A watershed is all of the land and water areas that drain toward a particular river, lake, estuary or bay. Drainage systems and underground seepage carry pesticides and agricultural run-off from farms and ranches into our waters, polluting them, changing their chemistry, and ruining habitat for animals and plants. Sustainable farmers and ranchers protect watersheds by limiting or eliminating the use of toxics on their fields, recycling animal waste to keep it out of waterways, and reducing the need for irrigation on their farms.