Woodin Creek (Clark County, Washington) facts for kids
Woodin Creek, also called Weaver Creek, is a small stream in Clark County, Washington. It's one of five main streams that flow into Salmon Creek.
Woodin Creek starts from a spring near Battle Ground Lake State Park. It then flows southwest through the city of Battle Ground. After that, it turns south and joins Salmon Creek close to the SR 503 bridge.
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What is the Woodin Creek Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a single stream, river, or lake. The Woodin Creek Watershed is a part of the larger Salmon Creek Watershed. Think of it like a big bowl where all the rain and water eventually flows into Woodin Creek.
This area is split into two main parts by the city of Battle Ground.
- Above Battle Ground: This part of the watershed has many homes surrounded by trees.
- Below Battle Ground: This area has more rural homes on larger pieces of land.
Overall, the land around Woodin Creek is about one-third forest, one-third grassy fields and bushes, and one-third city areas.
Why is Woodin Creek important?
Scientists from Clark County check the health of Woodin Creek regularly. They've found that the part of the creek below Battle Ground isn't very healthy. This is often because there aren't enough trees along the creek banks to provide shade and homes for animals.
When a stream doesn't have enough shade, the water can get too warm, which is bad for fish and other creatures. Also, as more buildings are built in the Battle Ground area, the creek's health might get worse.
How can we help Woodin Creek?
People are working to make Woodin Creek healthier. Here are some ways they are trying to help:
- Finding and stopping pollution: They look for sources of bacteria and other pollution to remove them.
- Planting trees: Adding more trees along the creek helps cool the water and provides homes for wildlife.
- Controlling runoff: They try to reduce how much water runs off from new buildings and roads, which can carry pollution into the creek.
- Protecting forests: Keeping existing forests and planting new trees in empty fields helps keep the water clean.
How did Woodin Creek get its name?
Woodin Creek was first called Mud Creek by the early settlers in Battle Ground. Later, it was renamed after a man named Joseph Woodin. People often called him "Wooden Joe." He was a mail carrier in the early days of Battle Ground. The stream started from a spring on the land where he lived.
