We all live Downstream!

We all live in a watershed and our everyday activities affect the health of the waters that drain through it. Whenever rain falls or snow melts, chemicals, fertilizers, sediment and other pollutants from the land are washed into our local streams, wetlands, lakes, and rivers.

What is a Watershed?

A watershed is a geographic area in which water, sediments, and dissolved materials drain into a common outlet (a common outlet = a larger stream, a lake, an underlying aquifer, an estuary, or the ocean). EVERYONE LIVES IN A WATERSHED.

Do you know your “watershed address”?

Just like your home address is broken down into country - state - city - street, your watershed address can be found in much the same way. Why should you know your watershed address? Watersheds are the places we call home, where we work and where we play. Everyone relies on water and other natural resources to exist. Everything we do on land impacts the quality and quantity of water and our other natural resources. What we do in Lebanon County will eventually affect the water quality of our friends and neighbors downstream.

The term watershed is used when referring to broader management issues. Subwatershed is used in reference to level studies and specific projects within the smaller subwatershed units.

Lebanon County Watersheds

The county has 5 major watersheds: Conestoga River Watershed, Chickies Creek Watershed, Swatara Creek Watershed, Clark - Paxton Creeks Watershed and the Tulpehocken Creek Watershed.

Major Watersheds of Lebanon County	Sub-watersheds of Lebanon County