Watershed 101
A watershed is all the land area that drains to one common point; also called river basins or drainage basins. The Town of Kernersville is located at the highest point in Forsyth County, generally along ridge lines, which separate three major river basins. Stormwater runoff from the Town flows into the Cape Fear River Basin, the Roanoke River Basin, and the Yadkin River Basin. All streams receiving stormwater runoff from the Town of Kernersville have their source points located within the Town’s corporate limits.
Floodplains act as energy dissipaters for streams when they become overwhelmed by large storms. During excessive rainfall, a stream can become overwhelmed by excess runoff. When water rises over the banks of the stream, it spreads out into the floodplain instead of speeding down the stream channel and taking out a stream bank in a bend, a house, a roadway or even a bridge. Many streams are no longer connected to their floodplains and have bank erosion and down cutting problems as a result. Click here to find out if you live in a floodplain.
Water quality issues within the watersheds include erosion, sediment, and nutrients. Things we do here can have an effect all the way to the ocean!
- Increased development without proper stormwater treatment best management practices (BMPs) can lead to poor water quality with higher than normal levels of nitrogen and phosphorus.
- Removal of stream buffers can increase stream temperature levels and lower dissolved oxygen which can cause fish kills.
- Filling or disruption of floodplains can cause severe damage to streambanks, houses, and roadways.
- Many creek owners remove stream buffers or mow right to the waters edge to see the water, increase yard size or limit wildlife. This may be okay for a while but after many storms, most creeks erode away land; leading to potentially dangerous streambanks. Creating a shoreline garden with deep-rooted plants is less expensive and more effective at holding the bank together than rock (BYSRGuide2015.pdf).
Other Resources
Backyard Stream Repair Workshop
Forsyth County Community Conservation Assistance Program