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.
Some states, such as Illinois, mark them when you enter a watershed area used for drinking water with a reminder to report all spills.
Tennessee comes to mind for me on this subject. Lots of signs announcing various watersheds on their interstates.
There are signs in Virginia and Maryland announcing watersheds. I think that started with Chesapeake Bay water quality concerns.
NJ occasionally posts them on state highways. I don't recall seeing one for the Hudson or Delaware though!
Ohio has one for Lake Erie on I-75 North (near Wapakoneta, I think).
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."
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.
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
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."
PA Turnpike: Now approaching the allegheny river
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.
The Chesapeake Bay ones are everywhere, they're very fancy, and i think it serves as a tourism incentive.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on August 16, 2015, 01:51:10 PM
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.
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.
Your next stop...the chesapeake bay watershed.
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
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.
Quote from: Rothman on August 16, 2015, 06:00:51 PM
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.
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: (http://www.trpa.org/new-gateway-signs-mark-nevada-entrances-to-lake-tahoe-watershed/)
Quote"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)
Quote from: jwolfer on August 16, 2015, 09:41:20 AM
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.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on August 16, 2015, 11:40:38 PM
Quote from: jwolfer on August 16, 2015, 09:41:20 AM
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
Quote from: Rothman on August 16, 2015, 02:52:02 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on August 16, 2015, 01:51:10 PM
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.
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.
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
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 16, 2015, 11:30:46 AM
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."
It's just north of Kirkland Lake.
https://goo.gl/maps/kKpWC
Ontario marks the Atlantic and Arctic watershed divide at parks like that on Hwy 11 and Hwy 144. I don't recall it being marked on Hwy 101 when I was last there.
Everything flows either into the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River or northerly, and haven't chosen to subdivide it further.
Quote from: cl94 on August 16, 2015, 03:13:57 PM
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.
Yeah, it makes sense once I thought about it, but I was a little surprised the first time I went south from Cleveland on I-77 at just how close to Lake Erie the divide actually is.
Quote from: cbeach40 on August 17, 2015, 01:23:31 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 16, 2015, 11:30:46 AM
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."
It's just north of Kirkland Lake.
https://goo.gl/maps/kKpWC
....
Thanks. It looks a little different now than it did in 1986–back then, it didn't include any French. The images of the moose and the bear look about the same, though.
Out of curiosity I moved the map to Cochrane and I see the Chimo statue (https://www.google.com/maps/@49.0586329,-81.0297709,3a,75y,21.38h,90.11t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sqA2zdud1KAtPQMO4d2ztOw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) looks the same as it did back then except the town's name wasn't there when we visited.
Here's a brief rundown (http://www.secchidipin.org/index.php/monitoring-methods/watershed-signs/) confirming that they're basically intended to increase awareness of the concept and importance of watersheds. As such, they don't have a direct navigational or locational purpose, but their use along the roadside plants seeds of understanding in people's minds as they go about other aspects of life.
Quote from: empirestate on August 17, 2015, 01:44:39 PM
Here's a brief rundown (http://www.secchidipin.org/index.php/monitoring-methods/watershed-signs/) confirming that they're basically intended to increase awareness of the concept and importance of watersheds. As such, they don't have a direct navigational or locational purpose, but their use along the roadside plants seeds of understanding in people's minds as they go about other aspects of life.
Gee whiz information. Just like the divides.
yawn
so I entered a watershed. I'll just keep driving... :ded:
Quote from: SP Cook on August 17, 2015, 11:19:11 AM
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".
I believe the Chesapeake Bay Foundation had a lot to do with it.
Quote from: SP Cook on August 17, 2015, 11:19:11 AM
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.
Why not just say Kanawha River Watershed?
Quote from: SP Cook on August 17, 2015, 11:19:11 AM
I do like Maryland's signage for the "Eastern Continental Divide". I have not seen such elsewhere.
The Eastern Continental Divide signs are rather common in North Carolina.
The Tar Heel State also likes to post signs at watershed drainage divides ("Entering Cape Fear River Watershed").
Quote from: cpzilliacus on August 16, 2015, 11:40:38 PM
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.
I could've sworn I saw that sign on the Turnpike last Wednesday while I was heading to the beach (and crossing the bay in question). But all this reading about it might just be messing with my memory right now.
