What Is a Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land where rain, melting snow, and other water drain to a common stream, river, lake, or other body of water.
Watersheds are separated by higher areas of land, such as hills and ridgelines, that determine which direction water flows. Everything that happens within a watershed—from development and agriculture to activities around individual homes and businesses—can affect the water that eventually reaches local streams.
Watershed Geography
Watersheds can be viewed at many different scales. Water from smaller streams and tributaries in Penn Township flows into larger waterways, eventually reaching the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay.
This connection means that actions taken locally can affect water quality far beyond Penn Township. Protecting local streams and reducing pollution helps protect the larger waterways downstream.
Watersheds and Stormwater Management
Stormwater runoff connects our properties, roads, and developed areas to local streams and waterways. As runoff travels across the land, it can carry sediment, nutrients, chemicals, litter, and other pollutants into the watershed.
Managing stormwater helps reduce these impacts and protect water quality throughout Penn Township and downstream communities.
Learn more about Stormwater Management →
Local Watershed Organizations
Local and regional organizations work throughout Lancaster County and the surrounding watershed to protect streams, improve water quality, restore habitat, and provide opportunities for community involvement.
The following organizations and resources provide additional information about watershed protection efforts affecting Penn Township and the surrounding region.
Chiques Creek Watershed Alliance
Chiques Creek Restoration Initiative – Susquehanna River Basin Commission
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