So you may be asking yourself: Why the sudden interest in watersheds? Well, quite simply, it makes sense. It makes sense to learn about the watersheds we live and work in and the ecosystems they support. Everything in nature is interconnected, from microscopic bacteria to gigantic Sequoia. One affects the other. Aldo Leopold said "To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering." This could not be truer. We cannot conserve the waters and waste the land. We must take a holistic approach.

       The Mountains divide the landscape into ecological units (watersheds), within which we can identify and address environmental problems. Many of the issues are difficult or even impossible to address within the limits of a city or county. A county may only contain a segment of the river. We may be able to correct a point source discharge such as sewage flowing out of a pipe and into the river in our segment, but that may not have been the "Big" problem. Non-point pollution or polluted runoff from farms, urban areas and forests are a more severe problem. These problems need to be addressed on a watershed level to be handled effectively.

       A watershed focus is valuable because it involves everyone from farmers and miners to businesses and concerned citizens. Although everyone mentioned may and probably will see things very differently, it requires that we work cooperatively to reach a common goal. This diversity of individuals is what leads to success. Remember: "We all live in a watershed!"