A watershed is an area of land that drains into a common water body such as a stream, river, lake or ocean.

There are several excellent websites that talk about watersheds, how they work, and how they formed. We recommend that you visit the following:

• The Watershed Atlas of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers
  http://www.watershedatlas.org
• The Conservation Technology’s Information Center’s Know Your Watershed
  http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/KYW/Brochures/GetToKnow.html

Why Should You Care About a Watershed?

It is important to care about a healthy watershed because:

• A healthy stream system can be enjoyed recreationally, can support a healthy natural biological community, and can function in a non-destructive way during heavy rain events.
  There are ways to reduce the risk of flooding that also enhance water quality and a watershed’s recreational value at the same time.
  Costs associated with flooding affect every one of us through federal, state, and local tax dollars required to address emergency management and repairs.

  Our drinking water is taken from either an aquifer, stream, or river. Dirty water costs more to purify than cleaner water.
  Recreational users can be directly impacted by stream health through contact with bacterial or other contaminants.
  Better fish populations due to good water quality increase the recreational opportunities of a stream system and can increase revenue of service industries and businesses that surround it.
  A healthier watershed and clean streams become a source of pride for the community and may increase property values. Streams that are polluted or full of litter are unattractive and have a negative impact.

(Taken from Pine Creek and You: A Partnership for the Future, A Resident’s Guide to Promoting a Healthy Watershed. This pamphlet and summary brochure can be downloaded here.)