About the Watershed
Watersheds are not defined by county lines or other political boundaries.
Rather, they consists of all lands that drain into a body of water and their tributaries.
The watersheds of the WCIWA cross the boundaries of four counties.
Busseron Creek |
- |
163,321 Acres |
Turtle Creek |
- |
41,790 Acres |
Turman Creek |
- |
58,286 Acres |
Kelley Bayou |
- |
5,645 Acres |
Total |
: |
269,042 Acres |
Definition of a Watershed
The boundary of a watershed is defined by the highest elevations surrounding the body of water. A drop of rain falling outside of the boundary will drain into another watershed. Each stream has its own watershed.
The Busseron Creek Watershed is comprised of 13 sub-watersheds. Each of those subwatersheds drains into the Busseron Creek, becoming part of that watershed. The Busseron, in turn, drains into the Wabash, as do the other watersheds of the WCIWA, becoming part of that river’s drainage area.
Whether a small creek or a large river, the quality of surface water in any watershed is an effective gauge of environmental health of an area. The Environmental Protection Agency also makes use of watersheds as a means of managing resources, since all water, both surface and ground eventually drains to the same place.