Lick Creek (Sangamon River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lick Creek |
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|---|---|
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Morgan County north of Waverly, Illinois 39°39′10″N 89°58′41″W / 39.6528266°N 89.9781644°W |
| River mouth | Confluence with Sugar Creek in Lake Springfield, Illinois 574 ft (175 m) 39°42′25″N 89°41′11″W / 39.7069959°N 89.6864883°W |
| Length | 30 mi (48 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Lick Creek → Sugar Creek → Sangamon → Illinois → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico |
| GNIS ID | 412056 |
Lick Creek is a stream about 30 miles (49 km) long in central Illinois. It flows into Lake Springfield, which is a large lake that helps supply water to the city of Springfield, Illinois. Lick Creek is also a branch, or tributary, of the Sangamon River.
This creek helps drain water from a big part of southwestern Sangamon County. It also drains a small part of southeastern Morgan County. Towns like Loami, Illinois and parts of Chatham, Illinois are within the area Lick Creek drains.
Contents
Nature and Wildlife
Much of the land around Lick Creek is used for farming. However, some special natural areas are protected. When Lake Springfield was created in the 1920s and 1930s, a large section of land along the lower part of Lick Creek was set aside. This land was kept as a forest to help keep the lake's water clean.
Lick Creek Wildlife Preserve
This forested area is about 340 acres (1.4 km²) in size. In 1991, it was named the Lick Creek Wildlife Preserve. It is owned by City Water, Light & Power, a company based in Springfield, Illinois. This special zone helps protect the water quality of Lake Springfield.
The preserve is home to many different trees. You can find a notable group of sugar maples and chinkapin oaks here. One chinkapin oak tree, located in Camp Widjiwagan, is very old. Experts have figured out it is more than 300 years old!
Nipper Wildlife Sanctuary
Another important natural spot is the Nipper Wildlife Sanctuary. This area is about 120 acres (0.49 km²) and is located near Loami, right by the creek. This land is being restored to its natural state as a tallgrass prairie. A tallgrass prairie is a type of grassland with very tall grasses and wildflowers.
History and Recreation
Lick Creek also has a bit of interesting history. In the mid-1800s, a special community was formed near Loami. It was called a phalanx and was based on ideas from a thinker named Charles Fourier. This community was a type of Utopian socialist group, meaning they tried to create a perfect society where everyone worked together. This community operated for a short time in 1845–1846.
Interurban Trail
Today, the Interurban Trail crosses over the Lick Creek part of Lake Springfield. This trail is a popular path for biking and walking. The bridge area is also a favorite spot for local people to go fishing.
Other Lick Creeks
The U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is a system that keeps track of names for places. It shows that there are 12 different streams named Lick Creek in Illinois alone!
