Water Protection Program - What watershed do you live in?

What watershed do you live in?

No matter where you go, from small towns to big cities, down on the farm or back at the ranch, you're always in a watershed. They come in all shapes and sizes, from millions of square miles to just a few acres. A watershed is an area of land that catches rainfall and melting snow, which in turn, drain into low lying bodies of water. Each one is a dynamic, unique place we call home. It's where we live, work and play. And, how we do each of those things affects the water in the watershed. You may also hear a watershed referred to as a drainage basin or catchment area.

View the watersheds in your county.
View additional information about the individual watersheds in Missouri. Information includes narratives, maps, water quality data, and management needs for Missouri's major water basins.

Did you know that your actions can affect the water quality in rivers and lakes near you? This is because everything that is done on the land affects the quality of the water in that watershed. This in turn affects the quality of life for all living creatures in that basin, human and animal alike.

Actions that have a negative impact on water quality:

Dumping anything down a storm drain. Water in a storm drain goes directly to a stream without being treated (cleaned) in any way.
Putting too much fertilizer on a lawn or field.
Applying fertilizer at the wrong time, like immediately before it rains.
Allowing sediment to runoff (erode) from construction sites or other bare ground.
Inappropriate use of pesticides and herbicides on lawns, farm fields or golf courses.
Leaving animal manure, including waste from household pets, exposed to the weather resulting in bacteria running off into waterways.
Poorly maintained septic tanks allow nutrients and bacteria to enter streams and lakes.
Wastewater treatment plants must function properly or they will discharge bacteria, nutrients and toxins into receiving waters.

Actions that have a positive effect on water quality:

Do not put anything down a storm drain that could harm your local stream, river or lake.
Avoid farming or building right next to the edge of a stream.
Plant a buffer zone of vegetation along the stream to slow down storm water runoff and allow it to soak into the ground before it reaches the stream.
Construct a rain garden in your backyard.
Support developers who include rain gardens, storm water retention basins and green space in their development plans.
Form a Stream Team and learn how watersheds work, how to care for them and even how to monitor water quality.
Incorporate erosion control measures such as silt fences around construction sites.
Keep your septic tank properly maintained.
Get behind (vote for) bond issues to raise money to build or upgrade your local wastewater treatment plants. Facilities that are overloaded or malfunctioning can discharge bacteria and toxins into nearby waters.
Learn responsible lawn care when using fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides.
Plant native species in your yard to enhance beauty, create habitat for wildlife and reduce the need for water, fertilizers and pesticides.