Richland Soil & Water Conservation District

Rain Statistics from Around Richland County

This volunteer program is a tool to assist landowners, planners & developers in developing a clearer understanding of their county , communities and specifically their watershed.

By recording rainfall events and understanding the dynamics of our watershed, a snapshot of your neighborhood is created. As our communities expand and develop, the more land that at one time absorbed rainfall is now developed into asphalt parking lots and buildings. These land changes affect your watershed by increasing the surface water runoff from a rain event and discharging larger amounts of water into our streams, tributaries and receiving rivers. Our streams, tributaries and rivers must carve out a large channel to accept the runoff. This increases sediment loading and poorer water quality.

Another important part of this program is to alert our community leaders of potential flooding conditions. If we can predict a watershed response by using this information, this may provide advanced timing for law enforcement and community leaders to prepare for flooding. Residence will have advanced warning to prepare for damaging high water.

Do your part today! Become a rain gauge volunteer and assist us with addressing watershed challenges and opportunities.

Click Here to view Richland County Interactive Rain Data.

Watershed Details

#1 Sub Watershed of Huron Watershed
One of two sub-watersheds of the Huron Watershed. When departing Richland County close to Plymouth, Ohio, these tributaries continue North Passing through Willard, Norwalk, Milan, and Huron. Along its journey other tributaries that connect are the East and West Branch, Slate Run, Frink Run, and Seymore Creek in Huron and Erie Counties. The Huron River discharges into Lake Erie at the City of Huron.

#2 Sub Watershed of Huron Watershed
One of two sub-watersheds of the Huron Watershed. When departing Richland County close to Plymouth, Ohio, these tributaries continue North Passing through Willard, Norwalk, Milan, and Huron. Along its journey other tributaries that connect are the East and West Branch, Slate Run, Frink Run, and Seymore Creek in Huron and Erie Counties. The Huron River discharges into Lake Erie at the City of Huron.

#3 Marsh Run Sub Watershed of Black Fork Watershed
The Marsh Run a sub-watershed of the Black Fork Watershed. This means that within its parameters of drainage, it discharges to the Black Fork on the edge of Shelby, Ohio. Beginning in Crawford County, the run measures 7.1 miles with an average fall in elevation of 4.8 feet. The total drainage area is 20.8 square miles.

#4 Black Fork Watershed
The Black Fork Watershed which crosses the northern portion of the county and drains into Charles Mill which is a flood control lake. Portions of Crawford and Ashland Counties contribute to the total watershed. Representing most of northern Richland County, the river measures 58.4 miles with an average fall in elevation of 5.4 feet. The total drainage area is 350.9 square miles.

#5 Vermillion Watershed
The Vermillion Watershed which is the head waters of the Vermillion River. When departing Richland County, it joins the eastern branch from Savannah in Ashland County below London in Huron County. Combined with other tributaries, they form the Vermillion River that discharges into Lake Erie at the City of Vermillion.

#6 Sandusky Watershed
The Sandusky Watershed which is the Eastern branch of the headwaters of the Sandusky River. The Sandusky River meanders through Crawford, Wyandot, Seneca and Sandusky Counties. The river disharges into Lake Erie at the point of Sandusky Bay.

#7 Rocky Fork Watershed
The Rocky Fork Watershed. Beginning in the vicinity of Mansfield-OSU, this watershed encompasses most of Madison Township and the City of Mansfield while draining to Lucas, Ohio. Outside of Lucas, the Rocky Fork River joins the Black Fork River below Charles Mill. The two rivers join at a crossroads called Melco, at this juncture, combining rivers transverse to Loudonville, Ohio in Ashland County where the Clear Fork River coming out of Mohican State Park joins creating the Mohican River. The total length of the river is 19.6 miles with an average fall in elevation of 10.8 feet. The total drainage area is 77.3 square miles.

#8 Olentangy Watershed
The Olentangy Watershed. This tiny portion in Richland County is the headwaters of the Olentangy River that collects many tributaries in Morrow, Delaware, Franklin and points farther South where it joins the Scioto Watershed/river which discharges to the Ohio River located at Portsmouth, Ohio.

#9 Clear Fork Watershed
The Clear Fork Watershed. Beginning from smaller tributaries located in Ontario, Ohio and Morrow County, they convene at the Clear Fork Reservoir, which is the source of water for the City of Mansfield. The River exits the Clear Fork Reservoir and passes through Lexington, Bellville, and Butler where it enters the Pleasant Hill Reservoir, which is a flood control lake. Passing through the dam at Pleasant Hill, it meanders through the Mohican State Park and joins the Black Fork at Loudonville to form the Mohican River. The total length of the river is 36.3 miles with an average fall in elevation of 11 feet. The total drainage area is 217 square miles.

#10 Kokosing Watershed
The Kokosing Watershed which is the northern headwaters for the Kokosing River; it collects many tributaries to create the Kokosing Lake in Knox County which is a flood control lake. Combining drainage areas from Knox Lake, Jelloway, Apple Valley the Kokosing becomes the Walhonding River that joins the Muskingum River at Coshocton, Ohio. At this point the Muskingum drains into the Ohio River at Marietta, Ohio.

Stormwater Survey

• Division of Forestry
• Division of Soil & Water
• Main OSU Extension
• NRCS-Ohio
• ODNR
• Rain Gardens
• Richland County
• USDA