Environment

Watershed Resource Mapping Program

Richmond Regional Watershed Platform

The interconnectedness of the Richmond region is evident in its watersheds. Although watersheds play an important role in the region, many do not know what they are, what they do, or their impact on water quality. Through a grant from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), PlanRVA has created a watershed resource platform to increase regional awareness. This interactive map offers relevant information and available resources to ensure that all residents understand the function and purpose of a watershed.

What Is A Watershed?

A watershed is the land and area that drains both rainfall and snowmelt into a larger body of water, such as a stream, river, or lake. Watersheds vary in size and their boundaries are determined by the shape and features of the land's surface. For example, because water drains downhill, high points (i.e., hills or ridges) define the boundaries of a watershed. All bodies of water in Virginia, from streams to rivers, have a watershed and all residents live in one.

Source: Connecticut River Conservancy

Watersheds and Water Quality

When it rains, or snow melts, water flows over surfaces and into water bodies, also known as runoff. Runoff absorbs everything on the land's surfaces and flows into the nearest waterbody. When water flows over the various surfaces pollutants, such as litter, lawn chemicals, car oil, pet waste, and more are carried into local water sources. Personal behaviors can have a major impact on water quality in the area.

Watersheds and Land Cover

Different types of land coverage can have a great impact on a watershed, and some more than others. When it rains, the specific type of land coverage determines how quickly the water flows into a watershed as well as what it carries along with it. While soil or grass will absorb and filter a majority of stormwater, other surfaces such as impervious surfaces will quickly move water into local storm drains. In addition to rapid movement of water, impervious surfaces, such as parking lots, roads, and rooftops carry various pollutants (i.e., litter, car oil, or pet waste) into storm drains, eventually reaching local watersheds. These pollutants have a major impact on both the natural environment and humans in the watershed.

There are a variety of Best Management Practices (BMPs) that can be implemented to reduce the impact of stormwater runoff on water quality. To learn more about BMPs please click here.

To explore our mapping program and learn more about your local watershed, please click here.

Check out this interactive map that shows the path of a raindrop in your watershed here.

Chesapeake Bay Act:

The efforts of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. To learn more click here.

Watershed Resources

James River Association

RVA H2O

River Runner

This project, Task # 48 was funded by the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program led by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality through Grant FY18 #NA18NOS4190152 of the US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic, and Atmospheric Administration, under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US Department of Commerce, NOAA, or any of its sub-agencies.