Limestone Creek is 45.5 miles (73.2 km) long[2] with a drainage area of 144.3 square miles (374 km2),[3] and is a tributary to the Tennessee River. The river rises in Lincoln County, Tennessee, and flows south into Madison County, Alabama before flowing through Limestone County, Alabama, where most of the river's watershed is located. In fact, Limestone Creek is where Limestone County gets its name. Limestone Creek terminates in the Tennessee River at Arrowhead Landing, which is the southeasternmost point of Limestone County's Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. The land within this watershed is predominantly agricultural, but has experienced significant recent residential growth from the city of Huntsville.
| Limestone Creek | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee, Alabama |
| Region | Lincoln County, Madison County, Limestone County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | near Taft in Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States |
| • coordinates | 35°00′33″N 086°45′38″W / 35.00917°N 86.76056°W[1] |
| • elevation | 900 ft (270 m) |
| Mouth | Wheeler Lake of the Tennessee River |
• location | near Mooresville in Limestone County, Alabama, United States |
• coordinates | 34°34′41″N 086°53′14″W / 34.57806°N 86.88722°W[1] |
• elevation | 558 ft (170 m)[1] |
| Length | 45.5 mi (73.2 km) |
| Basin size | 144.3 sq mi (374 km2) |
Biological diversity
editLimestone Creek is a host to several species of fish, birds, and mammals. Fish species include Micropterus coosae (redeye bass), Ambloplites rupestris (rock bass), several species of Lepomis (sunfish), Ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish), and Perca flavescens (yellow perch). Sightings of great blue heron are common. Multiple sightings of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) have been reported, especially near the mouth of the river in Limestone Bay, which is the confluence of Limestone Creek with the Tennessee River.[4] There is evidence of beaver presence in the area where Limestone Creek first enters Limestone County and squirrels are abundant near the banks.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Limestone Creek. Accessed 2012-03-27.
- ^ "The National Map". U.S. Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2012-03-29. Retrieved Jan 17, 2012.
- ^ "USGS 03576250 LIMESTONE CREEK NEAR ATHENS AL". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved Jan 17, 2012.
- ^ "TRACKING THE AMERICAN ALLIGATOR IN LIMESTONE BAY". Huntsville Outdoors. Retrieved Oct 9, 2013.