Banklick Creek facts for kids
Banklick Creek is a stream about 19 miles (30.7 km) long in northern Kentucky, United States. It flows into the Licking River, which then joins the Ohio River. This means Banklick Creek is part of the huge Mississippi River watershed, which covers a large part of North America!
Banklick Creek starts in the countryside near the border of Boone and Kenton County, close to the town of Walton. From there, it flows northeast through Kenton County. It eventually empties into the Licking River near Latonia, which is a busy city area. This spot is less than 5 miles (8 km) from where the Licking River meets the Ohio River.
The area drained by Banklick Creek, called its watershed, is quite large, covering more than 58 square miles (150 km²). The land around the creek changes from very steep hills to gently sloping areas. For most of its length, Banklick Creek is shallow. It flows over a narrow streambed made of gravel and sometimes rocks. However, about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) before it reaches the Licking River, the creek becomes wider and can be 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters) deep.
Home to Wildlife
The upper part of Banklick Creek is a lively home for many kinds of fish. You can find smallmouth bass, sunfish, suckers, carp, and catfish here. Other animals like crayfish, turtles, snakes, and frogs also live in and around the creek. It's a great place to see nature!
Keeping the Creek Healthy
Unfortunately, the lower part of Banklick Creek faces some challenges. After another stream, Bullock Pen Creek, flows into it, the water quality can get worse. This is mainly due to things like runoff from suburban lawns, which can carry pollution. Also, too much development near the creek can cause dirt and mud (called silt) to wash into the water, making it cloudy. Sometimes, pollution from sewer systems can also affect the creek's health.
In the 1970s, a factory near the creek accidentally released some harmful substances into the water. This caused a big problem for the creek. But many groups, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), worked together to clean it up. Luckily, no one was reported to have died because of this pollution.
A Look Back in Time
Banklick Creek has a long and interesting history. It was once a bit deeper and easier for boats to travel on than it is today. People have lived along the creek for thousands of years! There are many ancient village sites along its banks that date back to the Archaic period, which was around 8000 BC.
A log cabin built by some of the first European settlers in the region still stands near the middle of Banklick Creek. The creek is also a popular spot for people who like to search for fossils and old artifacts. In 2001, a very old flint spear point was found near Latonia. This spear point was made by ancient people around 11,000 BC!
Fun Along the Creek
Even though Banklick Creek is home to lots of plants and animals, it's not often used for fishing or other fun activities. However, at its western end, people do enjoy spending time there.
Pioneer Park, which was created in 1976 by the Kenton County Parks Board, is located right along the banks of Banklick Creek. It's a nice place to visit and enjoy the outdoors near the community of Taylor Mill.
