So how do I find the name of the watershed I live in? Watersheds have names, and the one outlined in this image is of the largest watersheds in the U.S., the Mississippi River watershed, which drains water from 14 states! Image 2 (right), the largest watershed in the U.S.: When streams and rivers flow into each other and meet (called a 'confluence'), they form larger rivers, which eventually flow to the ocean (as in the case of this image). Their purity is usually higher and energy is very powerful. In many places around the world these smaller streams are not protected by law, but make up the majority of types of streams we have and are the life-blood of the watershed. Image 1 (left), a network of water: Smaller rivers (in red, green and blue above, labelled with a '1' or '2' or '3' for their size) are called headwater streams as these 'begin' the life and flow of water within the watershed. The flow pattern of these streams/rivers looks similar to a network of veins in your body or the roots of a tree or leaf (image 1). all flow to a given site (a lake, ocean) and contain many tiny streams (tributaries), larger rivers, wetlands, lakes, pollution and more. In a watershed the rivers, streams, rain, etc. It's also called a basin (and 'holds' water similarly to a bathtub or basin). With watersheds we tend to talk about the water, as it is the carrier and connector to everything in a watershed (more on this below). It's an area (defined by elevation) of land, water, animals, people that are all connected.