Purdue Website - http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/SafeWater/watershed/
What is a watershed?
A watershed is any area of
land that water flows across or under on its way to a particular stream,
river, or lake. Within each
watershed, all water runs to the lowest point.
For example, all water falling
into the Youngs Creek watershed will eventually make its way into Youngs
Creek. On its way, the water travels over the surface and
across farm fields, forest land, suburban lawns, and city streets, or it
seeps into the soil and travels underground.
Not all watersheds are the
same. Watersheds come in many different shapes and sizes and have
many different features. Watersheds
can have hills or mountains or be nearly flat.
A watershed can be as small as your driveway, or as large as the
drainage basin of the Mississippi River.
Large watersheds such as the Mississippi are made up of many
smaller watersheds. The Youngs
Creek Watershed is approximately 125 square miles in area.
Watersheds
play a key role in attacking water pollution issues. All activity
within a given watershed can affect the quality of its water body.
Direct or indirect pollution within the Youngs Creek Watershed, for
example, can negatively impact Youngs Creek and other water bodies
downstream. It is important, therefore, that management strategies
and pollution issues be viewed from a watershed perspective.
Everyone who lives, works, or plays in the Youngs Creek Watershed has
the opportunity to keep the Creek free from pollutants.
Helpful
Links
A description of the
stormwater Phase
II program, EPA.
A great site with many
resources related to stormwater
issues, Center for Watershed Protection.
County
Planning
home page, includes links to subdivision control ordinance,
comprehensive plan, etc.
- Driftwood Watershed Information
The Youngs Creek watershed is part of
a larger watershed, the Driftwood. Therefore, the Youngs Creek
watershed is a sub-watershed of the Driftwood. The Driftwood
watershed also includes the Big Blue River and Sugar Creek.
The EPA's profile
of the Driftwood watershed includes detailed information about
the watershed's air, water, and land.
The Driftwood
River Watershed Restoration Action Strategy was constructed by
the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to assist
restoration and protection efforts of stakeholders in the Driftwood
sub-watersheds.
- Watershed Planning Information
There are a number of references to
those citizens interested in developing a watershed management
plan. The following guides were developed by IDEM to help local
groups with organization and decision-making.
"What
needs to be in a Watershed Management Plan" is a quick
overview provided by IDEM of required management plan components.
The Watershed
Action Guide for Indiana guides local citizens through the
watershed planning process.
