What is a Watershed?
A watershed is a land area that drains water into a creek, river, lake, wetland, bay, or groundwater aquifer. In the Santa Clara Valley, all the water from rain and irrigation which flows over the land surface (called runoff) goes into storm drains, creeks and rivers that flow directly to San Francisco Bay. You live in a watershed that flows to a local creek, and all of the runoff from your home, yard and neighborhood flows to that creek.
The Watershed Watch Campaign is dedicated to educating and informing the public about the importance and value of local watersheds, and why protection of watersheds is so important to you, your children and future generations.
Watershed Maps
You live in a watershed! View an area map of your local Santa Clara Valley watershed.
Oakland Museum Watershed Maps
The Oakland Museum of California has developed a Creek and Watershed Information Source website containing a series of maps and guide books to creeks and watersheds in the San Francisco Bay area. See the series of maps.
“Watching Our Watersheds” interactive map layers using Google Earth.
Map the course of storm water from your neighborhood storm drain to the nearest creek, stream or river, all the way to the San Francisco Bay. Explore your Western, Central or Southern Santa Clara County watershed in the past and present.
For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions page.
