While Harris County is abuzz with talk of the $2.5 billion flood prevention bond referendum that will go before voters Aug. 25, the term “watershed” is getting a lot of play this month.

One of our front-page stories this month focuses on studies taking place in local watersheds. In The Woodlands area, most residents are within the San Jacinto River watershed, but the area also touches the Spring Creek watershed along the county line.

The term means “a land area that ultimately drains rainfall runoff or stormwater to a common body of water,” according to the Harris County Flood Control District. That means when it rains, if you live in the Spring Creek watershed, all of the rain that is not absorbed will eventually end up in Spring Creek.

When you think about how much water that is, and how long the creek is—69 miles­—you can see how quickly a downpour can cause a problem.

To see more watersheds, visit www.hcfcd.org to use the district’s interactive map. While there, you can see which bond projects are proposed for your area.