The Second College Edition of the American Heritage Dictionary defines a Watershed as;
- A ridge of high land diving two areas that are drained by different river systems.
- The region draining into a river, river system or other body of water.
Water is one of our most vital non-renewable resources and proper management is critical to ensure a healthy balance between society and the environment.
The state of Pennsylvania returns an impressive 90% of the 14 plus billion gallons the water used daily back into the environment via the watershed. This gives each citizen significant responsibility and each person should try to ensure proper use of their watershed systems. One individual’s activity can have a significant impact on such a delicately balanced system.
The Pennsylvania State Water Plan has divided the system into 104 identified watersheds. The watershed basins are defined as follows: The Delaware Basin, the Central West Branch, the Susquehanna Sub-basin, the Central Allegheny Sub-basin, the Lower Allegheny Sub-basin, the Monongahela Sub-basin and the Ohio Sub-basin. These sub-basins are further divided and flow into smaller river systems and creeks that comprise the entire watershed system.
The maintenance of the watershed system is critical, but we can each make a difference with such simple changes as using biodegradable products, being sure to respect the water ways when enjoy nature’s bounty or something as simple as fixing a dripping faucet.
