Nancy Creek (Atlanta) facts for kids
Nancy Creek is a stream in northern Atlanta, Georgia, USA. It is about 16.3 miles (26.2 km) long. The creek starts in DeKalb County, near Chamblee. It then flows southwest into Fulton County, passing through parts of Sandy Springs and the Buckhead area of Atlanta.
Nancy Creek eventually flows into Peachtree Creek. Peachtree Creek then joins the Chattahoochee River. The Chattahoochee River later meets the Flint River to form the Apalachicola River. This larger river finally flows into the Gulf of Mexico.
The North Fork Nancy Creek is a major branch of Nancy Creek. Little Nancy Creek often has low water or dries up. Other smaller streams that flow into Nancy Creek include Bubbling Creek, Perimeter Creek, and Silver Creek. Silver Creek even includes two lakes, Silver Lake and Little Silver Lake.
Since 1994, scientists have used a special tool called a stream gauge on Nancy Creek. This gauge is in the Paces neighborhood of Atlanta. It helps measure how high the water is. If the water reaches 12.0 feet (3.7 m) at this spot, it means there is a flood. Another gauge was added in 2003 in Buckhead. This one helps measure water levels further upstream. These gauges help people know when the creek might flood.
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Why Nancy Creek Floods Often
Nancy Creek often floods, especially because many buildings and roads have been built nearby. When there is a lot of concrete and pavement, rainwater cannot soak into the ground. Instead, it runs quickly into the creek, making the water level rise fast.
Past Flooding Events
Nancy Creek has experienced many floods. In July 2005, the creek reached 12.9 feet (3.9 m) after rain from Hurricane Dennis. Before that, Hurricane Cindy also caused some flooding. These were not considered very big floods.
However, in September 2004, Hurricanes Ivan and Frances caused much bigger floods. The heavy rains caused a large pipe carrying wastewater to break and fall into the creek. This led to unwanted materials spilling into the water. The creek reached 15.26 feet (4.65 m) on September 16, 2004. This was the second-highest flood ever recorded at that time. Some people living near the creek had to be rescued by boat.
The 2009 Atlanta Floods
Some of the worst flooding happened in September 2009 during the Atlanta floods. The water severely damaged the bridge at Peachtree Dunwoody Road. The main support beam of the bridge was washed away. The bridge had to be closed for six months. A completely new bridge was built and opened on March 23, 2010. The US government helped pay for the $1 million cost of the new bridge.
During this flood, the creek reached 14.69 feet (4.48 m) at Rickenbacker Drive. This was the fourth-highest level recorded there. The highest ever recorded at Rickenbacker Drive was 15.50 feet (4.72 m) in December 1973. At West Wesley Road, the creek reached 18.70 feet (5.70 m) in 2009. This was the second-highest level there, after the 2004 flood when it reached 21.34 feet (6.50 m).
Fish Life in Nancy Creek
Nancy Creek is home to many different kinds of fish. Some are popular for fishing, while others are smaller species.
Sport Fish in Nancy Creek
- Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
- Spotted Bass (Micropterus punctulatus)
- Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
- Redbreast Sunfish (Lepomis auritus)
- Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus)
- Snail Bullhead (Ameiurus brunneus)
- Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus)
- Shadow Bass (Ambloplites ariommus)
Other Fish Species
- Creek Chub
- Red Shiner
- Silverjaw Shiner
- White Sucker
- Alabama Hog Sucker
- Mosquitofish
Fishing in Nancy Creek
If you enjoy fishing, the best times to fish in Nancy Creek are from late spring to mid-fall. The afternoon and evening are usually the best parts of the day. During winter, the water gets very cold. This makes the fish much less active, so it's harder to catch them.
Two popular ways to fish in Nancy Creek are fly fishing and using a spinning outfit.
Origin of the Name Nancy Creek
The exact reason for the name "Nancy Creek" is not fully known. Most people believe the name honors a Native American woman named Nancy.
