Trail Location 14: Meandering Stream

 

 

Map showing Trail Location #12 - Urban Ravine

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MEANDERING STREAM

Between Grand Avenue and the pond, the Lick Run Greenway stream channel is wide with banks that are less steep than those in upstream areas. The channel is wider here because there is much more room between the channel and the Lick Run sewer.

 

Lick Run Greenway stream channel, Looking east from Grand Avenue toward the pedestrian bridge
Looking east from Grand Avenue toward the pedestrian bridg.

 

Pool, riffle, and run in the stream
Pool, riffle, and run in the Lick Run Greenway stream

WHAT CAN YOU SEE?

 

  • Pools: Pools are pockets of deep, slow-moving water that allow sediment to settle
  • Riffles: A riffle is a shallow area of the stream with fast, turbulent water that breaks over rocks.
  • Runs: Runs are swifter, deeper parts of a stream usually located downstream of a riffle.
  • Native plants: The plants in and around the stream are native, which means they originally grew in this area and are accustomed to our weather (so they don't need a lot of extra watering and care).
  • Stormwater Planters: Green features like rain gardens and tree planters help soak up and clean rainwater. Tree planters can be found along Queen City Avenue and rain gardens can be found through the Lick Run Greenway.

 

 

Graphic explaining stream vs meandering streams
Meandering Streams vs. Straight Streams. Without human intervention, narrow, straight channels eventually turn into
meandering streams as water erodes the stream banks. Meandering streams will collect sediment (dirt and rocks) from one area
and deposit or drop it off in another area, making the stream wider in some areas and narrower in others.

 

 

Graphic showing how stream function
How streams function