Rileigh Stetar

Jones

ENG 1020

14th January, 2019

Watersheds In Our Nation

Before I start talking about the importance, location, and uses of watersheds I need to

establish a basic definition of what a watershed is exactly. A watershed is the land that drains

into a body of water. A common misconception is that watershed are only the lakes, rives, and

swamplands you see but it can also be the land that soaks up water from rainfall such as

playgrounds, farms, and parking lots. Since there are many locations our water can come from

watershed were set up to preserve wildlife and protect us from polluted water in popular spots

that produce most of our clean water. Clean water is any water that is reserved and suitable for

drinking. This is why watersheds are so important for our country to have. Without this

regulation you would have no idea where your water is coming from and we could risk

extinction of rare species of wildlife, plants, and fish.

Watersheds are set up all over our nation and around the world. Today I live in Nashville,

TN and one of the watersheds that we used is located on Stones River but the main source of

water comes from the Cumberland River. This particular watershed is not only focused on

regulating water pollution but also preservation of different species. Sixty-nine rare plant and

animal species have been seen in this river, including eight rare fish species. Without this

watershed we may have never had documented these species and been able to protect them from

extinction.
 I ,however, grew up in a small town outside of Pittsburgh, PA, where the main watershed

that we used is more so used for protecting the nearby areas from unsafe drinking water. This

watershed is located on the Ohio River. One of the biggest reasons this watershed, and many

others, are so important is because we were not the only ones who has access to it. You have to

remember that the damage done upstream affects the entire body of water and can cause harm to

wildlife and people miles and miles away from you. A watershed helps regulate this damage and

helps prevent the surrounding areas from getting unclean water. One of Pittsburgh’s biggest

environmental issues has nothing to do with water pollution but rather air pollution. Pittsburgh

now has some of the worst air quality in this nation and it affects all surrounding towns, like the

one I grew up in. According to America’s Lungs Association, Pittsburgh went from 17th to 10th,

out of 201 regions, worst air pollution from 2014 to 2016. The reason this is so detrimental is

because there is not really a way around breathing air unlike the is with water.

Watersheds hold a very high importance in our country and always will. The prevention

on polluted water and preservations of rare species is a key factor into our survival as a

population. With watersheds set up all around the world hopefully there were soon be no issues

with water pollution on our planet. Going back to what I stated earlier just because you may not

be affected by throwing your waste into a river people miles away are.