Chiques Creek Watershed Alliance

We all live downstream

What is the Chiques Creek Watershed and why does it matter?


A watershed is a land area that drains to a single outlet. The Chiques Creek Watershed is divided into four subwatersheds which drain to the Susquehanna River via the Chiques Creek, Little Chiques Creek, and Donegal Creek and their tributaries. 

Chiques Watershed Map_1.1.pdf

Map courtesy of Spring Hill Partners, LLC

Within Lancaster County, three boroughs (Manheim, Marietta, and Mount Joy) and seven townships (East and West Donegal, East and West Hempfield, Mount Joy, Penn, and Rapho) have areas within this watershed. The watershed also includes small parts of three townships in southern Lebanon County (South Lebanon, South Londonderry, West Cornwall).

Google map for additional regional orientation

Dimensions of the subwatersheds within the Chiques Creek Watershed (HUC-0205030608)

What happens upstream affects the water quality and supply downstream. This includes groundwater recharge, fish and wildlife habitat, recreational uses, and resilience to extreme rain events. With guidance on best practices, we become better stewards of our watershed.