THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OPEQUON CREEK WATERSHED

Photo from: https://www.wvca.us/bay/files/data/Potomac_Headwaters_WQR_Synopsis.pdf

The Opequon watershed exists in both northern Virginia and the panhandle of eastern West Virginia. The size of the watershed is approximately 97,000 acres in Virginia and 124,000 acres in West Virginia. [1] The Opequon creek, the center of the watershed, flows directly into the Potomac River, which in turn, flows into the Chesapeake Bay. It is one of the largest contributors to the Potomac-Shenandoah watershed.

The reach of this watershed is far, and its value cannot be understated. Much of the land surrounding the immediate area is used for agriculture, with apple orchards and pastures being the dominant usage.[2] Recent expansion has also seen a rise in urban development as well. Martinsburg, West Virginia is one of the most populated in the area, with more than 18,000 citizens as of 2020.

The choice to study the impacts of this watershed on its environment, both locally and regionally is one that is very easy to make.

References:

[1] D’Souza, G., Benson, M., Collins, A. R., & Borisova, T. (2006, February). Differences among Watershed Sub-Populations in Willingness to Pay for Water Quality Improvements: The Impact of TMDL Development. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/23506477_Differences_among_Watershed_Sub-Populations_in_Willingness_to_Pay_for_Water_Quality_Improvements_The_Impact_of_TMDL_Development

[2] Opequon presentation web - opequon creek watershed. (n.d.). https://opequonwatershed.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Opequon-presentation-web.pdf