Duck Creek (Quad Cities)

Duck Creek is a creek that runs through the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in the U.S. state of Iowa. The creek begins in the rural areas west of Davenport and it empties into the Mississippi River in southeast Bettendorf. It is the largest creek in the Quad Cities and is mainly used for storm water runoff.^[1] The creek's water has elevated levels of E. coli bacteria, nitrates and chloride.^[2] Duck Creek has many tributaries, among them are: Silver Creek, Pheasant Creek, Crystal Creek, and Candlelight Creek. The creek also has a 13.5 mile (21.7 km) bike trail.^[3] that starts at Veterans' Memorial Park in Bettendorf and ends at Emeis Park and Golf Course in Davenport. Duck Creek also has a self-titled park and golf course on the very east end of Davenport (on the border with Bettendorf) called Duck Creek Park and Golf Course. Other parks along the creek and bike path include: Middle, Eastern, Garfiled, Junge, Marquette, and Northwest.

In June 1990 Duck Creek experienced a major flash flood event. Rainfall for the month of May was 3.5 inches above normal for the month and the rains continued into June.^[1] A thunderstorm with heavy rains passed over the Quad Cities on June 16. Because of the development around the creek the rain water washed into the creek bed, which quickly rose. More than 8,000 homes and business were flooded. Damage estimates for that day exceeded $25 million.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Wundram, Bill (1999). A Time We Remember: Celebrating a Century in our Quad-Cities. Davenport, Iowa: Quad-City Times. pp. 188–189. 
2. ^ Allemeier, Kurt. "Water cleanup efforts to target Duck Creek". Quad-City Times (January 25, 2011). http://qctimes.com/news/local/article_79106436-28fe-11e0-8596-001cc4c002e0.html. Retrieved 2011-03-24. 
3. ^ "Public Parks". City of Davenport. http://www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/egov/docs/1270067290243.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-24.