About Watersheds

What is a watershed?   Everyone lives in a watershed – an area of land whose waters drain to a single point such as a river, lake, or ocean. A watershed can be as compact as a single catchment draining a small area of waterfront to as expansive as the Amazon Basin, the largest watershed on Earth, consisting of tens of thousands of streams converging as they flow to the Pacific Ocean.

What is Watershed Management?   Watershed management is an inventory of the characteristics, conditions, and issues in a watershed, and the development and implementation of policies and programs to manage the water, natural heritage, and anthropogenic impacts within the watershed and upon its receiving waters.

The OHI believes that improved watershed management is fundamental to the continued ecological, social, and economic well-being of Ontario. Please check back soon, as we will be adding new material based on our expanded mandate for natural heritage and full watershed management.