Sand Creek (Denver, Colorado)
| Sand Creek[1] | |
|---|---|
.JPG) The creek as it flows through Sand Creek Park in Aurora, north of the Anschutz Medical Campus. | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Arapahoe County, Colorado |
| • coordinates | 39°43′13″N 104°44′21″W / 39.72028°N 104.73917°W |
| Mouth | |
• location | Confluence with the South Platte |
• coordinates | 39°48′47″N 104°57′08″W / 39.81306°N 104.95222°W |
• elevation | 5,095 ft (1,553 m) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | South Platte—Platte— Missouri—Mississippi |
Sand Creek is a 14.6-mile-long (23.5 km)Denver before joining the South Platte in Adams County.[1]
It is not to be confused with
Sand Creek Massacre
occurred), which is over 100 miles to the southeast.
Benzene pollution in Sand Creek
In November 2011, a local fisherman noticed an oily sheen on the surface of Sand Creek. Testing found the water of Sand Creek to be contaminated with abnormally high levels of the
EPA. Further downriver in the South Platte, benzene levels were also found to be significantly elevated, ranging from 130 ppb to 190 ppb.[3]
Although the source of the benzene has been fixed, levels still remain above the EPA standard for drinking water. This is of concern because the South Platte River is drawn on for drinking water by nearby communities and is frequently used for recreational activities such as swimming and fishing.
See also
References
- ^ a b "Sand Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed March 25, 2011
- ^ Finley, Bruce (January 21, 2012). "Toxics from Suncor refinery spill still seeping into water; Colorado vows to 'accelerate' response". The Denver Post.