Watersheds and Resources in Virginia

Virginia’s resources Virginia offers multiple natural resources in each province.

Coastal Plain resources Timber Agriculture Sand and Gravel from deposition of sediment Ocean and bay provide opportunities for recreation and jobs seafood

Piedmont Agriculture Gold in narrow vein through PWC to Orange co. Marble (construction) Slate (construction) Crushed stone

Blue Ridge Agriculture Recreation (skiing, hiking) Feldspar (pottery) Iron Pyrite (explosives) Crushed stone

Valley and Ridge Agriculture (chickens, livestock) Lime (cement) Gypsum (drywall)

Appalachian plateau Coal Natural gas

Watersheds of Virginia 9 major watersheds Potomac-Shenandoah river Rappahanock York James Chowan Roanoke New Tennessee Big sandy

Watershed Watershed is all land associated with a body of water in which water will drain into.

Potomac-Shenandoah River Northern Section of Virginia. Feeds into Chesapeake Bay Starts in ridge and valley and ends in coastal plain

Rappahanock Feeds into Chesapeake Bay. West of Fredericksburg Starts in Blue Ridge and ends in coastal plain

York Small watershed, north of Richmond, runs into Bay. Starts in Blue Ridge, ends in coastal plain Part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed

James River Watershed Largest Watershed in Virginia Starts at West Virginia border goes through Richmond. Drains into Chesapeake Bay. Starts in Ridge and Valley, ends in coastal plain

Tennessee River Watershed Drains into the Gulf of Mexico Found in western ridge and valley as well as Appalachian plateau.

New River Watershed Drains north into W. VA only river to flow North in Virginia. Found in ridge and valley only

Chowan Found in southeastern ridge and valley, ends in coastal plain Feeds into the North Carolina Sounds watershed

Roanoke River Watershed Feeds into the North Carolina Sounds watershed Lake Gaston is found in this watershed. Found in southern ridge and valley only

Watersheds Summary: Coastal Plains – streams from the Chowan, James, York, Rappahannock, and the Potomac-Shenandoah become wide estuaries as they approach the Chesapeake Bay. Piedmont – contains large areas of the James watershed, the Chowan, York, Rappahannock, and the Potomac-Shenandoah Blue Ridge – contains watersheds of Roanoke, James, and Rappahannock in some areas Valley and Ridge – contains the New watershed, James, and Potomac-Shenandoah Appalachian Plateau – Big Sandy and Tennessee watershed are located here.