Special thanks to Brandi Adamski for this post!

If we all live in a watershed, then why do we not know where it is and why it matters? Most people in Canton are only familiar with the creek as it pertains to ducks and floods. Ok, so knowing where it floods is a start.

What is a Watershed?

A watershed is the land and series of waterways (lakes, rivers, streams, rivers and creeks) that drain an area, eventually, to the sea. Some watersheds are a few acres, while others cover millions of square miles. Regardless of size, wherever you are, you are in a watershed.

Now, think of your property. When it rains, the water drains in a particular order and fashion. Water flows, downward, from the roof to the gutters, down downspouts, through landscape beds and lawn and around concrete, bricks and vehicles to the street. Your house and yard is a mini-watershed, of sorts. Without this drainage, we would be inundated with water every time it rained – whether it be a house or a county. So, let’s just say drainage is THE most important thing to land-loving individuals. With that in perspective, it’s kind of difficult to imagine that most people aren’t more informed about their watershed.

What is our Watershed?

We can thank the Nimishillen Creek tributaries (West Branch, East Branch, and Middle Branch, Hurford Run and Sherrick Run) for draining water southerly. There are six watersheds in Stark County, but ours is central and drains Canton, North Canton, Louisville, East Sparta and part of Hartville to Sandy Creek. From Sandy Creek, water drains through the Tuscarawas and Ohio Rivers to the Mississippi River that empties into the Gulf of Mexico. This trip is almost 900 miles! Imagine all the other communities OUR water impacts. Which leads to the alternate title for this blog: We all live downstream.

Watershed Health and Importance

So who cares about downstream? From microscopic organisms to birds to large mammals, entire systems depend on clean water. The creek is their food and water supply. A watershed must be efficient and healthy to support such systems, but our assistance is the key. Trash, human development and chemical use are all obvious contributors to the degradation of the watershed, but there are many other daily practices that play a role.

Let’s go back to your mini-watershed: your property. What you do on your property is not contained to your property because water is always going to flow away from your house. If it flows away from you, down the street, then you shouldn’t be concerned, right? Wrong. Why? Because you always have a neighbor that lives up the street from you. This is the big picture.

Many things are carried by that water that we can see, like litter and debris, but many other things hitch a ride that are not visible to the eye. Left on lawns, dog waste is a common pollutant. Water carries its disease-causing bacteria to unsuspecting kids and people that play in the creek. Motor oil, lawn fertilizer, pesticides and car-washing soaps are only a few products that are easily washed into waterways. Removing trees and vegetation, especially around the creek, increases erosion and lowers the natural filtering of harmful chemicals. The choice of concrete over gravel increases runoff and the chance that pollutants will make their way into the watershed.

Every person affects our watershed. Everyone lives downstream. We all live in a watershed.

The upcoming Nimishillen Creek Clean-up (LEAP) not only eliminates litter and debris in a particular area, it brings about awareness of the watershed and how, we as individuals affect it. Please join this important community event to learn more! To register individuals or groups, email Brandi at zoesah@neo.rr.com.