Salt Creek (Des Plaines River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Salt Creek |
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Creek showing York Road/Fullersburg Bridge and Graue Mill
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Hoffman Estates, Illinois 42°05′58″N 88°06′41″W / 42.0994706°N 88.1114642°W |
| River mouth | Confluence with the Des Plaines River, Lyons, Illinois 607 ft (185 m) 41°49′06″N 87°49′57″W / 41.8183649°N 87.8325578°W |
| Length | 43 mi (69 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Salt Creek → Des Plaines → Illinois → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico |
| GNIS ID | 422069 |
Salt Creek is a stream in northeastern Illinois, about 43 mi (69 km) long. It's like a smaller river that flows into a bigger one. Salt Creek is an important tributary of the Des Plaines River. This means its water eventually joins the Illinois River, then the mighty Mississippi River, and finally reaches the Gulf of Mexico.
Salt Creek starts in Palatine, at a place called Wilke Marsh in northwest Cook County. From there, it winds its way south through DuPage County. It then returns to central Cook County and empties into the Des Plaines River in Riverside, Illinois. Many towns and cities are built along the creek, which means it can sometimes flood when there's a lot of rain.
Taming the Waters: How Busse Lake Helps
To help stop flooding, special dams were built along Salt Creek in 1978. These dams are located within the Ned Brown Forest Preserve near Elk Grove Village, Illinois. They created a large lake called Busse Lake, which covers about 590-acre (2.4 km2). This lake helps control the water flow and prevents the creek from overflowing its banks.
There's also a special tunnel that helps move water. It was built about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) north of where Salt Creek meets the Des Plaines River. At this spot, the two streams are very close, only about 1,600 feet (490 m) apart.
Other Streams and Historic Spots
Salt Creek has other smaller streams that flow into it, called tributaries. One of these is Addison Creek.
You can also find a historic gristmill called the Graue Mill right on the bank of Salt Creek. It's located in Oak Brook and is a cool place to visit.
How Salt Creek Got Its Name
When European settlers first arrived, they called this waterway the "Little Des Plaines River." But in the mid-1800s, its name changed to Salt Creek. This happened after a large wagon carrying a lot of salt accidentally spilled its contents into the water!
Fish That Call Salt Creek Home
Salt Creek is home to many different kinds of fish. Some of the fish you might find swimming in its waters include:
- Carp
- Smallmouth bass
- Northern pike
- Bluegill/sunfish
- Minnow/shad
- Bullhead catfish
