| Little Beaver Creek | |
|---|---|
 Little Beaver Creek as it passes throughFredericktown, Ohio | |
 | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Confluence of Middle and West Forks atWilliamsport, Ohio |
| • elevation | 840 ft (260 m)[1] |
| Mouth | |
• location | Ohio River atGlasgow, Pennsylvania |
• elevation | 665 ft (203 m)[2] |
| Basin size | 605 sq mi (1,570 km2)[3] |
| Type | Scenic |
| Designated | October 23, 1975 |
Little Beaver Creek is a wild and scenic area inOhio. The Little Beaver Creekwatershed is located primarily inColumbiana County in eastern Ohio, and in portions ofCarroll County,Mahoning County, and westernPennsylvania, draining approximately 605 mi² (1,567 km²), of which 503 mi² (1,303 km²) are in Ohio. The watershed in total size covers an area of approximately 510 square miles, with about 80% of this being situated in Ohio. The great majority of land within the watershed is privately owned. Within the watershed are roughly 808 miles of linear streams.
The creek isprotected by a number of classifications, includingOhio Wild and Scenic River andNational Scenic River, as well as being part of Ohio's state park system. It is the only major river in Ohio to have dual State Wild and Scenic and National Scenic River designations, and was the first in the country to earn both distinctions. The creek empties into theOhio River just east ofEast Liverpool, Ohio. The now-defunctSandy and Beaver Canal was constructed alongside the creek.
According to an Ohio Department of Natural Resources study conducted in 2004, Little Beaver Creek is an exceptionally clean waterway with a highly diverseecosystem. It supports 63 species offish, 49mammalspecies, 270 species of migratory and residentbirds and 46 species ofreptiles andamphibians, including the rare and protectedsalamander known as thehellbender. It is thought to be the onlyriparian corridor in the United States which shows geologic evidence of all fiveice ages.
Little Beaver Creek has several forks, which lead generally in a southern and easterly direction. The North Fork and Middle Forks of the creek join in confluence at Laurel Point in the unincorporated village of Fredericktown, Ohio. From here the creek flows down to the Ohio River.
The Little Beaver Creek watershed is home to Beaver Creek State Forest,[4] Beaver Creek State Park,[5] and Sheepskin Hollow State Nature Preserve.[6]
Little Beaver Creek is an English translation of the original Native American name.[7]
According to theGeographic Names Information System, the Little Beaver Creek has also been known as:[8]
40°38′34″N80°30′43″W / 40.6428°N 80.5120°W /40.6428; -80.5120
