Watersheds
The Water Cycle
The water cycle is the continuous movement of water in its various forms between the Earth and the atmosphere. Liquid water evaporates into water vapor, condenses to form clouds in the atmosphere, and precipitates as rain or snow, falling back to earth. On Earth, water is used by plants and animals, absorbed into the ground (sometimes ending up in underground aquifers,) or runs into one of Earth's many bodies of water. A significant portion of water on Earth is also frozen in polar ice caps and glaciers.
The water cycle reminds us of how precious our water is to us. As far as we know, Earth is the only planet with an abundance of water. However, that abundant supply is also fixed and has limitations. Our water recycles between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere over and over again. So if we cannot receive or otherwise seek out more water than the amount we already have, it is to our benefit that we are intentional about keeping our water sources clean, healthy, and accessible to all creatures. This is why learning about water and its role in ecology is so important.
Image credit: The Water Cycle Credit: NASA https://gpm.nasa.gov/education/water-cycle
Water Facts:
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Around 97% of the world’s water is in the oceans.
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Most of Earth’s freshwater is found in ice caps and glaciers.
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Less than 1% of Earth’s water is available for all of humanity’s agricultural, manufacturing, community, and residential needs!
What is a Watershed?
A Watershed is an area of land, designated by landscape topography, that directs surface water to drain into a particular body of water such as a creek, river, lake, or sea. Large watersheds are divided into sub-watersheds which are areas of land that direct water into a tributary. A tributary is a smaller body of water, like a creek, that drains into a larger body of water like a river.
As water flows through and across a watershed, it picks up elements from the environment on its way downhill. Water can transport and deposit sediment, chemicals, and pollution into a body of water. Therefore, if a watershed is heavily polluted, its body of water is likely to be heavily contaminated. Likewise, the opposite is true; if a watershed is healthy, so is the body of water it drains into. The water quality of the tributaries and the health of their sub-watersheds have an effect on the larger body of water and its watershed. For example, because the Kings River drains into Table Rock Lake, the area of land that directs water to the Kings River is considered a sub-watershed of the larger Table Rock Lake watershed. Therefore, the water quality of the Kings River has an effect on the water quality of Table Rock Lake.
Image credit: Watershed Diagram. Greenscapes North Shore Coalition
Local Watersheds
ONSC is located within the Kings River Watershed. Bear Hollow Creek runs through our campus and flows into Rockhouse Creek. Rockhouse creek drains into the Kings River, which finally drains into Table Rock Lake in Southwestern Missouri. Water from Table Rock Lake gets released from the last dam into the White River, continues into Bull Shoals Lake, and eventually the White River winds its way all the way to the Mississippi River, which of course flows into the Gulf of Mexico! This illustrates the many levels of watersheds, and how the quality of each subwatershed affects the larger watersheds of which they are a part.
Image credit: Kings River Watershed. Kings River Watershed Partnership
Beaver Lake Watershed consists of Beaver Lake and all the land containing its many tributaries, totalling around 759,040 acres.Several bodies of water flow into Beaver Lake, including different branches of the White River, War Eagle Creek, and Richland Creek. These tributaries are essential to maintaining the water levels and health of Beaver Lake:
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The White River: Various branches of the White River, including the Middle Fork and West Fork, flow into Beaver Lake. This river system plays a significant role in delivering surface water from the surrounding highlands.
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War Eagle Creek: War Eagle Creek is another vital tributary, known for its scenic beauty and recreational opportunities. It flows through the Ozarks and eventually drains into Beaver Lake, contributing a substantial amount of water.
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Richland Creek: Richland Creek is a smaller, yet significant, tributary of Beaver Lake. It drains water from the surrounding valleys, helping to maintain the lake's water balance.
All of these tributaries and sub-watersheds contribute to the overall health of Beaver Lake, making it crucial to manage pollution and runoff within this extensive watershed. The Beaver Water District provides water for Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, and Fayetteville, as well as some of the smaller communities around these cities. The water from Beaver Lake sustains over 370,000 people which ends up being 1 in 5 Arkansans!
Image credit: Beaver Watershed. Beaver Water District
The Illinois River Watershed directs most of the water from Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville towards Lake Tenkiller in Oklahoma.
This watershed is home to four federally protected aquatic species: the Leopard Darter (Percina pantherina), Neosho Mucket (Lampsilis rafinesqueana), Rabbitsfoot Mussel (Quadrula cylindrica), and the Arkansas Darter (Etheostoma cragini). In addition, approximately 220 species of conservation concern also reside in the Illinois River Watershed!
Image credit: Illinois River Watershed. Illinois River Watershed Partnership
What is a Riparian Zone?
