Sleepy Creek Watershed
is located in Morgan County, West Virginia (87%) and Fredrick County, Virginia (13%). The drainage area is approximately 145 square miles, 92,916 acres. Dominant land use in the watershed consists of 75% forest, 14% grassland, 5% urban/residential, and 3% pasture. Within the watershed two streams have a TMDL, Total Maximum Daily Load. These streams are Sleepy Creek and Indian Run. Both Sleepy Creek and Indian Run are impaired “relative to numeric water quality criteria for fecal coliform bacteria.” TMDL, 2007
The Sleepy Creek watershed was selected by the Potomac Tributary Strategy Implementation Committee as the second priority for their efforts toward the Chesapeake Bay Restoration. The designation of being the second priority for the Implementation Committee signifies the commitment from the stakeholders in the watershed, as well as the commitment from the conservation partners working to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay.
The two foundational documents of this effort are the Watershed Assessment (which describes the ecology and challenges facing the watershed) and the Watershed-based Plan — a solution-based approach to restoring Sleepy Creek watershed.
