What is a watershed, and why is it important?

Both the quality and quantity of Quabbin Reservoir’s water depend upon the land surrounding it, called the watershed. The function of the watershed is to collect the water that falls on the land, filter it, and drain it toward the reservoir, much like a funnel. That’s why it’s so vital to protect the watershed: if a watershed is clean and healthy, as Quabbin’s is, the water will be be pure and the water yield high.

Quabbin’s watershed measures 186 square miles and its sheer size is the reason Quabbin is one of the purest sources of drinking water in the country. It’s also why Quabbin is a superb refuge for such a diversity of wildlife, including loons, coyote, beavers, bobcats, turkeys, deer, and, in perhaps the reservoir’s greatest success story, Bald Eagles were successfully restored to Massachusetts at Quabbin. It is also a haven for people in search of natural beauty, peace and tranquility.

Visit our Quabbin Facts and Figures page for more information.

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Historical Sites Inventory Reveals: Quabbin Reservation Is An Archaeological Treasure