London is located within two main watersheds: the largest portion is in the Thames River watershed and a smaller portion is within the Kettle Creek watershed at the City’s south end. These two main watershed areas can be subdivided further into subwatersheds which surround our local creeks and streams. Each subwatershed can be further analyzed by looking at the stormwater drainage system that leads all the way to your home and property. We are all connected to the river.
London has 17 subwatersheds (refer to the map). Many have names that will be familiar to you, such as Medway, Stoney and Pottersburg Creek. Others are less familiar such as Oxbow, Waubuno and Dodd Creek. Each has different characteristics and attributes but all share in contributing to the health, prosperity and vitality of the city.
Watershed management is a shared responsibility. In London, it involves many organizations, neighbourhoods and citizens. London has three conservation authorities (Upper Thames River, Lower Thames River and Kettle Creek Conservation Authorities), several City service areas (e.g. road maintenance, parks planning, forestry management, wastewater operations) in addition to numerous neighbourhood and grass-roots environmental groups (e.g. Thames Talbot Land Trust, “Friends of” groups, EnviroWestern) who all contribute to watershed management.