Watersheds are areas of land in which all surface water drains to a common body of water such as a creek, stream, river or lake. Watersheds are also called drainage areas or drainage basins and can be broken up into sub-watersheds and micro-watersheds. Watersheds vary in size, shape, geology, biology and land use. All of these factors affect the hydrologic and ecological functions of our watersheds. It is important to understand that healthy watersheds improve local water quality, provide and enhance our ecosystem in the City of Arlington.

The City of Arlington is part of the Trinity River Watershed. We have 10 sub-watersheds. Johnson Creek watershed, Rush Creek watershed, Upper Village Creek watershed, Lower Village Creek watershed, Lynn Creek watershed, Bowman Branch watershed, Fish Creek watershed, Cottonwood Creek watershed, the West Fork Trinity River tributaries watershed and Walnut Creek watershed. Everyone lives, works, goes to school, and plays in a watershed.

What watershed do you live in? Arlington Watershed Map

City residents and business owners can help protect Arlington’s waterways by understanding the natural functions of watersheds and the role watersheds play in our local ecosystem. The natural functions of a watershed fall into two categories: Hydrological and Ecological.

• Hydrologic functions include collection of water from rainfall, storage and release of water, drinking water supply and recharge of aquifers.
• Ecological functions include filtration of stormwater pollutants and providing habitat for plants and animals.

The greatest impact on a watersheds water quality comes from land use. How we use land within a watershed determines the types of pollutants that effect our local water quality.

• Agricultural activities like tilling, cultivating, pest control, fertilization along with animal waste from ranching activities produces sediment, nitrate, ammonia, phosphate, pesticide chemicals and bacteria pollution.
• Construction activities that include land clearing and grading produce sediment pollutants.
• Forestry – Timber harvesting, road construction, fire control, weed control produce sediment, pesticide chemicals, gas and oil pollutants.
• Land disposal - Septic systems and landfills produce bacteria, nitrate, phosphate, gas and oil, toxic waste and hazardous material pollutants.
• Surface mining - Dirt, gravel and mineral excavation produce sediment, heavy metals, acid drainage and nutrient pollutants
• Urban stormwater runoff - Visit the Stormwater Pollution Prevention page
• Recreation – ATV’s, boating hiking, camping, fishing produce sediment, gas and oil, and litter and trash pollutants.
• Transportation (roads, airports, boats, trains)- Clearing trees, soil compaction and dirt excavation produce sediment, gas and oil pollutants.

Pollutants from these activities can be harmful in any amount others are harmful based on the quantity of the pollutant that gets in our waterways. Pollutants effect vegetation growth along streambanks which can lead to erosion and sedimentation. This can change the flow patterns, water storage capability and possibly increase flooding. Stormwater pollutants also affect our drinking water supplies and recreational areas.

The Stormwater Education Specialist provides stormwater pollution prevention and flood safety and awareness education to citizens of Arlington. The program focuses on homeowners and renters along with apartment complex residents and college students. If you would like more information or to request a speaker please contact the Stormwater Education Specialist at 817-459-6572 or send an email to [email protected].