Shoal Creek (Tennessee River)

Shoal Creek/Sycamore River (Sycamore River)
Country United States
States Tennessee, Alabama
Regions Lawrence County, Wayne County, Lauderdale County
Source
 - location Lawrence County, Tennessee, United States
 - coordinates 35°13′06″N 087°17′59″W / 35.21833°N 87.29972°W / 35.21833; -87.29972 [1]
Mouth Wilson Lake
 - location near Killen in Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States
 - coordinates 34°50′17″N 087°33′12″W / 34.83806°N 87.55333°W / 34.83806; -87.55333Coordinates: 34°50′17″N 087°33′12″W / 34.83806°N 87.55333°W / 34.83806; -87.55333 [1]

Shoal Creek (originally called the Sycamore River) is a 56.9 mile long river from its East point or 67.6 miles long from the North point on the Little Shoal Creek north of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.[2] The stream rises in northern Lawrence County, Tennessee, and enters the Tennessee River in Lauderdale County, Alabama, where its lower reaches are impounded in the backwater of Wilson Dam.

Historically, Shoal Creek /(Sycamore River) was an important source of water power for the cotton industry in Lawrence County.[3] Among the early users of the stream's water power was David Crockett, who settled near the creek bank in 1817 and started a powder mill, grist mill and distillery. After these operations were destroyed by a flood in September 1821, Crockett left the area and moved to West Tennessee. This history is commemorated by David Crockett State Park.[4]

On July 13, 1998, flash flooding on Shoal Creek caused two deaths and led to the temporary loss of water supply and sewage treatment in Lawrenceburg. The flooding occurred after about 9 inches (230 mm) of rain fell in just 4 hours, resulting in what was estimated to be a 100-year flood.[5][6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Shoal Creek Retrieved 2012-03-27.
  2. ↑ "The National Map". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved Feb 23, 2011.
  3. ↑ Lawrence County, Tennessee: Pictorial, 1994, page 5.
  4. ↑ "David Crockett State Park". Tennessee State Parks. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Heavy Rain Causes Flood in Tennessee; At Least 2 Are Dead". New York Times. July 15, 1998.
  6. ↑ "Tennessee Flooding Events: Lawrenceburg, TN - July 1998 - Shoal Creek". National Weather Service River Forecast Center. Retrieved July 25, 2012.


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