Sager Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sager Creek |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas, Oklahoma |
| Region | Southern United States |
| City | Siloam Springs, AR |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Benton County, Arkansas, Ozarks 36°13′23″N 94°28′36″W / 36.22306°N 94.47667°W |
| River mouth | Flint Creek Delaware County, Oklahoma, Green Country 36°12′41″N 94°27′23″W / 36.21139°N 94.45639°W |
| Length | 13.4 mi (21.6 km) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Illinois River watershed |
| Basin size | 19.1 sq mi (49 km2) |
| Tributaries | |
Sager Creek is a creek about 13.4 miles (21.6 km) long. It flows through the town of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, in the United States. Sager Creek is a smaller stream that flows into a larger one, called Flint Creek. Flint Creek then joins the Illinois River. The Illinois River eventually flows into the Arkansas River, which is part of the huge Mississippi River system. The creek is named after Simon Sager, who is believed to be the founder of Siloam Springs.
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History of Sager Creek
The Sager family, led by Simon Sager, came from Germany. They traveled across the United States and eventually settled near this creek. Simon Sager was the head of the family. He built a cabin near the creek, which was sometimes called Spring Creek. The area where they settled was known as Hico.
Later, the Sager family moved to a new spot. Simon Sager was killed during the Civil War. His original cabin was later moved to the John Brown University campus in Siloam Springs and has been restored.
The town was first called Hico. After the Civil War, it was planned as Siloam City. But soon, it became known as Siloam Springs.
In the early 1900s, Siloam Springs was famous as a health resort. People came to drink from its many natural springs, which were believed to have healing powers. Today, the town still has many buildings that show its old Victorian style.
Sager Creek in Downtown Siloam Springs
Sager Creek flows right through the middle of Siloam Springs. In the 1880s, a special channel was built to guide the creek. Even though many buildings are on high ground, the creek has flooded several times. A big flood in 1892 damaged many businesses. In 1972, another large flood caused water to rise high in some buildings.
Creek Restoration Efforts
Recently, efforts have been made to improve Sager Creek. The first part of this work started in 2008. It involved removing an old dam. Workers also added large boulders and created step pools along the creek. These changes help the water flow better.
The second part of the project aimed to fix problems with algae. Algae would grow a lot in the summer, making the creek look and smell bad. This project also tried to bring back the creek's natural water flow and improve its quality. The Environmental Protection Agency and other groups helped pay for this work. They redesigned the creek channel and planted plants along its banks. Now, people can easily get close to the creek because of new boulder steps and sloped areas.
Water Quality and Nutrients
Sager Creek flows into Flint Creek, which then flows into the Illinois River. The Illinois River has been a focus for environmental groups. Because Sager Creek feeds into it, its water quality is also studied. This research looks at things like nutrients in the water.
Phosphorus Levels
The Siloam Springs Wastewater Plant cleans water before it goes into Sager Creek. There are rules about how much phosphorus can be in the water it releases. These rules came from a legal case that went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. Scientists are still studying the Illinois River area. They want to find out the natural levels of pollutants. The goal is to set even stricter limits for phosphorus in the future.
Nitrogen Levels
In 2012, Sager Creek was listed as an important water body needing attention. This was because it had high levels of nitrate, a type of nitrogen. This high level was due to a city water source.
