Clean Water: Rivers and Streams [b]

R I V E R S A N D S T R E A M S

Rivers and streams - come in many shapes and sizes, all moving water downhill as surface runoff. Creeks, rills, and many other terms refer to rivers of different sizes.

Because rivers are so accessible, they're an important source of freshwater for people. Unfortunately this makes them very accessible to degradation as well.

Would you drink the water out of any local rivers? People still do so in many parts of the world.

Fig. Slide show. See a wide range of rivers and streams across the world. Click to access and enlarge. Static: Shenango River Lake, Pennsylvania. Photo by Margaret Luzier, US Army Corps of Engineers.

Smaller streams have been replaced in many cities by pavement, resulting in storm water runoff. After a storm, storm water flow picks up solid and dissolved materials from wherever it goes - exiting unntreated into bodies of water like lakes and oceans.

PART 1
Water on Earth
• Overview
• Stores of Water
• Infinite cycle:
finite resource
• Sculpting the earth
• What's left to drink?
Quiz
Glossary
Resources
Teacher's guide
Information Sources

• Activity Rivers.1
Are the rivers near you running high or low this year?

Starting points:
Water watch: Maps and graphs of current water resources conditions
Click on the nearest stream and see how current flow stacks up with past flows.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

• Activity Rivers.2
What is the chance of flooding near you?

Starting points:
Flood Hazard Mapping
A FIRM, Flood Insurance Rate Map, is the official map of a community on which FEMA has indicated flood risk. Depending on the risk, you may or may not have to purchase flood insurance.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• Activity Rivers.3
What can you do about storm water runoff in your community?

See what you can do around the house to keep storm water runoff clean.

• Activity Rivers.4
If I go backpacking, can I drink the water?