West Virginia watersheds

​​​ What is a watershed? After you learn what a watershed is, It is important that you understand how to determine watershed boundaries and become familar with our state's topographic mapsWest Virginia has 32 watersheds divided according to hydrologic unit codes (HUC) that contribute to the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The waters west of the eastern continental divide flow into the Ohio River. The Ohio joins the Mississippi River at Cairo, IL. The Mississippi flows into the Gulf of Mexico at New Orleans, LA. The eastern continental divide also changes the course of five of our eastern rivers towards the Potomac River. The Potomac flows into the Chesapeake Bay southeast of Washington DC. A few streams in the southeastern corner of the state flow towards the James River. ​

Click-Here to view a Story Map that describes a selection of West Virginia's water bodies.​

Youghigheny Monongahela West Fork Cheat Tygart Valley Dunkard Creek WV direct drains of the Potomac Potomac River Shenandoah Shenandoah River North Branch of the Potomac Cacapon Potts Creek of the James River Gauley Greenbrier Lower New Upper New Upper Kanawha Lower Kanawha Coal Upper Guyandotte Lower Guyandotte Twelvepole Creek Tug Fork Big Sandy Little Kanawha Middle Ohio Elk Lower Ohio Upper Ohio Middle Ohio Upper Ohio South Branch of the Potomac River Watershed Groupings Watershed Assessment Branch WV County map

Mapping tools

Additional Resources