What is a watershed and how is it important to you? Objective Students will be able to: 1. State the watershed(s) in the area and explain why it is important. 2. Show how the watershed connects their town to others in the area/region. Background Water is essential for life on Earth. Relative water availability is a major factor in designating habitats for different living organisms. In the United States, things like agriculture and water rights are hot topics. Current models predict that average global temperatures are going to continue to rise even if regional climate changes remain complex a Duration: 60 Minutes.