Smith Creek (Virginia) facts for kids

Smith Creek is a stream in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, USA. It is about 35.5 miles (57 kilometers) long. This creek flows into the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. Its water comes from an area of 106 square miles (275 square kilometers). This area is located in Shenandoah and Rockingham counties. The creek starts near Harrisonburg and joins the North Fork of the Shenandoah River near Mount Jackson.

About Smith Creek's Waterways

Smith Creek has several smaller streams that flow into it. These are called tributaries. They help make Smith Creek bigger and stronger.

Main Tributaries

• Mountain Run: This stream comes from the western side of the Massanutten Mountain.
  • Fridley Run: This is a smaller stream that flows into Mountain Run.
• Dry Fork: This stream starts east of Harrisonburg. It joins Smith Creek near Lacey Spring.
• Lacey Spring Branch: This is a short stream. It comes from natural springs at Lacey Spring.
• War Branch: This stream begins at the base of Massanutten Mountain. It flows past the communities of Athlone and Arkton. It then joins Smith Creek near Moores Mill Road.
• Gap Branch: This stream starts near New Market Gap. It flows into Smith Creek just before Smith Creek joins the North Fork of the Shenandoah River.

Helping Smith Creek Thrive

Smith Creek has been part of a big project. This project aims to make the stream healthy again. The goal is for native trout fish to live and grow there once more.

Why Smith Creek Needed Help

A long time ago, before the American Civil War, large trout lived in Smith Creek. Some fish weighed up to 5 or 6 pounds. But over time, forests near the creek were cut down. They were turned into fields for farm animals. This made the stream unhealthy for fish. The water became dirty with mud and animal waste. It also got too warm.

How the Creek Was Restored

People worked hard to fix Smith Creek. They used special methods to restore it.

• They stopped farm animals from going into the stream. This helped reduce mud and bacteria in the water.
• They planted grasses and trees along the creek banks. These plants help stop the soil from washing away. They also make the water cooler by providing shade.

Success of the Project

The restoration project has been very successful. By 2006, trout started living in Mountain Run again. They then began moving into other parts of Smith Creek. In 2010, the Smith Creek area was named Virginia’s Chesapeake Showcase Watershed. This was because of the great work done by the community. Fishermen now love to visit Smith Creek for fly fishing. By 2011, big brown trout (over 24 inches and 7 pounds) were found there. Large rainbow trout (over 5 pounds) are also common.