Runoff is the movement of landwater to the oceans, chiefly in the form of rivers, lakes, and streams. As we melt, we join other melting snowflakes to make a small stream that will get continually larger as it moves downhill and toward the ocean. Many streams will join together creating rivers. Water can also collect in lakes or reservoirs. Even the smallest streams are connected to larger rivers that carry billions of gallons of water into oceans worldwide.
Some of the water seeps into the land in a process called infiltration and becomes groundwater which moves much slower and may not re-enter the water cycle for thousands of years. Some of the water evaporates back into the air. These are not technically considered runoff but are a part of the water's interaction with land.
While this is true, we are still flowing down a river. On no! Here comes a deer walking to the banks to get a drink of water! Now what?
