Peterson Ditch
This branch carries runoff from agricultural and residential land south of the lake toward Winona’s southwest side.
The edge of the lake is not the edge of the lake’s story. Every low spot, ditch, field and street inside this line is connected by water.
The watershed, mapped
The coral outline is the federal Winona Lake–Eagle Creek subwatershed. The blue lines trace its principal water routes.
Watershed boundary
Principal streams & ditches
Lakes
Four named systems, one way out
Winona sits near the downstream end of four named ditch systems and their smaller tributaries.
Evans Ditch
Federal data calls this Keefer–Evans Ditch. It flows north through Lake John and into Winona.
Wyland Ditch
Water moves through Sharon, Sheely and Wyland lakes before continuing toward Winona.
Tennant Ditch
This named ditch crosses the southeastern portion of the watershed near Tennant and Sellers lakes.
Eagle Creek
Water leaves the west side of Winona through Eagle Creek, then continues to Walnut Creek and the Tippecanoe River.
Why this matters: a storm does not have to fall over Winona Lake to change it. Rain miles upstream can carry water, soil and nutrients through this network and into the lake.
Fourteen lakes, one connected system
Winona is the largest and most downstream lake in a network that includes thirteen others on the Lilly Center’s watershed map.
Winona LakeSheely LakeWyland Lake
Stevens LakeReed LakeMcPherson Lake
Stafford LakeSherburn LakeSellers Lake
Tennant LakeLaspew (Larrew) LakeLake John
Sharon LakeHorseshoe Lake
What moves downhill
Water connects the watershed. It also carries whatever it picks up along the way.
Soil & nutrients
Eroded soil can carry phosphorus into streams. In the lake, that nutrient can feed algae growth.
Waste & bacteria
Pet waste, livestock waste and failing septic systems can move bacteria downstream after rain.
Streets & lawns
Oil, road salt, grass clippings and excess fertilizer can wash into storm drains and ditches.
Useful actions anywhere inside the line: keep leaves and grass out of drains, use phosphorus-free fertilizer, pick up pet waste, stabilize bare soil, and let native plants slow water before it reaches a ditch or shoreline.
How this was mapped
The outline is HUC-12 051201060203, “Winona Lake–Eagle Creek,” from the current U.S. Geological Survey and USDA Watershed Boundary Dataset. The stream and lake shapes come from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset, reconciled with the Lilly Center’s local watershed map. Because the federal ditch records are stored as separated field segments, the map bridges the gaps between named segments to show Peterson, Evans, Wyland and Tennant ditches continuously. Peterson’s eastern branch follows the local streambank-assessment map.
The headline uses the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams’ figure of 18,730 acres for Winona Lake’s watershed. The current federal HUC polygon is 20,554 acres and covers the full Winona Lake–Eagle Creek subwatershed. The sources use different mapped extents, vintages and area conventions, so this page identifies both rather than pretending they are the same measurement.
| Boundary | USGS/USDA Watershed Boundary Dataset, HUC-12 051201060203 |
| Streams & lakes | USGS National Hydrography Dataset, accessed July 2026; Peterson eastern branch reconciled to the local streambank-assessment map |
| Local watershed facts | Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams, Winona Lake profile and watershed map |
| Map detail | Geometry simplified to approximately 10–20 feet for fast drawing; not a property or drainage survey |
See the watershed at work
Live inlet & outlet monitor →Watch flow, depth, velocity and temperature change after rain.
Lilly Center lake profile →Research, water-quality reports and the original watershed map.
Peterson Ditch project →See how local partners are keeping sediment from reaching Winona.
The 200-Foot Lap →Explore the idle-speed line and Winona’s deep-water area.