The Watersheds

What is a watershed?

A watershed is the area of land that catches rain and snow and drains or seeps into a marsh, stream, river, lake or groundwater.

You are sitting in a watershed now. Homes, farms, ranches, forests, small towns, big cities and more can make up watersheds.

Some watersheds cross county, state, and even international borders such as the Great Lakes Basin.

Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. Some are millions of square miles; others are just a few acres.

Just as creeks drain into rivers, watersheds are nearly always part of a larger watershed or basin. For example, the Paw Paw River Watershed is part of the St. Joseph River Watershed which is part of the Lake Michigan Watershed which is part of the Great Lakes Basin.

Every drain, stream, tributary, river, lake and wetland have an associated watershed.

Learn more about the Two Rivers Watersheds by clicking the links on the left side of the page.

TRC has been work with county road commissions within the Black and Paw Paw River Watersheds to place signs along roadsides entering watershed boundaries.  The goal of this project is to inspire individuals and groups to educate themselves on the importance of a watershed and be more involve in the water quality and preservation.  Please contact your local Road Commission and encourage them to place the signs throughout the watersheds in Berrien, Kalamazoo and Van Buren Counties.