Virginia's Major Watersheds
Watershed size, tributaries | Planning guide | Virginia
watershed websites | Watershed Management
Planning
Watershed size, tributaries
| Name |
Area (sq. miles) |
Major Tributaries |
| Potomac - Shenandoah |
5,702 |
Potomac River, S. Fork Shenandoah, N. Fork Shendandoah |
| Chesapeake Bay Coastal |
2,577 |
Chesapeake Bay, Piankatank |
| Atlantic Ocean Coastal |
580 |
Chincoteague Bay, Hog Island Bay |
| Rappahannock |
2,714 |
Rappahannock River, Rapidan River, Hazel River |
| York |
2,669 |
York River, Pamunkey River, Mattaponi River |
| James |
10,236 |
James River, Appomattox River, Maury River, Jackson River, Rivanna River |
| Chowan |
3,675 |
Nottaway River, Meherrin River, Blackwater River |
| Albemarle Sound Coastal |
577 |
Dismal Swamp, North Landing River, Back Bay |
| Roanoke |
6,274 |
Roanoke River, Dan River, Banister River, Kerr Reservoir |
| Yadkin |
118 |
Ararat River |
| New |
3,068 |
New River, Little River, Walker Creek |
| Holston (Upper Tennesee) |
1,322 |
N. Fork Holston River, Middle Fork Holston River, S. Fork Holston River |
| Clinch - Powell |
1,811 |
Clinch River, Powell River, Guest River |
| Big Sandy |
999 |
Levisa Fork, Russel Fork, Tug Fork |
DCR Soil and Water Conservation Program offices, by locality
A-B | C-D | E-F | G-H | I-J | K-L | M-N | O-P | Q-R | S-T | U-Z
| Locality |
Regional Office |
Phone No. |
| Accomack County |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| Albemarle County |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Alexandria, City of |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Allegheny County |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Amelia County |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Amherst County |
Clarksville |
(434) 374-3648 |
| Appomattox County |
Clarksville |
(434) 374-3648 |
| Arlington, City of |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Augusta County |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Ashland, Town of |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Bath County |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Bedford County |
Clarksville |
(434) 374-3648 |
| Bedford, City of |
Clarksville |
(434) 374-3648 |
| Bland County |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Berryville, Town of |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Bluefield, Town of |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Botetourt County |
Christiansburg |
(540) 394-2580 |
| Bristol, City of |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Brunswick County |
Clarksville |
(434) 374-3648 |
| Buchahan County |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Buckingham County |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Buena Vista, City of |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Campbell County |
Clarksville |
(434) 374-3648 |
| Caroline County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| Carroll County |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Charles City County |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Charlotte County |
Clarksville |
(434) 374-3648 |
| Charlottesville, City of |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Chesapeake, City of |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| Chesterfield County |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Clark County |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Clifton Forge, City of |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Colonial Heights, City of |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Covington, City of |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Craig County |
Christiansburg |
(540) 394-2580 |
| Culpeper County |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Culpeper, Town of |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Cumberland County |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Danville, City of |
Clarksville |
(434) 374-3648 |
| Dickenson County |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Dinwiddie County |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Emporia, City of |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| Essex County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| Fairfax County |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Fairfax, City of |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Falls Church, City of |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Farmville |
Clarksville
|
(434) 374-3648 |
| Fauquier County |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Floyd County |
Christiansburg |
(540) 394-2580 |
| Fluvanna County |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Franklin County |
Christiansburg |
(540) 394-2580 |
| Frederick County |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Fredricksburg, City of |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| Galax, City of |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Giles County |
Christiansburg |
(540) 394-2580 |
| Gloucester County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| Goochland County |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Grayson County |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Greene County |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Greensville County |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| Halifax County |
Clarksville |
(434) 374-3648 |
| Hampton, City of |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| Hanover County |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Harrisonburg, City of |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Henrico County |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Henry County |
Christiansburg |
(540) 394-2580 |
| Highland County |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Hillsville, Town of |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Hopewell, City of |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Isle of Wight County |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| James City County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| King & Queen County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| King George County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| King William County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| Lancaster County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| Lee County |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Lexington, City of |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Loudoun County |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Louisa County |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Lunenburg County |
