Welcome to the Wolf Run watershed! Watersheds are also known as drainage basins or catchments. They are geographic areas where the ground slopes and water flows towards a stream, which then flows to a river and eventually joins the ocean. In the Wolf Run watershed, water flows towards Wolf Run Creek, which you can see at the bottom of the slope.

During this short walk you will learn about the importance of Wolf Run Creek not only to the watershed area but far beyond. It is not too much of a stretch to believe that what happens here, a relatively small area around a creek, affects our neighbors up and downstream, their neighbors, and ultimately the whole world. The air we breathe, the water we drink, and our very existence is dependent on the balancing of complex ecosystems. We can witness examples of these ecosystems right here at Tobit’s Trace.

Before we begin, here is a quick review of some concepts and terms you may already be familiar with:

The water cycle

You may remember learning about the water cycle in school. There is a finite amount of water on earth. Water rains from the sky, where it flows across and through land to join streams and rivers, flowing eventually to the great big salty oceans. Through evaporation and transpiration (moisture emitted by plants through photosynthesis) water vapor is put into the air. It collects to form clouds, the clouds produce rain, and the water cycle begins again.

Stream terms

During this walk you will hear many terms which describe parts of the stream and surrounding area. Here is a diagram to explain them:

Please proceed to Station 2, then click the button on the right below.