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Drainage

York

James

New

Potomac

Clinch

Rappahannock

Holston

Chowan

PeeDee (Yadkin)

Eastern Shore

Roanoke

Big Sandy

0 15 30 60 90 120Miles

N

Virginia Watersheds

Sources: Map revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/virginia_watersheds.pdf

New River Watershed

Location: Southwestern Virginia

Flow: Northern North Carolina to Western West Virginia; into Gauley River which forms the Kanawha River a tributary to the Ohio River

Topography: rugged; with upper reaches of its tributaries being extremely steep

Composition: approximately 59% forested, 35% cropland and pasture, and 3% urban.

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/new_river.htm

Map revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

New River Watershed

Location: Southwestern Virginia

Flow: Northern North Carolina to Western West Virginia; into Gauley River which forms the Kanawha River a tributary to the Ohio River

Topography: rugged; with upper reaches of its tributaries being extremely steep

Composition: approximately 59% forested, 35% cropland and pasture, and 3% urban.

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/new_river.htm

Map revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

Potomac Watershed

Location: Northern Virginia

Flow: form Augusta County, VA, flows northeasterly direction approximately 100 miles to the West Virginia

Topography: rolling hills and valleys bordered by the Appalachian Mountains to the west and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east.

Composition: approximately 45% forested, 39% farmland and pasture, and 16% urban.

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/shenandoah.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

Potomac Watershed

Location: Northern Virginia

Flow: form Augusta County, VA, flows northeasterly direction approximately 100 miles to the West Virginia

Topography: rolling hills and valleys bordered by the Appalachian Mountains to the west and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east.

Composition: approximately 45% forested, 39% farmland and pasture, and 16% urban.

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/shenandoah.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

Clinch Watershed

Location: Southwestern Virginia

Flow: southwest to the Tennessee River in Tennessee and eventually empty into the Gulf of Mexico via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

Topography: This Basin spans three physiographic provinces: The Cumberland Plateau is rugged, with mountainous terrain and steep valleys.  The Valley and Ridge Province consists of parallel valleys and ridges running northeast to southwest.  The Blue Ridge Province is more plateau-like, with no single, prominent ridge.

Composition: approximately 48% forested and 39.7% cropland and pasture

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/clinch.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

Clinch Watershed

Location: Southwestern Virginia

Flow: southwest to the Tennessee River in Tennessee and eventually empty into the Gulf of Mexico via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

Topography: This Basin spans three physiographic provinces: The Cumberland Plateau is rugged, with mountainous terrain and steep valleys.  The Valley and Ridge Province consists of parallel valleys and ridges running northeast to southwest.  The Blue Ridge Province is more plateau-like, with no single, prominent ridge.

Composition: approximately 48% forested and 39.7% cropland and pasture

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/clinch.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

Rappahannock Watershed

Location: Northeastern Virginia

Flow: from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay

Topography: steep to flat

Composition: approximately 51% forested, 36% cropland and pasture, and 6% urban

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/rappahannock.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

Rappahannock Watershed

Location: Northeastern Virginia

Flow: from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay

Topography: steep to flat

Composition: approximately 51% forested, 36% cropland and pasture, and 6% urban

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/rappahannock.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

Holston Watershed

Location: Southwestern Virginia

Flow: southwest to the Tennessee River in Tennessee and eventually empty into the Gulf of Mexico via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

Topography: This Basin spans three physiographic provinces: The Cumberland Plateau is rugged, with mountainous terrain and steep valleys.  The Valley and Ridge Province consists of parallel valleys and ridges running northeast to southwest.  The Blue Ridge Province is more plateau-like, with no single, prominent ridge.

Composition: approximately 48% forested and 39.7% cropland and pasture

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/holston.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

Holston Watershed

Location: Southwestern Virginia

Flow: southwest to the Tennessee River in Tennessee and eventually empty into the Gulf of Mexico via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

Topography: This Basin spans three physiographic provinces: The Cumberland Plateau is rugged, with mountainous terrain and steep valleys.  The Valley and Ridge Province consists of parallel valleys and ridges running northeast to southwest.  The Blue Ridge Province is more plateau-like, with no single, prominent ridge.

Composition: approximately 48% forested and 39.7% cropland and pasture

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/holston.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

Chowan Watershed

Location: Southeastern Virginia

Flow: through the Piedmont and Coastal Plain Physiographic Provinces

Topography: The Piedmont portion of the Basin is characterized by rolling hills, steeper slopes, and somewhat more pronounced stream valleys.  The Coastal Plain portion is nearly flat, with a descending series of terraces.  The Basin includes the Dismal Swamp.