Clarksville |
(434) 374-3648 |
| Lynchburg, City of |
Clarksville |
(434) 374-3648 |
| Madison County |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Manassas Park, City of |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Mannassas, City of |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Martinsville, City of |
Christiansburg |
(540) 394-2580 |
| Mathews County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| Mecklenburg County |
Clarksville |
(434) 374-3648 |
| Middlesex County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| Montgomery County |
Christiansburg |
(540) 394-2580 |
| Nelson County |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| New Kent County |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Newport News, City of |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| Norfolk, City of |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| Northampton County |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| Northumberland County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| Norton, City of |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Nottoway County |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Orange County |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Page County |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Patrick County |
Christiansburg |
(540) 394-2580 |
| Petersburg, City of |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Pittsylvania County |
Clarksville |
(434) 374-3648 |
| Poquoson, City of |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| Portsmouth, City of |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| Powhatan County |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Prince Edward County |
Clarksville |
(434) 374-3648 |
| Prince George County |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Prince William County |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Pulaski County |
Christiansburg |
(540) 394-2580 |
| Radford, City of |
Christiansburg |
(540) 394-2580 |
| Rappahannock County |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Richmond County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| Richmond, City of |
Richmond |
(804) 225-4468 |
| Roanoke County |
Christiansburg |
(540) 394-2580 |
| Roanoke, City of |
Christiansburg |
(540) 394-2580 |
| Rockbridge County |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Rockingham County |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Russell County |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Rocky Mount, Town of |
Christiansburg |
(540) 394-2580 |
| Salem, City of |
Christiansburg |
(540) 394-2580 |
| Scott County |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Scottsville, Town of |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Shenandoah County |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Smyth County |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Southampton County |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| Spotsylvania County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| Stafford County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| Staunton, City of |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Stephensville, Town of |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Suffolk, City of |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| Surry County |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| Sussex County |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| Tazewell County |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Virginia Beach, City of |
Suffolk |
(757) 925-2468 |
| Warren County |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Washington County |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Waynesboro, City of |
Staunton |
(540) 332-9991 |
| Westmoreland County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| Williamsburg, City of |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
| Winchester, City of |
Warrenton |
(540) 347-6420 |
| Wise County |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Wythe County |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| Wytheville, Town of |
Abingdon |
(276) 676-5529 |
| York County |
Tappahannock |
(804) 443-6752 |
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Click here (PDF) for a larger, more detailed version of the above map. The map delineates jusdictional and SWCD boundaries.
Watershed planning guide
Local Watershed Management Planning In Virginia - Local and regional governments and community groups devote many resources to planning and development. This document examines those resources and helps those involved "pull it all together" from a whole watershed perspective. Click here to download (PDF, 4MB).
Click here to download the free Adobe Acrobat reader, which is required to view or print the guide.
Virginia watershed websites
Chesapeake Bay watershed profiles - About 60 percent of the commonwealth drains to the 
Chesapeake Bay, the world's most productive estuary. Those watersheds include the Potomac (including Shenandoah), Rappahannock, York and James rivers as well as coastal lands on the bay's shoreline. You can learn more about these watersheds by visiting the Chesapeake Bay Program's website that provides detailed profiles on each. Click here to visit the site.
Click here to learn about the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program (managed by North Carolina; Virginia's Chowan River and land around the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake area drain into the region).
Click here to visit the Blackwater Nottoway Riverkeeper Program's website.
Click here to visit the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) river system index. Southwestern Virginia's Holston, Clinch and Powell rivers' watersheds drain to the Tennessee River.
Rivers and Watersheds - The Geology of Virginia (College of William and Mary)
Virginia Watershed Land Use (Virginia Tech, 4H)
Forests of the Eastern United States (Virginia Tech, 4H)
