A watershed is an interconnected natural system of lakes, rivers, wetlands and ground water.  An example of a major watershed within the Scarborough area is the Rouge River.

Wetlands and Our Water Supply

Water is vital for all life on Earth.  Despite the large areas of water covering the earth, many places are faced with water quality and availability issues.  Wetland conservation programs are as much about preserving wildlife habitat as preserving human health.  Wetlands help balance, clean and maintain our water supplies because they are able to filter many contaminants before they reach the main watercourse. Wetlands are important to a watershed because they are able to help filter out fertilizers, pesticides, oil, gasoline and other contaminants that are released into the environment.  Wetland ecosystems also provide essential habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, control erosion, conserve soil, moderate the impacts of floods and droughts, and help to moderate climate change.

Issues like drought, climate change and contaminated water are helping us realize that we cannot take our precious water supplies for granted any longer.  Despite concern over our water resources, over 80% of southern Ontario's wetlands have been drained.  We must all work together to protect our water resources by protecting wetlands, practicing water conservation and eliminating sources of water contamination.

To find out more about how to maintain a healthy watershed click here.