Our Land and Lakes
The Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed
The Watershed Foundation works in the natural lakes region of Northern Indiana, home to hundreds of ancient glacial “kettle” lakes.
We focus our efforts on the Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed, a land area that covers 236 square miles spanning parts of Kosciusko, Noble, and Whitley counties. Our watershed alone contains over 60 lakes, many creeks and streams, and the Tippecanoe River.
What Is A Watershed?
A watershed is a land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt to creeks, streams, and rivers. Every small watershed drains to a larger watershed that eventually flows into reservoirs, bays, and oceans.
Known as the “river of lakes,” the Tippecanoe River begins in the northern part of the watershed, near Crooked Lake in Whitley County. From there, our water flows through geographical features like peaks, plains, and valleys, eventually moving from the Tippecanoe River into the Wabash River, then the Ohio River, then the Mississippi River, and finally emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.
In fact, the Tippecanoe River is the headwaters of the Mississippi River watershed in Indiana. For that reason, what happens in and around our lakes and streams impacts waterways far beyond our own.
Our region’s diverse, abundant water resources make this area a wonderful place to live, work, and play. Water powers local industry and agriculture, provides rest and recreational opportunities, and meets essential needs for humans and animals. The health of our watershed is directly connected to the quality of our lives.
That’s why we take action to stop pollution on land before it reaches our water.
Explore Your Watershed
Watch The Watershed
This 10-minute video is a great introduction to The Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed. See what makes our land and lakes so special and worth protecting.
Blue & Wild Spaces
From sparkling streams to woodland trails, there are so many blue and wild spaces to explore in The Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed. Check out our YouTube to see more local favorites.
Did You Know?
The Nature Conservancy considers the Tippecanoe River one of the Top 10 Rivers to Protect in the US due to the number of rare and endangered species it supports.
Everyone who lives, works, and plays in the Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed is responsible for protecting our home. When we work together, we can ensure our land and lakes stay healthy for generations to come. Learn how you can make a difference.