Last February, the Tennessee Department of Transportation in conjunction with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation began erecting watershed signs along highways. This watershed awareness program has been in place in many other states in order to make the public conscious of their water sources. They hope that when people become more aware of the relationship between drainage and water quality, it will encourage good stewardship. So often we pass over rivers and streams and by lakes and wetlands without being aware of the inter-connection between these bodies of water.  We may not realize it, but we all live in a watershed and place a very high value on having it healthy.

In Middle Tennessee, we are blessed with extremely healthy watersheds that provide us with renowned rivers such as the Duck and the Buffalo.  It is only by virtue of their pristine watershed that these rivers can support species that have long ago died out in other areas of the country.

What exactly is a watershed?  A watershed is simply an area of land that catches precipitation and “sheds” it.  It can be small - like the area that drains into a neighborhood creek, or large, like all the area that drains into a large river.  In a watershed (or drainage basin), the water seeps into soils and groundwaters and flows into creeks and streams on its way to rivers and ultimately the sea.  Most watersheds are part of a larger watershed system.

Why do watersheds matter?  The concept of a watershed is a great way to envision the connection between the land and the quality of the water.  Because water is a universal solvent, it washes the land and soils it travels through.  It’s important to be cautious about what chemicals are applied to the land and what substances are allowed to soak into it because they almost always end up in the groundwater. What happens in a watershed doesn’t just stay in that watershed.  What we do on land affects water quality for everyone living downstream.

Watersheds are critical elements of healthy life.  They collect and provide fresh water and store it for future use.  They filter toxins and pollutants from the water helping to provide vigorous habitats for all living things.

So when you see that “Watershed” sign along the highway just think about the wonder and necessity of our watersheds. Then, ponder what impact your own actions might have on your watershed and what, if any, changes you might make. Because, remember, wherever you are, you’re in a watershed.