What features make a watershed unique?
The most unique features of a watershed are its boundary, terrain, soil type and land use. The geographic boundary of a watershed determines its physical size. This boundary is usually a ridge or high area from which water either drains towards or away from a particular watershed. How flat or how steep (terrain) the land is impacts how fast the water drains throughout and from a watershed. The faster the drainage, the greater for potential flooding and potential erosion and sediment discharge from the watershed. Sandy soil allows the ground to soak up water faster, reducing runoff. Clay soils do not allow as much water infiltration, leading to greater runoff. Soils are classified into four hydrologic groups based on runoff potential. Land use, especially that nearest the water, can heavily impact a watershed. Runoff quality and quantity varies significantly over time, depending on whether land use next to a water flow channel is a filter, a buffer strip, wildlife habitat, wetlands, ind