Composition: approximately 64% forested, 28% cropland and pasture, and 6% urban

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/chowan.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

Chowan Watershed

Location: Southeastern Virginia

Flow: through the Piedmont and Coastal Plain Physiographic Provinces

Topography: The Piedmont portion of the Basin is characterized by rolling hills, steeper slopes, and somewhat more pronounced stream valleys.  The Coastal Plain portion is nearly flat, with a descending series of terraces.  The Basin includes the Dismal Swamp.

Composition: approximately 64% forested, 28% cropland and pasture, and 6% urban

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/chowan.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

York Watershed

Location: Central and Eastern Virginia

Flow: headwaters begin in Orange and Louisa counties and flow in a southeasterly direction for approximately 220 miles to its mouth at the Chesapeake Bay

Topography: slightly rolling hills in the headwaters to gently sloping hills and flat farmland near its mouth

Composition: approximately 64% forested, 20% farmland and pasture, and 10% urban

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/york.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

York Watershed

Location: Central and Eastern Virginia

Flow: headwaters begin in Orange and Louisa counties and flow in a southeasterly direction for approximately 220 miles to its mouth at the Chesapeake Bay

Topography: slightly rolling hills in the headwaters to gently sloping hills and flat farmland near its mouth

Composition: approximately 64% forested, 20% farmland and pasture, and 10% urban

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/york.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

Eastern Shore Watershed

Location: Eastern Virginia

Flow (Drainage): Tributaries in the Basin that drain to the Chesapeake Bay include Great Wicomico, Piankatank, Fleets Bay, Mobjack Bay, Poqouson, Back River, and Lynnhaven.  Tributaries on the Eastern Shore that drain to the Chesapeake Bay include Pocomoke, Ononcock, Pungateague, Occohannock, and Nassawadox.  Tributaries that drain directly into the Atlantic Ocean include Machipongo, Cat Point Creek, Assawoman Creek, Parker Creek, Folly Creek, and Finney Creek.

Topography: marshland

Composition: approximately 30% forested, 21.6% cropland and pasture, and 24% urban

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/chesapeake.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

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James River Watershed

Location: Central Virginia

Flow: begins in the Alleghany Mountains and flows in a southeasterly direction for 228 miles to the Fall Line at Richmond and another 111 miles to Hampton Roads where it enters the Chesapeake Bay

Topography: Virginia's largest river basin and is made up of the Upper, Piedmont, and Lower James River sub-basins

Composition: approximately 65% forested, 19% cropland and pasture, and 12% urban

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/piedmont_james.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

James River Watershed

Location: Central Virginia

Flow: begins in the Alleghany Mountains and flows in a southeasterly direction for 228 miles to the Fall Line at Richmond and another 111 miles to Hampton Roads where it enters the Chesapeake Bay

Topography: Virginia's largest river basin and is made up of the Upper, Piedmont, and Lower James River sub-basins

Composition: approximately 65% forested, 19% cropland and pasture, and 12% urban

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/piedmont_james.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

Roanoke Watershed

Location: Southern Virginia

Flow: southeast through North Carolina to the Albemarle Sound

Topography: steep slopes and valleys in the Valley and Ridge Province to gently sloping terrain in the Piedmont Province

Composition: approximately 62% forested, 25% cropland and pasture, and 10% urban

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/roanoke_river.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

Roanoke Watershed

Location: Southern Virginia

Flow: southeast through North Carolina to the Albemarle Sound

Topography: steep slopes and valleys in the Valley and Ridge Province to gently sloping terrain in the Piedmont Province

Composition: approximately 62% forested, 25% cropland and pasture, and 10% urban

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/roanoke_river.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

Big Sandy Watershed

Location: Southwestern Virginia

Flow: northward into Kentucky and eventually empty into the Gulf of Mexico via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

Topography: rugged, with mountainous terrain and steep valleys

Composition: approximately 62% forested, 25% cropland and pasture

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/bigsandy.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf

Big Sandy Watershed

Location: Southwestern Virginia

Flow: northward into Kentucky and eventually empty into the Gulf of Mexico via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

Topography: rugged, with mountainous terrain and steep valleys

Composition: approximately 62% forested, 25% cropland and pasture

Information Source: http://www.sosva.com/bigsandy.htmMap revised from: http://www.dgif.state.va.us/education/va_watersheds_bw.pdf