Quote from: SP Cook on August 17, 2015, 11:19:11 AM
I do like Maryland's signage for the "Eastern Continental Divide". I have not seen such elsewhere.
There is signage for the ECD on US 33 between Elkins and Seneca Rocks.
Indiana marks the north/south continental divide too: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6346176,-86.2869746,3a,75y,180h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sz4vrkgK_K5VcHAKASP1L9A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6346176,-86.2869746,3a,75y,180h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sz4vrkgK_K5VcHAKASP1L9A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
On the St. Joseph Valley Parkway, near South Bend.
Quote from: empirestate on August 17, 2015, 01:44:39 PM
Here's a brief rundown (http://www.secchidipin.org/index.php/monitoring-methods/watershed-signs/) confirming that they're basically intended to increase awareness of the concept and importance of watersheds. As such, they don't have a direct navigational or locational purpose, but their use along the roadside plants seeds of understanding in people's minds as they go about other aspects of life.
Sounds like this is related to Agenda 21.
Quote from: SP Cook on August 17, 2015, 11:19:11 AM
I do like Maryland's signage for the "Eastern Continental Divide". I have not seen such elsewhere.
I-40 westbound just east of Ridgecrest in North Carolina (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.6187188,-82.2634808,3a,22.2y,351.93h,86.97t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sK7Yz6Q1AN90fMy0m0cWqUQ!2e0!5s20130601T000000!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en)
Thank God the goog doesn't do away with the older SV pictures. There is a tractor trailer parked on the shoulder blocking the sign on the newest one.
There's one just like a mile so west of the CT border on I-84 in New York, saying, entering 'Hudson River Watershed'. Would post a GMSV image but my computer isn't cooperating.
On PA 449 south of PA 49, there is a sign (can't really see it here: https://goo.gl/maps/cU1K9 (https://goo.gl/maps/cU1K9)) that marks a triple divide...within a mile of here is the source of the Genesee River, flowing north to Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence Seaway; Pine Creek, which flows into the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay; and the Allegheny River.
New Mexico marks entrance to new watersheds. The signs even have the name of the river it is a tributary of, like the Canadian River flows into the Arkansas River.
I have seen "Eastern Continental Divide" marked where crossing from the basin of the Gulf of Mexico to that of the main body of the Atlantic.
Never seen one that marks a divide between the St. Lawrence and the main Atlantic.
I assume that watershed signage started with a few concerted efforts to bring attention to particularly distressed bodies of water (like the Chesapeake Bay), but as more watersheds were signed, the signages meaningfulness to the public diminished.
But I never got the point behind the "No Dumping - Drains to Bay" signs on storm drains or "Water Supply Area - Spill Response 911" signage I've seen in PA. Dumping any kind of hazardous waste is not acceptable anywhere, regardless of whether the drain empties in the bay, into a creek, or into a municipal waste water system. And if I see an overturned tanker, I'm calling 911 under any circumstance.
Quote from: briantroutman on August 24, 2015, 12:34:44 AM
I assume that watershed signage started with a few concerted efforts to bring attention to particularly distressed bodies of water (like the Chesapeake Bay), but as more watersheds were signed, the signages meaningfulness to the public diminished.
But I never got the point behind the "No Dumping - Drains to Bay" signs on storm drains or "Water Supply Area - Spill Response 911" signage I've seen in PA. Dumping any kind of hazardous waste is not acceptable anywhere, regardless of whether the drain empties in the bay, into a creek, or into a municipal waste water system. And if I see an overturned tanker, I'm calling 911 under any circumstance.
The storm drain exhortations build passive awareness that dumping coolant, etc., in the drain is a bad idea.
As for watershed signs, I never quite got Connecticut's "Public water supply watershed area" signs. How should I drive I-91 differently in rhis case?
Quote from: briantroutman on August 24, 2015, 12:34:44 AM
But I never got the point behind the "No Dumping - Drains to Bay" signs on storm drains or "Water Supply Area - Spill Response 911" signage I've seen in PA. Dumping any kind of hazardous waste is not acceptable anywhere, regardless of whether the drain empties in the bay, into a creek, or into a municipal waste water system. And if I see an overturned tanker, I'm calling 911 under any circumstance.
Enough people are dense enough to not call for more minor things. Even a leak could cause major issues.