What is a Watershed?  - An area of land that drains into a lake, river, or stream

The Captina Creek Watershed drains 227 square miles of Belmont and Monroe Counties.

The Captina Creek then enters the Ohio River.  The Captina Watershed is part of the Ohio River Watershed.

Everyone lives in a watershed.  Around 16,000 people live within the watershed from Barnesville to shadyside and Powhatan Point.

Why is it so special?  - The creek is listed by the state of Ohio as e xceptional. 

The Captina Creek is one of Ohio's best streams for water quality, but it is also home to rare and endangered species (Eastern Hellbender and over 55 types of fish).                     

It is also home to Dysart Woods (one of the last remaining stands of Old Growth Forest in Ohio)  & Raven Rocks (a private preserve and sustainable community).

How can we keep it clean?  - Minimize soil, bacteria, fertilzer, & pollution runoff.

Reduce Runoff.  Non-point source pollution is the biggest threat to Ohio's waterways.

 -  Keep vegetation between streams and property   

 -  Fence livestock out of streams

 -  Use only recommended amounts of fertilizers