Natural Resource Maps

 Watersheds: All land is part of the watershed of some stream or river. A watershed defines which stream or river a body of land drains into. Run-off from the land might include chemicals or other hazardous materials that affect the quality of the water, putting flora, fauna and humans at risk.  Water pollution may be attributed to "point" sources, which are pipes that empty their contents directly into the water, or from "non-point" sources, such as run-off from parking lots or agricultural fields. Central Ohio is rich with many waterways, therefore land planners must carefully examine the potential effects on water quality when considering development. 

 Wetlands: Wetlands are special areas where the soil structure acts as a filter for cleaning the water that eventually makes its way to groundwater, streams and/or rivers. Over the years, many Ohio wetlands have been disrupted by the placement of drain tiles in agricultural fields to improve crop production. Now that we know the importance of these areas, there are stringent requirements to protect the natural drainage of the earth and any wetlands that may potentially be disturbed by development. This means that there must be no net loss of wetlands due to man-made changes to the landscape.
 
 High Slopes: High slopes on this map include areas that have a slope of greater than 12%. The map was created by converting soil types into slope categories. Soil scientists categorize soil by their drainage structure and slope. Glaciers that moved across Ohio 60,000 years ago left most of central Ohio relatively flat. Higher slopes appear in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in eastern Fairfield and Licking Counties.
 
 Well Field Protection Areas: Much of central Ohio relies on surface water from reservoirs for its drinking water. However, water is also available from underground aquifers, which is pumped to the surface from wells. Development on well fields (the land surrounding the wells) is limited to protect the water from pollution. This map shows the locations of various well fields in central Ohio .
 
 Prime Farm Land: Prime farm land includes areas where the structure of the soil is best used for agriculture. This map was created by using the soil classifications and displaying those best suited for agriculture. The map shows that soils in much of central Ohio would support agricultural uses, excluding areas with high slopes or that have undergone urban development.