The Elizabeth River watershed drains 250 square miles of land and flows into the mouth of the James River. The watershed contains the cities of Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach and is heavily urbanized and developed. The mouth of the river forms the harbor at Norolk, which is home to the largest Naval Base and coal export facility in the United States. Historically, the Elizabeth River has been heavily polluted by the urbanized areas in its watershed, although actions are being taken to improve river health. (Based on the Elizabeth River Project.)