Riparian zones are areas of land on the edges of rivers, lakes, streams and water bodies. These are transition zones between land and water. Streambanks, riverbanks, wetlands and floodplains are all riparian zones, shaped by the neighboring water. Water is a very powerful force, especially during times of heavy rainfall. Water rushing quickly, or flooding over banks can wash away valuable soil. A well vegetated riparian zone maintains water quality by slowing the movement of water, and preventing soil erosion. Riparian zones planted with native plants provide habitat for native wildlife, and typically are home to an exciting variety of organisms. Maintaining healthy riparian zones helps to maintain the health of the watershed, and the well-being of all who live there.
A healthy riparian zone - vegetated and with gentle sloping banks
Image credit: "Riparian Zone" by Nicholas_T is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
An unhealthy “cut bank” riparian zone - sheer sides are prone to erosion
Image credit: "Cut bank along Salt Creek (Haynes, Hocking County, Ohio, USA) 2" by James St. John is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Runoff, Erosion, and Other Watershed Factors
Runoff is water, typically rainwater, flowing downhill over the ground or flooding over banks. As the water flows it picks up sediment and erodes soil. Erosion occurs when water dislodges and carries away sediment (silt, sand, and soil) and eventually deposits it downstream. The faster the water is flowing, the larger the pieces of sediment it can transport!
Erosion and deposition is a natural process where sediment is removed by flowing water from the outside of streams/rivers and deposited in the stream. This is partly what causes rivers to meander across the landscape as well as create oxbow lakes when part of the river is cut off.
Human development within watersheds and the creation of things like roads, buildings, and parking lots, adds impervious surfaces to the landscape. Water immediately flows across these surfaces and does not have an opportunity to infiltrate into soils. This greatly adds to the volume of water entering nearby streams/rivers and in turn, increases erosional forces, which can have significant negative effects on riparian zones.
Image credit: Christopher Auyeung CK-12 Foundation CC BY-NC 3.0
How You Can Support Local Watersheds
The health of our watersheds is of the utmost importance, and there are many things that you can do to help! Some elements that improve the health of our watersheds include:
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Rain gardens: Rain gardens are depressions in the landscape that typically include native plants. They capture, absorb, and slowly drain runoff effectively decreasing runoff and its pollutants. Click here to learn how to create a rain garden.
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Native plants: maintaining native plants often requires less water. Native plants also improve an ecosystem’s health in a variety of ways.
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Rain barrels: Can be used to collect rainwater for use in gardens. (Note: laws regarding rain barrels may change, be sure to check your local ordinances before using)
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Riparian buffers: Leave trees and shrubs along the sides of streams intact and keep cattle from entering streams. Having native plants on the edges of streams and rivers creates a barrier and reduces sedimentation.
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Pet waste: Pet waste is a major contributor to E. coli contamination in city waterways, please pick up after your pet and dispose of their waste properly to avoid bacterial contamination in our waterways.
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Hazardous waste: Properly dispose of motor oil, household chemicals, and paint at a household hazardous waste center. Find an HHW disposal center near you: https://www.adeq.state.ar.us/poa/recycling/hazwaste.aspx or https://www.bostonmountain.org/household-hazardous-waste
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Volunteer: Many organizations provide volunteer opportunities for cleaning up lakes and streams, education, and assisting you with best management practices. (See links to local organizations below.)
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Donate: Organizations like the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust are buying land for watershed conservation. (See links to local organizations below.)
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For even more tips on ways to help our local watersheds, download this document from IRWP: Handbook of Best Management Practices — Illinois River Watershed Partnership (irwp.org)
Additional Information
General Information on Watersheds:
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EPA Watershed Information - Provides fundamental information about watersheds, their importance, and how to protect them, including answers to common questions
Basic Information and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions -
USGS Watersheds and Drainage Basins - Learn more about how watersheds work and the role they play in directing water through the landscape
Watersheds and Drainage Basins Overview -
NOAA: What is a Watershed? - Explains what a watershed is, with a focus on its relationship to the ocean and larger environmental systems
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Local Watershed Organizations and Conservation Efforts:
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Kings River Watershed Partnership - Dedicated to protecting and preserving the Kings River and its surrounding watershed in Arkansas
Kings River Watershed Partnership -
Beaver Water District - Provides water quality information and conservation efforts related to Beaver Lake, the drinking water source for Northwest Arkansas
Beaver Water District -
Beaver Watershed Alliance - A non-profit focused on sustaining the water quality of Beaver Lake and its surrounding watershed through conservation and outreach programs
Beaver Watershed Alliance -
Illinois River Watershed Partnership - Works to improve and preserve the water quality of the Illinois River and its tributaries through conservation and education
Illinois River Watershed Partnership -
H2Ozarks - Formerly known as Ozarks Water Watch, H2Ozarks focuses on water conservation and education efforts across the Ozark region
H2Ozarks
Regional Conservation and Land Management Resources:
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NWA Land Trust - Protects land and water in Northwest Arkansas through conservation easements, property management, and habitat restoration
Northwest Arkansas Land Trust -
Watershed Conservation Resource Center - Focuses on conserving natural resources within watersheds through restoration projects and educational programs in the region
Watershed Conservation Resource Center