Explore a watershed
Peace River watershed excursion
We’ll experience ecosystems and habitats, meet the Seminole warrior Osceola and learn what’s being done to protect this unique, vulnerable and majestic Florida river for future generations.
Southern Coastal watershed excursion
When people live 10 miles from the gulf, their activities directly impact the gulf and every water body leading up to it. Explore the issues and impacts of the Southern Coastal region.
The Green Swamp
The half-million acres of cypress swamps, marshes, pine flatwoods and sandhills are a complex, but integrated and delicate natural system. See why the Green Swamp is the beat of Florida’s hydrologic heart.
Springs Coast watershed excursion
This watershed features miles and miles of coastal salt marshes, but that’s not the only important parts of this watershed. Learn what makes the Springs Coast Watershed special.
Hillsborough River watershed excursion
Travel down the Hillsborough River from its beginnings in the Green Swamp to the mouth of Tampa Bay. We’ll stop along the way to learn about major features of the Hillsborough River area.
A watershed is 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.
Watershed basics
Houses, open fields, office buildings and forests are all part of a watershed. While every inch of land belongs to a complex, physical network of watersheds, the natural high areas of land describe a watershed’s boundary. High and low points of the land determine how rain water that falls onto tree leaves and rooftops eventually finds its way into our waters.
Because we all belong to a watershed, our actions affect the health of our watershed. Common activities like walking the dog, taking care of the lawn and driving the car leave behind pollutants. As rain water moves through the watershed, it picks up bacteria and chemicals, and carries them to our streams, rivers, lakes and coasts. Improper disposal of motor oil, pet waste and overfertilization of a lawn all contribute to this pollution. Because of its many random sources, we all share responsibility for this pollution — called nonpoint-source pollution.
A watershed’s most common nonpoint-source pollutants are bacteria and nutrients. Leaks from septic systems and pet waste are common sources of bacteria. When rain water washes the bacteria to nearby streams and lakes, it makes those water bodies unsafe for swimming and fishing. Nutrients most commonly come from yard fertilizer (which contain nitrates and phosphates), but they’re also present in pet waste and septic system wastewater. Rain water washes excess nutrients from lawns into waterways, where they cause algae blooms that lower the amount of oxygen in lakes and streams to levels harmful or fatal to aquatic plants and animals.
Help protect your watershed
- Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly
- Extra nutrients in the water supply disrupts the natural harmony between animals and plants of an ecosystem.
- Have septic systems inspected for leaks and capacity
- Contamination of the water supply is harmful to plants, animals and people.
- Conserve water
- Overwatering can damage lawns and plants and places extra stress on our water supply.
- Never dump anything down a stormdrain
- Stormdrains are channels for rain water to help reduce flooding. Dumped chemicals can find their way deep underground, polluting the aquifer and other water supplies we all rely on.
- Pick up after your pets
- Bacteria from pet waste can be carried into nearby water bodies and are harmful to fish.
Brooker Creek Watershed Education Program
The Brooker Creek watershed is a pilot program designed to educate residents and visitors about their watershed and how to take steps to protect it. Brooker Creek watershed, part of the greater Tampa Bay watershed, spans an area in northeastern Pinellas County and northwestern Hillsborough County. The watershed, which contains some of the last green space in densely populated Pinellas County, is in relatively good health but is being rapidly developed. Through education, residents and visitors can learn about their watershed and how to protect it. For more information visit www.BrookerCreek.org.
Typical Florida coastal watershed (click to enlarge)
Request a free watershed poster!
