Local Watersheds

Watershed

A watershed is an area of land that drains into a body of water such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, sea, or ocean. The watershed includes both the streams and rivers that convey the water, as well as the land surfaces from which water runs off. Watersheds are separated from adjacent watersheds by high points such as hills or slopes. We all reside, work, and play in a watershed, and keeping it protected is everybody's job. We can all be H2O Heroes!

Find Your Watershed

There are 24 major watersheds in Monroe County. Our local watersheds cover an area of over 3,000 square miles and drain through the county into Lake Ontario. Watersheds can extend beyond municipal boundaries, and vary greatly in size. Click on the map or type your address in the search box below to determine which watershed you live in.

Watershed Management

Various land uses within a watershed such as residential, industrial, commercial and agricultural, impact the water quality of our creeks and streams. Stormwater runoff contributes pollutants (nutrients, bacteria, and chemical contaminants) to a watershed. Watershed management recognizes that the water quality of our streams, lakes, and estuaries is impacted by land use. Management strategies encompass all activities aimed at identifying pollutant sources and minimizing impacts. Effective planning and ongoing effort with public participation can protect, improve, and restore water quality in even the most impaired watersheds.