Watershed Maps (1879-1955)
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A watershed map – also called a drainage area, catchment, or basin – is an area of land that drains surface and subsurface runoff to a common point, usually a stream, river or lake.  Every piece of land is part of a watershed, because water always moves off of land to a lower point where it collects in a water body.  Watersheds may range in size from less than an acre to thousands of square miles in area.

There are a number of features that are characteristic to all watershed.  Watershed divides are the boundaries that define a watershed and separate adjacent watersheds.  The highest point or points in the watershed are called the headwaters and are the points at which the ditch, stream or river starts.  The lowest point in the watershed is called the base level, which is usually the mouth of the river or steam.  The difference in elevation between a stream’s headwater and its base level create the stream’s gradient.

These maps show the watersheds in every township in Union County.  The numbers with names signify that a ditch improvement has occurred.  The number represents the project number, the name is the name of the ditch, stream or creek and the year below denotes when the improvement happened.  The improvements on these maps range from 1879 to 1955.

Please see Ditch Maps for individual ditch maps located in townships and for more information about individual ditch projects please see Union County Ditch Project Index.

Watershed Maps
Allen Liberty
Claibourne Millcreek
Darby Paris
Dover Taylor
Jackson Union
Jerome Washington
Leesburg York