Gills Creek facts for kids

Gills Creek is a stream in Richland County, South Carolina. It flows into the Congaree River. People started settling near Gills Creek in the 1780s. Since the 1960s, the area around the creek has grown a lot. It is now a busy part of the city of Columbia, South Carolina. The Gills Creek area includes many smaller streams. It has become quite polluted because of all the new buildings and people.

Where is Gills Creek Located?

Gills Creek is entirely within the city area of Columbia, South Carolina. It starts from a small pond fed by a spring. Then it flows until it reaches the Congaree River. The average amount of water flowing in the creek is about 77 cubic feet every second.

What is the Gills Creek Watershed?

The Gills Creek watershed is a large area of land. All the rain that falls here drains into Gills Creek. This watershed covers over 47,000 acres. It includes Gills Creek and more than 70 miles of smaller streams. Some of these smaller streams are Jackson Creek and Little Jackson Creek.

This watershed is known as one of the largest "impaired urban watersheds" in South Carolina. This means it has been harmed by city development. A study in 1999 found high levels of pesticides in the creek. These chemicals could harm fish. The study also found bacteria that make the creek unsafe for swimming.

A Brief History of Gills Creek

The creek was named after James Gill. He was a settler who lived there in the 1740s. In the 1780s, two important people, Wade Hampton I and Thomas Taylor, bought large pieces of land. They built big farms, called plantations, on both sides of Gills Creek.

Part of Thomas Taylor's land later became the city of Columbia. This happened when a law was passed in 1786. For a long time, the area was mostly farmland. But in 1917, the Gills Creek swamp was drained. Then, Camp Jackson was built. More draining and dam building happened later. This led to the creation of the city of Forest Acres in 1935.

Many new buildings and homes started appearing in the early 1960s. Now, most of the land is settled. There is very little empty land or farmland left.

The 2015 Flood Event

From October 1 to 5, 2015, a huge amount of rain fell in South Carolina. Some areas received over 20 inches of rain. Columbia had its wettest day ever on October 4. This storm was so big it was called a "1000-year rainfall event." This means such heavy rain is expected only once every 1000 years.

The President declared a state of emergency for South Carolina. Five dams in the Gills Creek Watershed broke during the flood. These were Pinetree Lake, Semmes Lake, Upper Rocky Ford Lake, Rocky Ford Lake, and Cary Lake. The widespread flooding caused several deaths. Many people had to leave their homes. Roads and bridges were washed away. The flood also caused a lot of damage to buildings and properties.

Roads and Bridges Crossing Gills Creek

Many roads and bridges cross over Gills Creek. Here is a list of some of them, starting from where the creek meets the Congaree River:

Who Helps Gills Creek?

The Gills Creek Watershed Association is a group that works to protect the creek. It includes local citizens, government groups, other organizations, and businesses. They all work together to help restore and protect the Gills Creek Watershed.