A closer look at Nine Mile Creek hydrology

Streams like Nine Mile Creek are constantly evolving. Bends, pools, riffles, cut banks, snags and the entire creek ecosystem are sculpted by the flow of water.

“The life of every creek is defined by rain,” said Bloomington’s Water Resources Specialist Jack Distel. “During a drought, water might be low. After a big rain, the creek might leave its banks and become a flood. Base full and bank full are terms for two important creek flows.”

Base full refers to normal water level, which is important to aquatic life. Bank full refers to the creek at its fullest without flowing over its banks. Bank full conditions are powerful enough to cause significant erosion and occur often enough to give them more overall influence on the creek than even the big floods, which are rare.

“Bank full is key in creek restoration and management and one major consideration in the Nine Mile Creek corridor and Moir/Central Park restoration project,” said Distel. “Our aim is to make Nine Mile Creek healthier, so it remains part of our community for many years to come.”

For more information about Nine Mile Creek corridor and the Moir/Central Park restoration project, visit bloomingtonforward.org.