Banklick Creek,

Independence Station Road to Doe Run confluence (5 miles)

Gauge Information

River Description

When we ran this one in 1995 and 1996, we knew it was marginal water quality, not only because of the industry along Ky Rt 17 downstream of the run but simply due to the environmental abuse by the people who live along this creek. For many of them along the whitewater section, the creek in their backyard means that they're allowed, no, supposed to dump their garbage (and more) there. After it flooded in May 1997, 30 million dollars worth of damage occurred to homes and property downstream from the run, and the sewers along the creek were all blown apart. That summer, the sewers were repaired; poorly. The following spring, a somewhat smaller but still effective flood blew the sewers off again, and it will take years for this creek to regain it's health.

When looking at the destruction, the drops look like they have improved a lot. The first 3 rapids are in a little canyon about 200 yards long and 60-80 feet deep. The first is a 3 foot ledge. A churning, twisting left hand turn gets you out of the canyon. Then it's just easy class II until the last half mile. It only reaches class III when it's really full. There are some big waves in the last half-mile of the run.

Banklick is a tributary of the Licking River, located in Kenton County, and the takeout is along old Rt 17.