Little Scioto River (Scioto River tributary) facts for kids
The Little Scioto River is a smaller river in central Ohio, United States. It flows into the bigger Scioto River. The Little Scioto is about 27 miles (44 kilometers) long. It's part of a huge water system that eventually flows into the Mississippi River. This river helps drain water from an area of about 111 square miles (287 square kilometers).
Where Does the River Start and Go?
The Little Scioto River begins south of Bucyrus in Crawford County. It then flows mostly southwest. The river passes through Marion County, going west of the city of Marion. Finally, it joins the Scioto River near Green Camp.
Cleaning Up the River: A Superfund Site
The Little Scioto River was once polluted by a nearby factory called Baker Wood Creosoting. This factory was in Marion, Ohio. Because of the pollution, the river was added to a special list by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on September 23, 2009. This list is called the National Priorities List.
When a place is on this list, it's called a Superfund site. This means the EPA can make the companies responsible for the pollution pay for the cleanup. The cleanup work on the river actually started in 2006. Making it a Superfund site in 2009 helped make sure the cleanup continued and was paid for properly.
River Flow: How Much Water?
Scientists use special tools to measure how much water flows in a river. A USGS station near Marion measured the Little Scioto River's flow. From 1926 to 1935, the river's average flow was about 75 cubic feet per second (2.1 cubic meters per second). This measurement helps scientists understand the river's health and how it changes over time.
