New Hope Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Hope Creek |
|
|---|---|
New Hope Creek from the southwest terminus of Duke Forest's Laurel Hill foot trail.
|
|
 
Location of New Hope Creek mouth
|
|
| Other name(s) | Tributary to New Hope River |
| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Chatham Durham Orange |
| City | Chapel Hill |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | pond on the divide between New Hope Creek and Cane Creek about 3 miles northeast of Orange Grove, North Carolina 718 ft (219 m) 36°01′26″N 079°09′37″W / 36.02389°N 79.16028°W |
| River mouth | New Hope River B. Everett Jordan Lake 216 ft (66 m) 35°48′37″N 078°59′48″W / 35.81028°N 78.99667°W |
| Length | 33.10 mi (53.27 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | southeast then south |
| River system | Haw River |
| Basin size | 168.80 square miles (437.2 km2) |
| Tributaries |
|
| Bridges | Kimbro Road, Silver Apple Road, Boulder Run Road, Borland Road, Arthur Minnis Road (x2), Old Chapel Hill-Hillsborough Road, Walnut Cove Road, Foxlair Road, New Hope Church Road, I-40, NC 86, Mt. Sinai Road, Turkey Farm Road, Erwin Road, US 15, Old Chapel Hill Road, Nelson Chapel Hill Road (NC 54), I-40, Stagecoach Road |
New Hope Creek is a cool waterway in North Carolina, United States. It starts in a rural area of Orange County, North Carolina. From there, it flows through the western part of Orange County and the southern half of Durham County.
Eventually, New Hope Creek empties into the northern end of Jordan Lake, a large reservoir. The land around the creek includes cities, suburbs, and countryside. This creek used to be called the New Hope River. It was a branch of the Cape Fear River until a dam was built to create Jordan Lake.
Building Jordan Lake
The idea to build Jordan Lake came after a big flood in 1945. This flood was caused by a hurricane. The United States Army Corps of Engineers studied the area. They wanted to find a way to manage the water better and prevent future floods.
Construction of Jordan Lake began in 1973. Many towns get their drinking water from Jordan Lake. This makes protecting the New Hope Creek area very important. Keeping the creek clean helps keep the lake clean too.
Protecting the Creek
Since the late 1980s, people who care about nature, called environmentalists, have worked hard. They want to protect a 20-mile long area along New Hope Creek. Their goal is to save it for nature and for people to enjoy.
In 1992, a big plan for the creek area was approved. The cities of Durham and Chapel Hill, along with Durham and Orange Counties, all agreed to it. Since then, about $3 million has been spent to buy land in this special area. Several miles of public trails have also been built for everyone to use.
Creek Life: Fish Species
New Hope Creek is home to many different kinds of fish. It's like a busy underwater neighborhood! Some of the fish you might find there include:
