Buck Creek
Buck Creek is a major tributary of the Cahaba River, flowing north and west through Shelby County, connecting the communities of Saginaw, Siluria, Alabaster, Pelham and Helena.
The stream was used by pioneers to supply water power for grist mills. In 1865 a rolling mill, the Central Iron Works, was erected on the creek's bank, drawing water for industrial use. It is currently used primarily for recreation, and as an outlet for treated municipal waste water.
Helena organizes an annual Buck Creek Festival at the park. In Alabaster, the Buck Creek Greenway was developed in 2008, linking Warrior Park and Buck Creek Park.
Route
Buck Creek originates with the confluence of several smaller streams in Saginaw. From there it flows westward, under I-65, and bends northward as it enters the Cahaba Valley just south of Siluria. It proceeds north on the western edge of Siluria, and vaguely parallels U. S. Highway 31 through Alabaster and into Pelham. It is joined by Peavine Creek just south before passing under Shelby County Road 52 and past the discharge for the Pelham Waste Water Treatment Plant. The creek is joined by Cahaba Valley Creek as it bends to the west, toward Helena. Both Peavine Creek and Cahaba Valley Creek originate in Oak Mountain State Park.
As it approaches Old Town Helena at Alabama State Highway 261, the creek is widened by Davidson Dam (1915) to form Lake Davidson, formerly the centerpiece of a recreational resort developed by Tom Davidson, and now a recreational spot just below the discharge from the Helena Waste Water Treatment Plant. The creek spills over the concrete dam, providing a waterfall that is illuminated at night and visible from the decks of nearby restaurants. The area below the dam, part of Buck Creek Park, is a popular spot for wading and picnicking. The creek continues past the Helena Amphitheatre, then bends northwest before spilling into the Cahaba River under the CSX Transportation S&NA South Subdivision railroad bridge.
References
- Buck Creek (Cahaba River tributary). (March 1, 2008). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved May 12, 2008.
External links
- Buck Creek Trail at cityofalabaster.com