Watershed

“Water is the most critical resource issue of our lifetime and our children’s lifetime.
The health of our waters is the principal measure of how we live on the land.”

- Luna Leopold

What is a watershed?

A watershed is a geographic area in which water, sediments, and dissolved materials drain into a common outlet, like a larger stream, lake, underlying aquifer, estuary, or ocean). Everyone lives in a watershed!

We All Live Downstream!

Our everyday activities affect the health of the waters that drain through our watershed. When rain falls or snow melts, chemicals, fertilizers, sediment and other pollutants from the land wash into our local streams, wetlands, lakes, and rivers.

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 studies and specific projects within the smaller subwatershed units.

Visit How's My Waterway - Home (epa.gov) to find your watershed address!

Lebanon County Watersheds

Major Watersheds of Lebanon County

Sub-watersheds of Lebanon County

Pennsylvania’s Major River Basins

Lebanon County drains to two basins: Susquehanna River Basin and Delaware River Basin

The Susquehanna is the largest tributary to the Chesapeake Bay:

  • Providing 90% of the freshwater flow to the Upper Bay

  • 50% of the total flow to the Chesapeake Bay

Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Source: Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Chesapeake Bay Drainage in PA

Source: PA DEP

Explore the links below to learn more!

 Contact

Katie Hollen

Watershed Specialist
717-277-5275 ext. 114
Email