Clean Streams & Pollution 2

Understanding Our Local Watersheds and Our Local

Water ResourcesLesson 2

Check Homework Questions

What is the difference between a stream and a river?

Main components of a stream or river are:

• Stream Banks• Main Channel• Floodplains• Riparian Buffers

Stream Banks

Stream Banks are the areas of land that lie directly beside the flowing water.

Main Channel

The main channel is the area where the actual water flows.

Floodplains

Floodplains are strips of land adjacent to the stream bank which are able to contain the excess water present in the stream during heavy rainstorms.

Riparian Buffers

Riparian Buffers are vegetated strips of land along the sides of the stream. The Riparian Buffers may also contain portions of the stream banks and floodplain areas. The vegetation in the riparian buffers may contain trees, shrubs, and plants.

Fill in the Blank____________the areas of land that lie directly

beside the flowing water.____________ the area where the actual water

flows.____________ strips of land adjacent to the

stream bank which are able to contain the excess water present in the stream during heavy rainstorms.

____________ vegetated strips of land along the sides of the stream.

Stream Banks

Riparian Buffers

Floodplains

Main Channel

Two Types of Ecosystems in Rivers and Streams

Pools--areas with deep,

slow moving water. Pools provide important feeding and resting areas for fish and other aquatic dwellers such as turtles and frogs.

Riffles-- parts of the stream

which flow more rapidly, are very shallow, and generally contain more oxygen than pools.

Which one do you think has more organisms living in it? Pools or Riffles

Riffles usually have a greater number of organisms living in them because there is more oxygen than pools.

Riffles usually consist of rocks and large stones which cause the water flowing over them to travel more quickly. Since the riffles are shallow, the sunlight is able to penetrate the water and promote the growth of algae. Many organisms are able to live in the riffles by attaching themselves to the underside of rocks and aquatic plants where they are safe from predators such as fish and birds.

What are Macroinvertebrates?

Many of the organisms that live in these pools and riffles are no larger than your pencil point; however, they can be seen without a microscope. They do not have backbones. Examples include: mayfly larvae, stonefly larvae, riffle beetles, and snails.

Ecologists classify macroinvertebrates based on factors such as whether or not they have a shell, how many pairs of legs, and how many tails.

Questions…

What is the difference between Pools and Riffles?

What are macroinvertebrates?

Importance of Macroinvertebrates

How do streams become polluted?

Streams become polluted from many different sources. Much of the pollution in our streams today results from the actions of humans: Point Source Pollution, Nonpoint Source Pollution, and Stormwater runoff.

Where does water go after bathing, washing clothes, or flushing toilets?

Review…

• List one major source of Point Source Pollution.

• What is the most common source of Nonpoint Source Pollution in Bucks County?

Homework1. What is the difference between streams

and rivers? 2. What is the importance of the floodplain

areas?3. What type of organisms live in the riffle

areas of streams?4. How are macroinvertebrates used to

measure the health of a stream?