Watersheds are areas in which all water, sediments, and dissolved materials flow or drain into a common river, lake or other body of water. Watersheds may vary in size from the largest river basins to just a few acres, but within their boundaries, all living things are inextricably linked by their common water course. EPA provides a host of financial and technical resources to support local watershed protection efforts undertaken by state and tribal governments, public interest groups, industry, academic institutions, private landowners and concerned citizens. In addition, the Agency targets priority problems, promotes a high level of stakeholder involvement, integrates solutions with other federal agencies and measures the success of these efforts through monitoring and other data gathering.

Recommended EPA Web pages

• Watersheds
  EPA and its partners are working together on a watershed basis to protect the nation's water resources.
• Introduction to Watershed Ecology
  This training module introduces watershed ecology.

Aquatic Ecosystems
Aquaculture, Coral Reefs, Estuaries, Freshwater Ecosystems, Lakes, Marine Ecosystems, Oceans, Shellfish Protection

Ecological Monitoring
Ecological Assessment, Environmental Indicators

Ecological Restoration

Landscape Ecology

Mines
Abandoned Mine

Soils
Erosion, Leaching

Species
Endangered Species, Exotic Species

Terrestrial Ecosystems
Watersheds, Coasts, Deserts, Forests, Urban Ecosystems, Wetlands