Shelton Ditch (Oregon) facts for kids
Shelton Ditch is a man-made waterway, also called an artificial canal, located in Marion County, Oregon, in the United States. It was built in the mid-1800s to help control and move water. This ditch starts from Mill Creek in Salem, near Airport Road. It then flows through parts of Salem, including past the main Post Office and along the southern edge of downtown. Shelton Ditch eventually joins Pringle Creek near Pringle Park.
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Shelton Ditch: A Historic Waterway
Shelton Ditch is an important part of Salem's history. It was created in the middle of the 19th century, which means sometime around the 1850s. Building a ditch like this was a big project back then. It helped move water from Mill Creek to other areas, likely for things like powering mills or helping with farming.
Where the Ditch Flows
The ditch begins its journey from Mill Creek on the east side of Airport Road in Salem. From there, it makes its way through the city. You can see it pass by a corner of the Salem main Post Office property. It also runs along the southern edge of downtown Salem. The ditch continues past the north side of Pringle Park. Finally, Shelton Ditch empties its water into Pringle Creek.
Connecting to Other Waterways
After Shelton Ditch joins Pringle Creek, Pringle Creek itself continues its flow. Near Salem's city hall, another waterway called the Mill Race also joins Pringle Creek. Pringle Creek then goes under the Boise Cascade building. Its journey ends when it empties into the Willamette River. This happens right next to Riverfront Park, across from Minto-Brown Island Park.
Dealing with Flooding
Shelton Ditch flows along the edge of Salem Hospital's property. Because it's a waterway, Shelton Ditch has sometimes caused problems with flooding. When there's a lot of rain, the ditch can overflow its banks. This has happened in the past, and during big floods, people at the hospital have sometimes needed to be moved to safer areas. One notable time this happened was during the Christmas flood of 1964, a very large flood that affected many areas.
