Virginia Watersheds and the Chesapeake Bay

A watershed is a system of waterways that all empty into the same body of water. Rivers and streams in Virginia all drain into one of three major watersheds. These watersheds are the Gulf of Mexico, the North Carolina Sounds, or the Chesapeake Bay. The majority of rivers in Virginia drain into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is facing many serious problems, which is causing a decline in the health of this major water resource. The Chesapeake Bay's health is continually monitored, and measures are in place to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay. However, more effort is needed to ensure the ecosystems of the Bay improve at a more rapid pace.