watershed

The total land area, regardless of size, above a given point on a waterway that contributes runoff water to the flow at that point. A major subdivision of a drainage basin. The United States is generally divided into 18 major drainage areas and 160 principal river drainage basins containing some 12,700 smaller watersheds. An area of land that collects and discharges water into a single stream or other outlet. Also called a catchment or drainage basin.

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