Reedy Creek (West Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Reedy Creek is a tributary
of the Little Kanawha River
in western West Virginia
in the United States
. Via the Little Kanawha and Ohio
rivers, it is part of the watershed
of the Mississippi River
, draining an area of 133 square miles (344.5 km²) in a rural region on the unglaciated
portion of the Allegheny Plateau
. It is 22.6 miles (36.4 km) long, or 38.5 miles (62 km) long including its Left Fork.
Reedy Creek is formed in the town of Reedy
in northern Roane County
by the confluence
of its Left Fork and its Right Fork:
From the town of Reedy, the main stem of Reedy Creek flows generally northward into Wirt County
, through the community of Lucille; it flows into the Little Kanawha River from the south in the community of Palestine. It is paralleled for most of its length by West Virginia Route 14.
Among Reedy Creek's tributaries are two others with names derived from that of the main stream:
According to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, approximately 79% of the Reedy Creek watershed is forest
ed, mostly deciduous
. Approximately 20% is used for pasture and agriculture.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Little Kanawha River
Little Kanawha River
The Little Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, 169 mi long, in western West Virginia in the United States. Via the Ohio, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 2,320 mi² on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau...
in western West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Via the Little Kanawha and Ohio
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
rivers, it is part of the watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, draining an area of 133 square miles (344.5 km²) in a rural region on the unglaciated
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
portion of the Allegheny Plateau
Allegheny Plateau
The Allegheny Plateau is a large dissected plateau area in western and central New York, northern and western Pennsylvania, northern and western West Virginia, and eastern Ohio...
. It is 22.6 miles (36.4 km) long, or 38.5 miles (62 km) long including its Left Fork.
Reedy Creek is formed in the town of Reedy
Reedy, West Virginia
See also Reedy .Reedy is a town in Roane County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 198 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
in northern Roane County
Roane County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,446 people, 6,161 households, and 4,479 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 7,360 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
by the confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of its Left Fork and its Right Fork:
- The Left Fork Reedy Creek, 15.9 miles (25.6 km) long, rises in western Roane County, approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) southwest of SpencerSpencer, West VirginiaSpencer is a city in Roane County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,352 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Roane County. Spencer is the home of the annual West Virginia Black Walnut Festival. Points of interest include Charles Fork Lake, Chrystal Water and Power...
, and flows generally northward, through the community of BillingsBillings, West VirginiaBillings is an unincorporated community in Roane County, West Virginia, United States. Billings is located on West Virginia Route 14 and the Left Fork Reedy Creek northwest of Spencer....
. - The Right Fork Reedy Creek, 4.7 miles (7.6 km) long, rises in northwestern Roane County and flows generally westward.
From the town of Reedy, the main stem of Reedy Creek flows generally northward into Wirt County
Wirt County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,873 people, 2,284 households, and 1,699 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile . There were 3,266 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
, through the community of Lucille; it flows into the Little Kanawha River from the south in the community of Palestine. It is paralleled for most of its length by West Virginia Route 14.
Among Reedy Creek's tributaries are two others with names derived from that of the main stream:
- The Middle Fork Reedy Creek, 12.4 miles (20 km) long, is a tributary of the Left Fork. It rises in western Roane County and flows generally north-northeastward, through the community of PenielPeniel, West VirginiaPeniel is an unincorporated community in Roane County, West Virginia, United States. Peniel is located along the Middle Fork Reedy Creek on U.S. Route 33, west-northwest of Spencer....
, to the town of Reedy, where it flows into the Left Fork approximately 0.3 mile (0.482802 km) upstream of the latter's confluence with the Right Fork. - Right Reedy Creek, 8.3 miles (13.4 km) long, is formed at the community of PeeweePeewee, West VirginiaPeewee is an unincorporated community in southwestern Wirt County, West Virginia, United States. It lies along local roads southwest of the town of Elizabeth, the county seat of Wirt County. Its elevation is 679 feet . Right Reedy Creek is formed at Peewee by the confluence of Enoch Fork...
in southwestern Wirt County by the confluence of Enoch Fork, 3 miles (4.8 km) long, and Fulls Fork, 3.4 miles (5.5 km) long. Right Reedy Creek flows northeastward and flows into Reedy Creek from the east, 2 miles (3.2 km) upstream of Reedy Creek's confluence with the Little Kanawha River.
According to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, approximately 79% of the Reedy Creek watershed is forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
ed, mostly deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
. Approximately 20% is used for pasture and agriculture.