NC River Basins and Watersheds

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About Your River Basins and Watersheds

In North Carolina there are 17 River Basins Cape Fear is the largest and Savannah the smallest. A river basin consists of all the waters (tributaries, lakes, reservoirs ground water etc.) that flows (drains) down towards the river. Watersheds are smaller land areas and located within a river basin that include; creeks, streams, lakes, reservoirs, groundwater, aquifers, springs and sections of a river. Healthy watersheds generally supply people in the surrounding area with drinking water and one sign of a healthy watershed is if it supports a diverse ecological environment.

Extension assists communities in their efforts to protect there watersheds.

North Carolinas 17 River Basins

Protecting individual watersheds from pollution, erosion issues, ecological damage, negative changes to typography and soils, and the miss guided use of available waters are essential because watersheds ultimately provide us with water for drinking, food production and help run all of our industries. Competition for water is growing so the more we understand and protect the water we have the better our quality of life.

Engineering work in this area uses traditional and new technologies in conjunction with scientific information to make a difference. Engineering a watershed involves; knowledge of hydrology, Stormwater runoff, Non point source pollution, Flow paths, Stream restoration and natural channel design, Non-structural pollution controls and loads, Flood plain analysis, control and routing, Riparian buffers and wetland design for runoff, , Sediment control, Vegetated waterways and Spillways and chutes just to name a few.

How can the public help...

Since watersheds are smaller than river basins it's easier for individuals and groups to protect areas that are manageable and closer to home. People should become familiar with their particular watersheds and its health. There are plenty of educational outreach programs focusing on environmental subjects and you can find these resources on state and local government web sites. You can have a big impact by getting involved with environmental organizations in your watershed. Try offering assistance in area that you like or feel strongly about. Example: If you are a bird lover than get involved with a local birding club or organization and focus on identifying numbers and types in your watershed. Contact your town or county for programs.

Links:

• Restoring Rivers.org
  http://restoringrivers.org/
• NCDENR- Office of Environmental Education - provides information on all 17 watersheds.
  www.eenorthcarolina.org/
• NCDENR- Division of Water Resources - provides links for technical and general information
  http://ncwater.org
• NCDENR- Data- information and links
  www.enr.state.nc.us/html/data.html
• NCDENR Division of Water Quality Watershed Protection Program
  http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/wswp/
  
• NCSU- Watershed Education Network
  www.wen.ncsu.edu/
• About the Neuse River Watershed http://www.shodor.org/master/environmental/water/neuse/NeuseStart.html
• USGS NC Water http://nc.water.usgs.gov/
• EPA Watersheds http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/
• Southern Regional Water Program
  http://srwqis.tamu.edu/
• North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission
  www.ncwildlife.org/
• USDA Forest Service - Watershed Services
  http://www.fs.fed.us/ecosystemservices/watershed.shtml
• National Watershed Coalition
  http://www.watershedcoalition.org/