A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place. It is the area that drains to a common waterway, such as a stream, lake, estuary, wetland, or even the ocean. We all live in a watershed.

Watershed areas that drain to major rivers are typically called river basins and are made up of many smaller watersheds. In the Atlanta region, there are five major river basins. Three of these, the Chattahoochee, Flint and Coosa river basins eventually flow to the Gulf of Mexico. The other two, the Oconee and Ocmulgee drain to the Atlantic Ocean.

It is important to understand a watershed in terms of managing water resources since there is a direct link between activities in a watershed and the health of rivers, lakes and streams. Asssing the entire watershed is important in addressing pollution as well as protecting drinking water supplies. Effective watershed management is key to protecting and preserving the Atlanta region’s quality of life and economic vitality. 

The Georgia Stormwater Management Manual, an ARC effort, provides guidance on stormwater management policy, technical design standards and pollution prevention with the goal of reducing stormwater impacts to our communities and shared water resources.