What Does Watercourse Mean?
A watercourse is a natural or artificial channel through which water flows. A watercourse may be either on the surface, such as a river or stream, or subterranean, such as an underground stream or river. A watercourse need not have water present, as it is a channel for water, not the stream or river itself.
One example of a watercourse is a flood control dam's spillway. The spillway can be open with water flowing through it in times when water levels are high, but closed when water levels are at or below their optimum elevation.