Stormwater Management
UVa Watershed Information
Watersheds
A watershed is the entire land surface that drains into a particular river or stream. A watershed may also be called a catchment or drainage basin. Generally the topographic high area between watersheds is called a drainage divide. A watershed for a large river, like the Rivanna, is made up of the smaller watersheds for each creek or stream that flows into the river. In Virginia, there are 497 small watersheds, known as subwatersheds, that combine to make the 14 major watersheds in the state.
A map of the entire Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
The Chesapeake Bay
Charlottesville lies within the boundaries of the Rivanna watershed. The Rivanna watershed is part of the James River watershed, which is shown in pink on the map above. The James River empties directly into the Chesapeake Bay. As a result, Charlottesville is a part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This means that all of the rainfall in the Charlottesville area could potentially reach the Bay.
Click here to find out about your local watershed at EPA's Surf Your Watershed Site.
A map of the Rivanna Watershed.
UVa Watersheds
The two watersheds of the main grounds of the University are the Meadow Creek and the Moores Creek watersheds. Meadow and Moores Creek are part of the Rivanna Watershed.
Watershed Management
Virginia Stormwater Management Regulations encourage "state agencies intending to develop large tracts of land such as campuses… to develop regional (stormwater management) plans where practical"(DCR, 2001). A Stormwater Management Master Plan has been developed for each of the watersheds on Grounds. All future development on grounds will be guided by these plans with respect to stormwater quantity and quality.
Click here to find out more information on the Moores Creek Master Plan.
References: Virginia Soil and Water Conservation
To report an illicit discharge, spill, or unusual water condition call 982-4911!
Contact EHS with stormwater related questions or comments at storm-water@virginia.edu.
EHS Stormwater website questions or comments should be directed to Jess Wenger at jsw6d@virginia.edu or 982-5540.
