Which watershed are you standing in? Find yours in the SWATGenX Explorer
This short how-to types an address into the SWATGenX Watershed Explorer search box: the map flies in, locks onto it, and its watershed lights up, the smallest unit the national Watershed Boundary Dataset maps everywhere. The same box takes a ZIP code, coordinates or a USGS gauge number. Underneath is Landscape, the map the Explorer opens on: streets and labels over land cover from the USDA Cropland Data Layer (2025) once you zoom in, down to the crop in each field. Across the whole watershed you see fields, built-up land and patches of forest, with the water drawn on top.
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Transcript
Every address in the United States drains somewhere. Which watershed are you standing in? Type an address into the Explorer's search box. The map flies in and locks onto it. Its watershed lights up: the smallest unit the Watershed Boundary Dataset maps nationwide. This one is Archer Creek, Spring Creek. The same box takes a ZIP code, coordinates, or a USGS gauge number. Underneath is Landscape, the map the Explorer opens on. Streets and labels over land cover from the USDA Cropland Data Layer, 2025, down to the crop in each field. Across the whole watershed: fields, built-up land and patches of forest, with the water drawn on top. An address, a watershed, and the land around it, in a few seconds. Start with your own.
Credits
Live capture of the SWATGenX Watershed Explorer. Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors, © OpenMapTiles; Landscape: Natural Earth, USGS NLCD 2021, CEC NALCMS 2020, USDA NASS CDL 2025. Watersheds: USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset (NHDPlus HR). Address search: OpenAddresses. The demo address is the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield; its watershed is Archer Creek-Spring Creek.