Your river might join others and flow into a larger river and eventually the ocean, forming an even bigger watershed. Because most of the water that enters your local streams or rivers drains or runs off of the land, human activities on that land can greatly affect the quality of water that enters the stream or river in your own watershed and beyond. Everyone shares a watershed and each watershed has its own unique set of water quality issues. Problems vary between large and small communities, between rural and urban areas, and from arid regions to places with plenty of water. The problems can vary at different locations in a watershed - often with competing solutions.
Watershed management helps solve the problems cost-effectively, fairly, and scientifically.
The last time you went to the symphony, you didn't listen to the sounds from just one instrument - you heard the entire orchestra. It was a holistic or complete experience. Watershed management is like that. Instead of focusing attention and resources on one particular water quality problems, we take a holistic approach. Decisions are based on all the water resources, all the water uses, and all the threats to water quality throughout a common geographical area.