Neabsco Creek facts for kids

Neabsco Creek is a 13.9-mile-long (22.4 km) stream that flows into the Potomac River in eastern Prince William County, Virginia. It's like a smaller river that feeds into a bigger one. The area of land that drains water into Neabsco Creek, called its watershed, covers about 27 square miles (70 km²).

The name Neabsco comes from Niopsco, a village of the Doeg people. These were Native Americans who lived in the area a long time ago. The creek has been an important waterway for trade and business in northern Virginia since the 1700s.

Why is Neabsco Creek Important?

Neabsco Creek is a key part of the local environment and history. It connects many communities in Prince William County to the larger Potomac River. This makes it important for both nature and people.

How Does the Creek's Location Affect It?

The land around Neabsco Creek has a lot of buildings and roads. This is because it's close to I-95 and the big city area of Washington, D.C.. Many towns, like Dale City and Woodbridge, send their stormwater into Neabsco Creek.

The EPA has noted that the Neabsco Creek watershed has lost much of its natural land. This is due to development and how stormwater is managed. This can harm the natural environment of the creek.

What Efforts Are Being Made to Help the Creek?

Prince William County has invested a lot of money to help manage stormwater in the watershed. This helps reduce the negative effects of rain runoff. There was a plan to dig out parts of Neabsco Creek to stop flooding on Route 1. However, this plan never received the money needed, so the area still floods often.

A politician named Congressman Tom Davis helped get over $4 million. This money was used to clean up a sewage treatment plant on Neabsco Creek. This helped improve the water quality.

Local groups often use Neabsco Creek to show why it's important to protect waterways. The damage that has happened to the creek could have been avoided. Now, fixing it costs a lot of money and may never bring the creek back to its completely natural state.

What Wildlife Lives Near Neabsco Creek?

The area around Neabsco Creek is home to many different animals. It provides important places for them to live and thrive.

Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge

Near where Neabsco Creek meets the Potomac River is the Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge covers about 325 acres (1.32 km²) of tidal marsh (wetlands affected by tides), riparian wetlands (wetlands along a river), and woodlands.

This refuge is a home for many birds, including neotropical migrants (birds that travel long distances), waterfowl (like ducks and geese), and ospreys. In the past, bald eagles also lived here.

What is the History of Neabsco Creek?

Neabsco Creek has a rich history, especially related to early industry in Virginia.

Neabsco Iron Works

Neabsco Creek was the location of the Neabsco Iron Works. This was one of the first places in northern Virginia to produce iron. It operated on the creek from 1737 to 1820. The site was just above where the I-95 highway crosses the creek today.