Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Watersheds 101

"Watershed" has been a buzzword I've been hearing since I joined the Friends of Tryon Creek. It is an important component of the park so this morning I met with Terri Preeg Riggsby, Tryon Creek's resident watershed expert and member of the Tryon Creek Watershed Council (TCWC), to learn more.

Terri has been with TCWC for ten years and has gleaned a great deal of information about the region. She explained that a watershed is a geographical area that is bordered by high elevation from which water flows downhill to lower elevations. In the case of Tryon Creek's 4,200-acre watershed, water runs to area tributaries and then into the creek and eventually into the Willamette River.

Ideally, water flowing into area waterways would be filtered through the ground to underground streams. This would allow for cleaner, cooler water which is necessary for healthy ecosystems. The current reality is that much of the stormwater ends up running down our streets and into drains and the sewer system. It eventually ends up in the river along with all the unhealthy particles it picks up along the way. The result? Warmer, polluted water that contributes to turbidity and erosion.

The mission of the Tryon Creek Watershed Council is to preserve and protect area waterways, increase ground-access for water, and educate the community about the importance of the watershed and its contribution to clean water and the general health of the environment. I have a new respect and appreciation for the work of the TCWC and am pleased they are a partner to the Friends.

For more info on the Tryon Creek Watershed Council please visit http://tcwc.tryonfriends.org/index.html

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