Banklick Creek, Kentucky, US
|
|
Independence Station Road to Doe Run confluence (5 miles)
| Usual Difficulty |
II-III (for normal flows) |
| Length |
5 Miles |
| Max Gradient |
50 fpm |
Gauge Information
| Name |
Range |
Difficulty |
Updated |
Level |
|
BANKLICK CREEK @ HIGHWAY 1829 NR ERLANGER, KY
|
|
usgs-03254550 |
300 - 1500 cfs
|
II-III |
01h02m |
22
cfs
(rc= -0.9 ) |
Almost certainly too low for decent whitewater run. (We welcome your input if you differ with this characterization.) |
River Description
When we ran this one in 1995 and 1996, we knew it was marginal water quality, not only because of
the industry along Ky Rt 17 downstream of the run but simply due to the environmental abuse by
the people who live along this creek. For many of them along the whitewater section, the creek in
their backyard means that they're allowed, no, supposed to dump their garbage (and more)
there. After it flooded in May 1997, 30 million dollars worth of damage occurred to homes and
property downstream from the run, and the sewers along the creek were all blown apart. That
summer, the sewers were repaired; poorly. The following spring, a somewhat smaller but still
effective flood blew the sewers off again, and it will take years for this creek to regain it's
health.
When looking at the destruction, the drops look like they have improved a lot. The first 3 rapids
are in a little canyon about 200 yards long and 60-80 feet deep. The first is a 3 foot ledge. A
churning, twisting left hand turn gets you out of the canyon. Then it's just easy class II until
the last half mile. It only reaches class III when it's really full. There are some big waves in
the last half-mile of the run.
Banklick is a tributary of the Licking River, located in Kenton County, and the takeout is along
old Rt 17.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2004-06-13 01:35:10
Editors
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
User Comments
banklick and its severe pollution problems. the sewer systems cant handle the deluge rains and as a
result during heavy rain events sewage can and dose end up in the creek.period.its not just all
septic problems either. trash of all kinds can be found covering the banks from put in to take
out.wish it was just "fresh rain water" but as anyone who understands how run off works this is NOT
THE CASE. simple version: when rain falls and runs through s#@t it becomes s@#t water. *also pic of
top drop that is labeled 260cfs looks to be more like 90-100cfs max . AW guage info tends to
lag,better to use usgs directly for up to date flow. Edit
least 2 and went under other trees b/c of low level. At higher levels they would be worse. ABOUT
WATER QUALITY = is it great NO, is it OK .... YES this run is all fresh rain runoff when running.
The quality is no worse than little maimi of great miami which people paddle all the time. THERE IS
NOTHING WRONG WITH THE WATER! check http://www.sd1.org/ContactUs/Contact_Us.aspx to see for
yourself!
flood stage almost no eddies. Top drop had 16" of water flowing over it class III+ Fun but
dangerous at this level good news is all strainers are gone
the rain water that is in this creek when it runs the water is not a hazard at all.
next was a MUST walk river wide down tree about 2.5 miles in and VERY visiable We ran this on
7-28-09 gauges showed 350cfs (-12cfs per hr). The run was a little shallow. We had to push through
a few spots. The run was NOT a II-III at this water level I would call it a II only because you
need a little boat control. THe whole creek needed 6" more water and really would have been fun
with another 12". *** IDEAL level = 600 CFS for a fun class II ***