Energy & Watersheds

In understanding the relationship between energy and watersheds, it is important to understand the physical fuel cycle for each fuel, from the point it is a natural resource, through its extraction and processing, into its consumption and waste by-products. Fuel is consumed whereever in the world there are people. The physical flow of fuel is virtually the same everywhere. even though some externalities will change.

Second, knowledge of the relationships between energy and every aspect of our personal, professional and governmental lives - both direct and indirect - varies with the developmental level. Scanning through the Mind Maps will provide a structure for understanding "energy" and all of its interactions with other parts of our lives.

Or, you might want to read about how energy is A Unifying Concept.

Once this knowledge is in hand, a review of the impacts of all these aspects on watersheds can be organized into logical categories. (Note: because there could be soooo much redundancy in impacts, redundancy was reduced to a minimum. For example, a category of environmental impact might be mentioned only once, with the assumption that the reader will apply it elsewhere, as appropriate.)

To understand what is happening in your own particular watershed requires:
An inventory of what is actually happening within those unique geographic boundaries of your watershed. Some impacts on your watershed may be coming from the air that flows over it. The above links provide a way to make the checklists you will need when identifying the issues that weigh most heavily on your watershed.