We all live in watersheds—landscapes defined by the crest of mountains or hills in which all the water flows to one stream or water body. Watersheds can be as large as half a continent, such as the vast area that feeds the mighty Mississippi, or as small as an area around a local stream.
What we do in the upper parts of a watershed can affect the lands below. For every activity that DNR carries out on state lands, we work hard to prevent or mitigate any potential negative effects to the health of watersheds and the waters that flow through them.
Look here for our research into watersheds. If you are interested in wetlands—parts of the landscape that act like sponges to cleanse and hold valuable water in the ecosystem—or our studies about the riparian (streamside) habitat, you will find it here, too.