Pearl Learns, What is a Watershed?

As our namesake implies, at The Missisquoi River Basin Association, we work across the entire Missisquoi Basin. The Missisquoi River Basin is the 855 square miles and encompasses The Missisquoi River. The Missisquoi River flows for 88 miles from the headwaters in Lowell to the delta, where the river branches out and drains into the Missisquoi Bay of Lake Champlain in Swanton.

The original name of the river is Wázowategók, which translates as either “the river that turns back” or “the crooked river.” Abenaki paddlers traveled the full length of the river, which first flows north, then arcs toward the south before flowing west to the lake. The Abenaki people have been the caretakers of this watershed for countless generations and at MRBA, we honor their stewardship and their deep historical and cultural connections to the river and the land. 

Another word that can be used for basin is watershed. Pearl spends a lot of time in the Missisquoi Watershed and wants to know exactly what a watershed is and why they are important.

A watershed is an area of land that channels snowmelt, rain, and runoff into a common body of water. Watersheds are like a bowl that collects water, any water that falls within its boundaries will eventually flow downhill into the main body of water at the bottom. In our case, it is the Missisquoi River and its tributaries. Watersheds are defined by natural landforms, like hills and mountains such as Jay Peak. These mountains create boundaries that direct water flow. They can vary in size from a small area around a local stream to a vast region that drains into a major river system.

Everyone lives in a watershed! Do you know what watershed you live in? If not, be sure to find out and share with your friends!

Watersheds are important because they provide clean drinking water, support agriculture, help ecosystems thrive, and manage stormwater, acting as natural filters to prevent pollution. Protecting healthy watersheds is crucial for ensuring a reliable supply of clean water and maintaining the overall health of communities and the environment.

To protect watersheds, you can reduce pollution, conserve water, limit the use of fertilizers and pesticides, get involved with local environmental organizations, and support legislation that protest and preserve watersheds. Together, we can restore and maintain the ecological integrity of the Missisquoi River system.

Pearl wants to keep the Missisquoi Watershed clean and healthy so she can continue to swim around, dig holes for tree plantings, and run through farm fields.