Introduction
Groundwater vs. Surface Water
Groundwater – water that has soaked into the ground
Surface water – water that flows over the ground and into lakes/streams/ponds/etc.
Streams continue to flow so long as they receive water from additional rain,
melting snow, or base flow.
Base flow – groundwater that seeps into a stream via porous rocks, fractures, and
springs.
Introduction
Perennial streams – streams that flow continuously throughout the year. On topo
maps, will be blue lines.
Intermittent streams – streams that flow only at certain times of the year (rainy
seasons/glacial melts). On topo maps, will be blue line segments separated by three
blue dots.
Both types of streams have the ability to flood.
Introduction
Land erosion – wearing away of the land
Streams are the single, most important agent of land erosion.
