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12/8/2021

What is a Watershed?

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PictureAbove: Painters Run-Anderson Fork
What is a watershed? 
In the simplest terms, a watershed is an area of land which drains to a central water body such as a river or lake. Also called drainage basins, watersheds range in size from a small retention pond in your neighborhood to the Mississippi River Basin, which transports water from over 30 states to the Gulf of Mexico.

Why are watersheds important?
Examining our communities and the broader region in terms of watersheds can help us make decisions regarding our personal and professional water use. The earth is covered in water - 96.5% is in the oceans, which cover 70% of the earth’s surface. A tiny fraction of earth’s water, only 1.7%, is found in groundwater, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and soils. Groundwater makes up 30% of all freshwater, which is 35 times more water than all the lakes and rivers combined.

So why are we so concerned with surface water if it’s such a small portion of the earth’s tremendous water resource?
The United States has over 4.8 million kilometers of rivers, streams, creeks, and brooks. These bodies of water flow through heavily urbanized cities as well as sparsely populated rural areas and pick up sediment, debris, and other pollutants along the way. Our local stormwater sewer systems (MS4s) contribute water to many streams and creeks as well as the Little Miami River and the Ohio River.

By actively managing the materials discharged into local waterways we can maintain the health of our regional watersheds, thereby providing clean water for creatures and communities downstream.
 
For more information on watersheds, see the EPA’s Healthy Watersheds Protection FAQ page: https://www.epa.gov/hwp/basic-information-and-answers-frequent-questions
 
Additional Resources:
​

https://www.neefusa.org/nature/water/lesson-1-watershed-basics
​

https://eec.ky.gov/Environmental-Protection/Water/Protection/DocsGuidebook/KY%20Watershed%20Planning%20Guidebook%20-%20Watershed%20Basics.pdf

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1 Comment
Kelly link
6/23/2023 10:09:19 am

Very insightful post on watershed management, thanks a lot for sharing this!

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    Every month, the Warren Co SWCD Urban Team dives deep into the world of land development as it relates to stormwater pollution prevention. The blog covers topics like erosion & sediment control best management practices (BMPs), state and local regulations, retention/detention basins, and the conservation of our natural resources. Stay up to date with Development Digest by signing up for WCSWCD Urban eNews!

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  • Home
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Board Supervisors
    • Staff
    • NRCS
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Upcoming Programs/Events
    • Ag Tour
    • Annual Meeting
    • Introduction to Kayaking
    • Lebanon Oktoberfest
    • Stream Clean Ups
    • Stream Encounters
    • Summer Contests
    • Urban Chat Series
    • Warren Water Striders
    • Women for the Land
    • Partner Events
  • Services
    • EQUIPMENT RENTAL
    • For Residents >
      • Drainage, Erosion & Pond Assistance
      • Soil Testing
      • Water Testing
      • Stormwater Basin Inspections
      • Maps & Historic Aerial Images
      • Backyard Conservation >
        • Ohio Native Plants
        • Pollinator Pathways
        • Rain Gardens
        • Rain Barrels
        • Composting
    • For Agriculture Producers >
      • Nutrient Management
      • Land Preservation
      • Cover Crops
      • GIS/Mapping
      • Caesar Creek Collaborative >
        • Meet the Collaborative
        • Our Work
    • 2024 H2Ohio Program
    • For Businesses >
      • Stormwater Basin Inspections
    • For Municipalities >
      • Illicit Discharge Detection Program
      • Operation Rain Garden Grants
  • PERMITS
    • Earth Disturbing in Warren County >
      • Earth Disturbing Permit Application
    • Floodplain Management >
      • Floodplain Determination Request Form
      • Flood Applications, Forms & Documents
  • Education
    • Programs >
      • Classroom Programs
      • Youth Programs
      • Community Outreach
    • Virtual Classroom
    • Urban Conservation Learning Lab
    • Dagmar the Dragonfly
    • Turtle Education Ambassador
    • Program Loan Portal
    • Scholarship Opportunities
    • HS Envirothon
    • Educator Workshops
  • Blogs
    • Conservation Connection
    • Development Digest
    • Education Connection