You are now entering the X River Basin...

[Zzonkmiles]

I've noticed that North Carolina often posts signs along its roads at/and bridges over water saying "Part of the X River Basin" or "You are now entering the X River Basin." What purpose do these signs serve? Are they useful for geologists, hydrologists, kayakers or engineers? Or are they merely conversation pieces for drivers? I can't imagine why the average driver would care that they are entering the Neuse River Basin or that some random creek is part of the Tar-Pamlico River Basin.

Do any other states feel the need to point out where their rivers lead? I can understand something truly famous like the Continental Divide pointing out where its rivers lead. But individual states? I'm at a loss.

[Brandon]

Some states, such as Illinois, mark them when you enter a watershed area used for drinking water with a reminder to report all spills.

[tdindy88]

Tennessee comes to mind for me on this subject. Lots of signs announcing various watersheds on their interstates.

[jwolfer]

There are signs in Virginia and Maryland announcing watersheds. I think that started with Chesapeake Bay water quality concerns.

[NJRoadfan]

NJ occasionally posts them on state highways. I don't recall seeing one for the Hudson or Delaware though!

[tidecat]

Ohio has one for Lake Erie on I-75 North (near Wapakoneta, I think).

[1995hoo]

Back when I was 13 years old, my brother and I thought it was extremely cool when we stopped at the marker for the Arctic Watershed in Ontario somewhere between North Bay and Cochrane. It made it feel like we had gone a REALLY long way when we saw "all streams flow north into the Arctic Ocean."

[TEG24601]

A year or two ago, those started appearing in the Seattle Area.  Whidbey Island, amazingly enough has several, as every 'major' stream gets a sign for their watershed.

[Zeffy]

Not quite the same message, but these are the only signs I've seen that denote entering a new watershed:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3994761,-74.9084042,3a,22.2y,68.15h,84.59t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2mXTbptR0AnmRSvIe87Ctw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[triplemultiplex]

Those signs exist so I can turn to the other people in the vehicle and quip, "Well, it's all down hill from here.  ...except for the up hill parts."

[SteveG1988]

PA Turnpike: Now approaching the allegheny river

[Pete from Boston]

Mass. Route 2 features "Entering the Pioneer Valley" signs when entering the Connecticut River Valley, the former name being the locally common term for the part in Massachusetts.

[SteveG1988]

The Chesapeake Bay ones are everywhere, they're very fancy, and i think it serves as a tourism incentive.

[Rothman]

Mass. Route 2 features "Entering the Pioneer Valley" signs when entering the Connecticut River Valley, the former name being the locally common term for the part in Massachusetts.

Having grown up in the Pioneer Valley, I'd say the Pioneer Valley is part of the larger, multi-state Connecticut River Valley.  For instance, people consider Hartford as being in the Connecticut River Valley, but Pioneer Valley's solely in Massachusetts.

[cl94]

Ohio does it for the Lake Erie and Ohio River watersheds (basically the only 2 in the state) at the St. Lawrence continental divide. Akron lies on the divide.

[SteveG1988]

Your next stop...the chesapeake bay watershed.

[empirestate]

New York posts watershed signage as well. As for why it's done, I don't know if there's much reason beyond just informing and enlightening the reader about the small section of Earth he's occupying at the moment.


iPhone

[Rothman]

I believe its done for the reasons listed above:  Alerting people they shouldn't dump or pollute since it'll end up in the river.

[cl94]

I believe its done for the reasons listed above:  Alerting people they shouldn't dump or pollute since it'll end up in the river.

Correct. Anything that goes into the Hudson below Troy gets a sign with what, if you don't look closely, looks like a dead fish.

[gonealookin]

We have some nice new signs in Nevada for those crossing the ridge of the Carson Range into the Tahoe Basin.  Article with some detail, including:

"Everything drains into the lake. The purpose of these new signs is to bolster environmental stewardship, let all visitors know they are entering a special place, and remind them there's a responsibility we all share to take care of it,"  said Julie Regan, chief of external affairs at TRPA. "These signs are one more tool to help instill that awareness."
...
Fourth of July celebrations (specific reference is to 2014, but unfortunately it happens every year) left thousands of pounds of trash on area beaches for community volunteers to clean up, showing there is still a strong need to remind people of their responsibility to help protect Lake Tahoe and its beaches.

I don't have an actual photo; here's a mock-up and that's pretty much what they look like:

(Edit:  Image posted on Photobucket deleted)

[cpzilliacus]

There are signs in Virginia and Maryland announcing watersheds. I think that started with Chesapeake Bay water quality concerns.

Most of them have gone away.  Maryland posts the crossing of the Eastern Continental Divide on I-68 (only) in Garrett County. 

There used to be signs about entering the Chesapeake Bay Watershed on I-95 near Petersburg, Va. and on I-70/I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) east of the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel, but I believe all of those are now gone.

[jwolfer]

There are signs in Virginia and Maryland announcing watersheds. I think that started with Chesapeake Bay water quality concerns.

Most of them have gone away.  Maryland posts the crossing of the Eastern Continental Divide on I-68 (only) in Garrett County. 

There used to be signs about entering the Chesapeake Bay Watershed on I-95 near Petersburg, Va. and on I-70/I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) east of the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel, but I believe all of those are now gone.

The one on i95 in Virginia was there 7/3/15

[Pete from Boston]

Mass. Route 2 features "Entering the Pioneer Valley" signs when entering the Connecticut River Valley, the former name being the locally common term for the part in Massachusetts.

Having grown up in the Pioneer Valley, I'd say the Pioneer Valley is part of the larger, multi-state Connecticut River Valley.  For instance, people consider Hartford as being in the Connecticut River Valley, but Pioneer Valley's solely in Massachusetts.

Yes.  As I said.  That being the case, local "valley-wide" papers often include coverage of goings-on in Brattleboro, Vermont, which is probably more culturally and economically connected to the nearby part of Mass. than to most of Vermont. 

[SP Cook]

I think all of this started with the Cheseapeake Bay signs, and I think those were some kind of enviro deal.  Other states saw these and it became a "thing", much like the fundamentally meaningless "Certified Business Location". 

The WV Turnpike signs the "Paint Creek Watershed", which Paint Creek is a rather ordinary minor creek that flows into the Kanawha, which roughly coinsides with the misdesigned dangerous section of that road.  No idea why.

I do like Maryland's signage for the "Eastern Continental Divide".  I have not seen such elsewhere.

[1995hoo]

The Chesapeake signs aren't limited to entering or leaving the watershed, either. See example linked below in Alexandria, Virginia (the brown sign to the right of the GSV camera's viewpoint).

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8032144,-77.1339408,3a,75y,203.46h,86.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFIOMQSvdnqylNUjkZznniA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656