A watershed (also called a drainage basin) is an area of land that drains into a specific body of water, such as a creek or river. Rain that falls anywhere within a creek’s watershed will eventually drain into that creek. There are 17 watersheds in Athens, draining to each of the 15 creeks and 2 rivers.

Athens-Clarke County (ACCGov) has nearly 70 miles of polluted streams throughout 18 different stream reaches. The most common pollutant found in our streams is fecal coliform bacteria. Other impairments include pH and total suspended solids. ACCGov continually implements best management practices, including initiatives in pet waste management, sewer evaluations, septic system management, and bacteria source tracking, to help reduce fecal coliform and sediment loads to receiving waters as well as to maintain acceptable levels of pH.