The Watershed Game

Minnesota Sea Grant

The Watershed Game is an interactive tool that helps community leaders understand the connections between land use, clean water and their community.  Participants learn how a variety of land uses impact water and natural resources and learn how their choices can prevent adverse impacts.  Participants increase their knowledge of best management practices (BMPs), the benefits of planning, and the role of policies and how these tools can reduce runoff and reduce the impacts of storms and flooding on infrastructure and natural resources.  The activity is designed to foster interaction and cooperation among participants, and ensures that everyone understands that water doesn't respect political boundaries.  Designed to fit within a 45 minute session, to-date, over 100 facilitators in 12 states are trained in using this activity.  There are four versions of the Watershed Game.  The Stream Version represents a small headwaters stream watershed, the Lake Version representing a lake and its watershed, the River Version representing a large river system and new in 2015, the Classroom Version designed for middle to high school students in both formal and informal learning environments.