Welcome back to Bicenntennial Park in Meadville, PA. Take some time to learn about French Creek and answer the few questions below. In order to log this as a find, you must send in your answers to the questions, then log your find. This is a public park which has restrooms, picnic tables pet and family friendly.
Topic at hand today is French Creek which begins in western New York (Chautauqua County) and flows to the Allegheny River in Franklin, PA spanning 117 miles through the counties of Erie, Crawford, Mercer and Venango.. The Allegheny River then flows to Pittsburgh, PA where it joins the Monongahela River and the Ohio River. The Ohio River flows to the Mississippi River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean.
The stream has been sometimes called a river and sometimes a creek.[1] It is thought that the stream's Seneca name, in nungash, was modified over time to Venango. The phrase in nungash may have derived from Onenga, the Seneca word for mink but may have stemmed from Winingus, the Delaware word for the same animal. Interpretations of Venango have included "crooked", and the Seneca chief Cornplanter suggested that in nungash referred to a particular carving on a tree along the stream.[4] Venango was likewise the name of a native settlement at the creek's mouth, later the site of Franklin, Pennsylvania. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Creek_(Allegheny_River_tributary))
The French Creek watershed covers 1,270 square miles which provides plenty of habitats for multiple plants and animals.
Scientists attribute French Creek's outstanding number of species of plants and animals well as the outstanding water quality to the fact that it is a part of the rich Ohio River watershed. Also noteworthy, are the effects of the abundant vegetated river banks protecting the creek from siltation as well as the limestone glacial deposits within the sand and gravel found in the watershed helping to maintain a healthy pH in the water. These factors combined help French Creek maintain its high quality within its riffles, runs, eddies and pools. Thanks to its outstanding water quality, rich biodiversity and notable history, French Creek is considered to one of the most important streams of its size in the northeastern United States. (www.frenchcreekconservancy.org)
Siltation, as mentioned above, is the flow of silt and sediment into the river. When there is alot of silt in the water, it can damage fishes gills and can make it difficult for them to breathe. Silt also carries bacteria which can cause infections in the gills. Silt can cause other problems for fish beside problems with their gills. When the silt settles out as sediment, it covers the bottom of a creek. Fish find much of their food on the bottom of the creek. If the sediment is covering their food, the fish can't get to it. The sediment can also suffocate the insects on the bottom that the fish use as food. Sediment can also smother fish eggs. (http://www.bucksccd.org/assets/Publications-and-brochures/floodmudeffects.pdf)
Silt, as we also eluded to above, is fine sand, clay or other material that is carried by running water and deposited as sediment, especially in a channel or harbor.
1) Depending on the season you are caching in, please describe the water flow to us?
2) That being said about the water flow, are you able to see any examples of silt being carried by the water or any sediments resting on the creeks bottom?
3) We've mentioned that French Creek provides habitats to many plants and animals. While here, were you able to see any types of plants, fish, birds or other animals inhabiting the creek?
4) Upload an image of yourself or personal item (your face is not required).
Bonus question which you can address in your log, do you say "French Creek" or "French Crick"?
Please contact us with your answers and feel free to log a find. If there is an issue, we will let you know. (We're not picky 🙂)