Wolf Creek Awareness and Resource Evaluation (WeCARE) Project

Watersheds: 
Wolf Creek Watershed
Counties: 
Morgan, Washington
Contact Name: 
Morgan SWCD
Affiliation: 
Morgan and Washington SWCD
Address: 
Wolf Creek Watershed Project
Morgan SWCD
55 S. Kennebec Ave.
McConnelsville, OH 43756
Phone: 
(740) 962-4234
Fax: 
(740) 962-5651
The Morgan and Washington County are jointly conducting the Wolf Creek Awareness and Resource Evaluation (WeCARE) Project. It is a water quality project in progress, designed to create a workable management plan for the watershed through water testing and input from stakeholders concerning the quality of the surface water within the Wolf Creek Watershed.

The 234 square mile (149,000 acre) watershed is located in the Allegheny Plateau Region of Southeastern Ohio. Wolf Creek begins in Morgan County (68,078 acres) and ends in neighboring Washington County (81,622 acres) where it discharges into the Muskingum River. Between both counties Wolf Creek and its 37 named tributaries include over 198 stream miles. Major tributaries include: South Branch Wolf Creek, West Branch Wolf Creek, Southwest Fork, Coal Run, Little Wolf Creek, South Fork, Aldridge Run and Goshen Run.

Wolf Creek and its tributaries play a vital role in our livelihoods and every day life. Recreational uses include canoeing, fishing, swimming, hunting and sightseeing. ODNR's heavily used 3,638 acre Wolf Creek Wildlife Area is situated in the middle of the Morgan County portion of the watershed. Camp Hervida, a large private recreational facility, is located in the Washington County portion of the watershed. This camp hosts over 3500 visitors a year providing programs and adult/youth education activities.

The waterways within the watershed provide drainage for the highest number of active farming and livestock operations of any watershed located in either county. In addition to the farming industry, the timber industry and the oil and gas industry also benefit from the abundant natural resources. Along with this, the watershed is home to villages, subdivisions, businesses, fair grounds and vacation homes.

The SWCDs, along with volunteers, are gathering information from the watershed, to prepare a water quality inventory and management plan for the watershed. This plan will assist the SWCDs in developing priorities and to seek funds to assist residents and landowners in making improvements that will lead to improvement of the quality of water within the watershed.
HUC8: 
05040004
HUC11: 
05040004090
05040004100