The word watershed is used to describe basins, catchments or drainages of varying sizes. Watersheds can be as small as the property you live on or as large as the Mississippi basin which drains 40% of the North American continent.

The Mattole River watershed is 302 square miles, spanning parts of Northern Mendocino and Southern Humboldt Counties in Northern California.


The Mattole River Watershed

It is common for people to focus on the creek, or river, alone when, in fact, it is everything that occurs from the ridgeline to the rivermouth that makes up the watershed. The movement of water over and through the living ecosystem connects us to one another and to all species living in our Basin of Relation. The quality and quantity of this precious liquid, can determine which and how many of each species can sustainably live in each watershed. The better we understand the relationship between our actions and the watershed we live in, the more likely we are to ensure water security for all species that share a watershed.

From Basins Of Relations: A Citizen's Guide to Protecting and Restoring Our Watersheds