A watershed is the geographic area that drains – or “sheds” – water into a common waterbody. It includes the network of rivers, streams, and lakes, along with the surrounding land that feeds them. Water from a watershed eventually flows into a larger receiving waterbody such as a reservoir, bay, or the ocean. Columbia, Maryland is located in the Patuxent River watershed (incorporating parts of the Little and Middle Patuxent Rivers), and the larger Chesapeake Bay watershed.
What is a Watershed?
Why Watersheds Matter
Watershed management is the practice of caring for both the land and water within a watershed to protect water quality and the natural resources we depend on. How we use the land—where we build roads and homes, how we manage lawns and driveways, and what pollutants we introduce—directly affects the health of our streams, wetlands, and lakes. Healthy watersheds provide essential benefits for our community: they replenish groundwater, reduce flooding and erosion, support recreation, and help our environment withstand climate change. Protecting these natural functions is far more cost-effective than restoring them after they’ve been degraded.
How We Manage Our Watersheds
Effective watershed management begins with identifying problems such as pollution or erosion, developing practical solutions, and monitoring progress over time. At CA, we take a holistic approach. We work to educate residents about the challenges facing our water resources and how everyday actions can protect (or harm) our waterways. We collaborate with local governments, community groups, and partners to share ideas and build strong coalitions. We also implement proven best management practices (BMPs) such as planting more trees, reducing winter salt use, and installing stormwater retrofits like bioretention areas and rain gardens. Together, these efforts help keep our watershed healthy, resilient, and functioning properly.
Management Plan
Columbia Association developed the Columbia Watershed Management Plan, or CWMP, with the objective of protecting and restoring the waters of Columbia. The plan uses two distinct approaches. The first identifies and restores the watershed infrastructure by performing intensive investigations to find pollution sources and designing restoration projects to reduce them. The second is educating and involving residents and property owners in watershed stewardship.
- Executive Summary
- Goals and Objectives, Technical Approach and Work Plan, Condition of the Columbia Watersheds and Priorities for Restoration
- Phase 1 Restoration in Priority Subwatersheds
- Early Action Projects Through Columbia Watersheds
- Stakeholder Involvement
- Recommendations for Future Actions, Conclusions, References
To request more information about watershed and open space program resources, please email Sustainability@columbiaassociation.org.