on Water

Forest

1. The many leaves catch some of the rain so it doesn’t all reach the ground

at the same time. 2. Fallen leaves act like a sponge, storing some of the

water and releasing it later. 3. Forest soil is loose and allows water to enter

the soil and groundwater. The effect of these 3 things is that the forest

stores water during heavy rains and reduces floods. It releases water slowly

after the rain has stopped, feeding streams and lakes with a steady supply of

water all year. The many plants in a forest also help to catch some

pollutants that might be in the runoff. So the forest filters runoff thereby

making it cleaner.

Lawn

Roads &

buildings

Farming

Golf

course

Peel Water Story, Public Works Department, the Regional Municipality of Peel

Watersheds In Winter Page 4