A watershed is an area that serves to drain precipitation to a body of water. Watersheds collect and store precipitation and release it as runoff. Precipitation can come in the form of rainwater and/ or snow — watersheds drain water from rain and/ or snow to lakes, rivers, ponds, wetlands, and streams.
Watersheds are important because they support water supplies, which are used for agriculture, manufacturing, and personal use (drinking water, recreation). Additionally, watersheds support the habitats of animals that depend on the water supply and the land surrounding bodies of water.
Watersheds are vital components of an area's hydrology, and thus, ecology. For more information on watersheds, check out the link below, which will open the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Introduction to Watershed Ecology guide.
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