What

is a

Watershed ?

When it rains, the water has to go somewhere. Where does all the water go?

Down the sewer

In the drains

Downhill

To the creeks and rivers

Watershed divide: Ridges that separate two watersheds

Watershed : All of the land that drains water into one place

Watershed Divide

How many watersheds are pictured? 3

1

32

Watershed

Western Continental Divide: Pacific Ocean and Gulf of MexicoEastern Continental Divide: Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico

Atlantic

Gulf of Mexico

Pacific

Watersheds can be very large – often called “river basins”

Atlantic

Gulf of Mexico

Pacific

Mississippi River Basin (Watershed)

Ohio River Basin (Watershed)

What is the largest watershed (basin) in North America?

Most of Kentucky is in what watershed?

Ohio River Basin – parts of 14 states

KY

IN

TN

OH

PA

NY

VA

WV

IL

NC

MI

MD

Rivers

A

B

B

B

C

D

G

F

FE

H

I

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Kentucky Watersheds

Lakes1) Kentucky 2) Barkley3) Cumberland 4) Dale Hollow5) Barren River 6) Nolin River7) Rough River 8) Cave Run

A) Mississippi B) Ohio C) Kentucky

D) Green E) Tennessee F) Cumberland

G) Big Sandy H) Salt I) Licking

Watersheds of the Kentucky and Green Rivers

By starting at the river mouth and drawing a line to separate two rivers from each other, the approximate watershed for that river can be drawn.

River Basins of Kentucky

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

7)

8)

9)

Fayette Co. Watersheds

Kentucky River

Boone Cr.

W. Hickman

E. Hickman

S. Elkhorn

Town Branch

N. Elkhorn

Cane Run

Wolf Run

Fayette Co. Watersheds

So, what is a watershed ?The land that drains water into a stream, river or lake. It can be very small or extremely large.

The watersheds for Winburn MS are: Cane Run, N. Elkhorn Creek, Elkhorn Creek, Kentucky River, Ohio River, Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico.

Kentucky R.

Elkhorn Cr.

Lexington

Georgetown

Frankfort

Versailles

Midway

N. Elkhorn

S. Elkhorn

Cane RunTown Br

Dry Run

Elkhorn Creek Watershed