Burnt Bridge Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burnt Bridge Creek |
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Burnt Bridge Creek on an autumn morning
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Location of the mouth of Burnt Bridge Creek in Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington (state) |
| County | Clark |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Field ditches east of Vancouver, Washington near Orchards 201 ft (61 m) 45°39′37″N 122°30′30″W / 45.66028°N 122.50833°W |
| River mouth | Vancouver Lake Vancouver 16 ft (4.9 m) 45°40′29″N 122°41′34″W / 45.67472°N 122.69278°W |
| Length | 13 km (8.1 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 28 sq mi (73 km2) |
Burnt Bridge Creek is a stream about 8 miles (13 kilometers) long. It flows mostly through the city of Vancouver in the state of Washington, USA.
The creek starts from ditches in fields near a community called Orchards. This area is just east of Vancouver. From there, the creek flows generally west. It eventually reaches Vancouver Lake. Vancouver Lake then drains into Lake River. Lake River finally empties into the mighty Columbia River. This happens about 11 miles (18 kilometers) downstream from Vancouver.
For its first 5 miles (8 kilometers), Burnt Bridge Creek flows through a mix of natural and human-made channels. After that, it continues through a small canyon for the rest of its journey. The creek gets water from several smaller streams. Its biggest helper stream is Cold Creek. Other streams that add water include Peterson Creek and Burton Channel.
What is the Burnt Bridge Creek Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a single river or stream. The Burnt Bridge Creek watershed covers about 28 square miles (73 square kilometers). Most of this land is developed for city use.
Only a small part, about 4 percent, is covered by forests. About 23 percent is made up of fields, pastures, and bushy areas. The largest part, 73 percent, is used for buildings and other city developments.
How Clean is the Water?
The water quality in the streams of this area is not very good. It ranges from "poor" to "very poor." Burnt Bridge Creek does not meet the standards set by the Washington Department of Ecology. This means the water has too much bacteria, is too warm, is too acidic, and doesn't have enough oxygen for healthy aquatic life.
Even with these challenges, some fish still live in the creek. The lowest part of the creek is home to coho salmon. You might also find steelhead in the water.
Fun Things to Do at Burnt Bridge Creek
The Burnt Bridge Creek Greenway Trail is a great place to explore. This trail is about 8 miles (13 kilometers) long. It runs right along the creek through the middle of Vancouver.
The trail has a hard surface, making it perfect for walking, biking, and jogging. It's also a wonderful spot to watch for local wildlife. The trail starts at Stewart Glen, which is a city park. It also goes through Leverich Park, another city park. Both parks offer nice places for picnics, restrooms, and other helpful facilities for visitors.
