A Trip on the Mill Creek

Cincinnati, Ohio

By: Casey Walter

First, for those familiar with Cincinnati who must be asking themselves if I'm an idiot, let me tell you that the Mill Creek did not melt the paint off my boat.

The water quality in the Mill Creek is very poor, especially at the downstream end. In fact, it's one of the most polluted streams in the country.

On the other hand, I have seen ducks and fish and turtles swimming in it. It's not as bad as people say it is.

I found it reasonably clean from Spring Grove Avenue to the Western Hills Viaduct. From then on, it is really bad.

I usually take a water bottle with me when I go kayaking, but I didn't this time. I was really careful to stay out of the water as much as possible, and when I was finished I went home and took a shower.

On this trip, I parked my car in Cumminsville, carried my kayak down the sidewalk and down a steep bank, then paddled all the way to the Ohio River. A few places I had to get out and walk. Then I turned around and came back. Going upstream, I had to get out and walk more often.

Overall, it was a nice trip that few people get to do. The view of the Western Hills Viaduct alone was worth it. The barrier dam was cool, too.

The following photos are in order from downstream to upstream, with all but the first one looking upstream.

	At the mouth of the Mill Creek looking south across the Ohio River. A tow passes under the C&O Railroad Bridge in the background.
	Another railroad bridge near the mouth of the millcreek. There is a cluster of 3 railroad bridges, a highway bridge, the barrier dam, and some abandoned structures all within a few hundred feet of the Ohio.
	Another railroad bridge, with the barrier dam in the background. The barrier dam keeps the Mill Creek Valley from flooding when the Ohio River floods. The brick building house 8 large pumps that pump Mill Creek water up into the Ohio River in the event of a flood. Normally the gate is open, and I paddled right through.
	Looking upstream at the Gest Street bridge. The bridge is new, but the stone abutments are very old. There was some green chemical staining the water in this area, and also a smelly black section. Yuck!
	A very peaceful, shaded section between Gest Street and the Western Hills Viaduct. I saw Blue Herons here. People are surprised when I show them this photo and ask them to guess the location; many think it's the Little Miami. Too bad the water quailty was so poor.
	Looking upstream at the Western Hills Viaduct, which is a beautiful bridge from this angle. The paved channel starts here.
	The Mill Creek between the Western Hills Viaduct and the Hopple Street Viaduct is mostly a paved channel. This section was hot, ugly, and shallow, and not much fun. I walked most of it, sloshing through ankle deep water in my sandals, tugging my kayak on a string.
	Looking upstream at the Hopple Street Viaduct. This is where the paved channel ends. There are several small dams on the Mill Creek like this one, which I had to walk around. In the background, under the viaduct, is a very big grain elevator. From closer I could see huge cracks in the concrete grain elevator; I heard that it had failed as soon as it was built and was never used. I left my kayak on a concrete island to take a picture.
	Some riffles downstream of the Millcreek Road bridge made a very nice ride downstream but a challenge going back up. Even though this is in the middle of a heavy industrial area, I found it surprisingly quiet and peaceful.
	Looking upstream at the Spring Grove Avenue bridge, with the I-74 overpasses beyond. Near the old stone wall at left is where I put in the water, and after going all the way to the Ohio and back, pulled out about 4 hours later.