Saline Branch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saline Branch Drainage Ditch |
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|---|---|
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Champaign County, Illinois south of Rantoul, Illinois 40°15′59″N 88°10′28″W / 40.266358°N 88.17433°W |
| River mouth | Confluence with the Salt Fork Vermilion River west of St. Joseph, Illinois 676 ft (206 m) 40°07′02″N 88°03′08″W / 40.1173°N 88.0521°W |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Saline Branch → Salt Fork → Vermilion → Wabash → Ohio → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico |
| Tributaries |
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| GNIS ID | 417889 |
The Saline Branch, also called the Saline Branch Ditch, is a small river in east-central Illinois. It is a tributary, which means it flows into a larger river. The Saline Branch joins the Vermilion River.
This waterway helps drain water from a part of Champaign County. This area includes most of the city of Urbana, Illinois. It also drains the University of Illinois campus located in Urbana.
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About the Saline Branch
The Saline Branch is an important part of the local water system. It collects rainwater and other runoff from the land. This helps prevent flooding in the areas it drains.
Where Does It Flow?
The Saline Branch starts south of Rantoul, Illinois. It flows generally south and east. It eventually meets the Salt Fork of the Vermilion River. This meeting point is west of St. Joseph, Illinois.
Its Journey to the Ocean
The water from the Saline Branch travels a long way.
- First, it flows into the Salt Fork.
- Then, it joins the main Vermilion River.
- The Vermilion River flows into the Wabash River.
- The Wabash River then empties into the Ohio River.
- The Ohio River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River.
- Finally, the mighty Mississippi River carries the water all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.
How It Changed Over Time
The Saline Branch was not always a straight waterway. Long ago, it was a winding creek. People started changing it in the late 1800s. A lot of engineering work was done. This work finished in 1908.
Straightening the Creek
Engineers straightened the creek and turned it into a ditch. This was done to help manage water flow better. It also helped drain the land for farming and building. The water that flows into the Saline Branch now includes treated water from the Urbana-Champaign Sanitary District.
What's in a Name?
The official name for this waterway is the Saline Branch. However, the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) lists another name for it. Sometimes, people call it the West Branch Salt Fork. The GNIS is a database that keeps track of names and locations of physical features in the United States.
