Water is everywhere in East Tennessee. We have rivers, creeks, streams, lakes, and more rainfall than most places in the eastern United States. But have you ever stopped to think about where all that water goes? Today we are going to follow the water from your backyard all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

What Is a Watershed?

A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains to the same place. Think of it like a giant funnel. When it rains on your roof, that water runs off into your yard, then into a ditch or storm drain, then into a creek, then into a river, and eventually into the ocean. Every drop of rain that falls in your neighborhood is part of the same watershed.

Here in Maryville, we are part of the Little River watershed. That means most of the rain that falls in our area eventually makes its way into the Little River.

The Little River: Our River

The Little River starts high up in the Great Smoky Mountains, near the border of Tennessee and North Carolina. It flows down through the mountains, past Elkmont and Townsend, and into Blount County. By the time it reaches the flatlands near Maryville, it has collected water from dozens of smaller streams and creeks.

The Little River is special for several reasons: - It is one of the cleanest rivers in Tennessee - It supports native brook trout populations in its upper reaches - It provides drinking water for parts of our community - The Townsend area along the Little River is known as "The Peaceful Side of the Smokies"

The Tennessee River System

The Little River flows into the Tennessee River, which is one of the largest river systems in the southeastern United States. Here is how it works:

1. Little River flows into Fort Loudoun Lake (created by Fort Loudoun Dam near Lenoir City)
2. Fort Loudoun Lake is part of the Tennessee River
3. The Tennessee River flows southwest through Chattanooga and into Alabama
4. Then it curves back north through western Tennessee and Kentucky
5. It joins the Ohio River near Paducah, Kentucky
6. The Ohio flows into the Mississippi River
7. The Mississippi flows into the Gulf of Mexico

So when you splash in a creek here in Maryville, that water is on a journey that will eventually reach the ocean, over 1,000 miles away!

The Water Cycle in East Tennessee

East Tennessee gets a LOT of rain, between 47 and 55 inches per year in the valleys, and up to 85 inches in the mountains. That water goes through a constant cycle:

• Evaporation: Water from rivers, lakes, and the ground heats up and rises into the air as water vapor
• Condensation: That vapor cools and forms clouds (those beautiful clouds you see caught on the mountain ridges)
• Precipitation: Rain falls, sometimes a LOT of rain
• Collection: Water flows downhill into streams, rivers, and eventually lakes and reservoirs
• Infiltration: Some water soaks into the ground and becomes groundwater

The Smoky Mountains create their own weather patterns. Moist air from the Gulf of Mexico hits our mountains and is forced upward, where it cools and drops its moisture. That is why the Smokies are so rainy and why that famous blue mist hangs over the peaks.

Why Rivers Matter

Rivers are not just pretty to look at. They are essential:

• Drinking water: Our community depends on clean water sources
• Wildlife habitat: Fish, birds, turtles, and countless other animals depend on healthy rivers
• Recreation: Tubing, fishing, swimming, kayaking - rivers are where we play
• Agriculture: Farms throughout Blount County use river water for irrigation
• Flood control: Healthy rivers and wetlands absorb extra water during storms

Activity: Map Your Water

Grab a map of Blount County (you can print one online) and trace the path of water from your house to the Little River. Find the creeks nearest to your home. Can you follow them to the river?

Discussion Questions

• What creek or stream is closest to your house?
• What would happen if the Little River became polluted?
• How can families help keep our waterways clean?

Every time you pick up trash near a creek or avoid dumping chemicals down a drain, you are protecting our watershed. The water that flows past your house is the same water that flows through our mountains, our farms, and our community. Take care of it!