Fourche Creek (Arkansas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fourche Creek |
|
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | near Little Rock, Arkansas 34°44′54″N 92°34′43″W / 34.74824°N 92.57848°W |
| River mouth | near Little Rock, Arkansas 34°43′36″N 92°11′17″W / 34.72666°N 92.18808°W |
Fourche Creek is a very important waterway in Arkansas, United States. It's special because it helps the environment, the economy, and the community in many ways. It flows through Little Rock, the capital city of Arkansas.
Contents
What is Fourche Creek?
Fourche Creek is part of a larger area called a watershed. A watershed is like a big bowl where all the rain and water runoff collects and drains into a single river or creek. The Fourche Creek watershed is the area of land that drains into Fourche Creek.
Where Does the Water Come From?
The Fourche Creek watershed collects water from about 73% of Little Rock. This means most of the rain and runoff from the city flows into Fourche Creek.
Many smaller streams and creeks flow into Fourche Creek. These are called tributaries. Some of the main tributaries include:
- Fourche Bayou
- Rock Creek
- Otter Creek
- Brodie Creek
- Crooked Creek
- Panther Creek
After collecting water from these areas, Fourche Creek eventually flows into the Arkansas River.
Why is Fourche Creek Important?
Fourche Creek is very important for several reasons. It helps the environment, the economy, and the people living nearby.
Helping the Environment
Even though Fourche Creek has faced challenges, it is still home to many different kinds of plants and animals. The area around the creek, especially the bottomlands, acts like a natural filter. It helps clean the water before it reaches the Arkansas River.
The city of Little Rock's wastewater treatment plant is located near where Fourche Creek meets the Arkansas River. The natural cleaning done by the Fourche bottomlands saves the city millions of dollars. This is because the wetlands help purify the water naturally.
A Place for Learning and Nature
The Fourche Creek area is also used as an urban restoration area. This means people are working to bring it back to a healthy state. It's a great place for education and showing how nature can recover.
The Arkansas branch of the National Audubon Society is very active here. They are working on many projects to help Fourche Creek. These projects include:
- Teaching people about the creek
- Improving water quality
- Making the habitats better for wildlife
These efforts are important for the future of Central Arkansas.
Avoiding Confusion
Sometimes, Fourche Creek is confused with other rivers in Arkansas. It is different from the Fourche La Fave River, which is near Bigelow, Arkansas. It is also not the same as the Fourche River, which is closer to Pocahontas, Arkansas.
