What is a Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land where the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same creek, river, bay, beach, or ocean. No matter where you live, you live in a watershed. Dickinson is located within the Dickinson Bayou Watershed.

Dickinson Bayou
Dickinson Bayou is one of the most studied bayous in the State of Texas.
The bayou’s headwaters start in Brazoria County and flow through the jurisdictions of League City, Santa Fe, Dickinson, and Texas City.
The bayou is currently listed as "impaired or does not meet water quality standards." It is listed as impaired due to low oxygen levels and bacteriological contamination.

Storm Water Runoff
Storm water runoff refers to seasonal rainfall flows. During heavy rain storms, large volumes of water drain off paved areas picking up pollutants while flowing to a storm drain.

Once storm water runoff enters the storm drain, it flows downstream to the nearest body of water.

Urban Runoff
Urban runoff is water from irrigation, overwatering, car washing and other sources that travel into the street picking up pollutants while flowing to the storm drain.

Once urban runoff enters the storm drain, it goes directly into the nearest body of water.

Storm Drains Are Not Sewers
Storm drains are separate from the sanitary sewer system. Unlike water in the sanitary sewers that flows through sinks and toilets, water in storm drains is not treated before entering our waterways