Robert Millikin Ditch Upstream from Millikin Falls at Quarry Trails Metro Park
Many of you have visited Millikin Falls at Quarry Trails Metro Park. From the Falls, the stream runs through quarry ponds to its mouth with the Scioto River. But where does it come from?
SWAG team member Loretta Graham followed Robert Millikin Ditch upstream to explore and take photos.
From the park, the stream runs west for 3.8 miles beyond I270 to just west of Walcutt Rd. Along the way, it passes along a landscaping company, crosses railroad tracks and then it can be found crossing Builders Place between industrial and office buildings, then it crosses railroad tracks again. From there, it flows between the early 1990s Golfview Woods residential neighborhood and Millikin Ct with warehouses, retail and wholesale businesses. On satellite maps, here the stream appears to run in a wooded area, but then it is in an open ditch along Setterlin Dr. It crosses Roberts Rd at Roberts Rd Corporate Park, then crosses railroad tracks again, runs parallel to the tracks and across again where it can be seen at the north end of Zane Trace Dr by trucking and specialty manufacturing companies. Here it crosses I270 and runs about 1/3 mi north of Roberts Rd past warehouse, trucking companies and other businesses, across Westbelt Dr, International St, Charter St and Walcott Rd where it terminates in storm sewers in the early 1990s Cross Creek residential neighborhood.
Robert Millikin Ditch drains a sub-watershed area of 4.6 sq mi (3000 acres). Unsurprisingly, given the many large businesses and warehouses along its way, the stream’s drainage area is 59% impervious in 2019, up from 54% in 2001. Except for public roads, the stream is on private property along its entire length.
Here is what Loretta said about her adventure:
Q: How difficult was it to find and access the stream?
A: Finding access points without trespassing and fighting my way through the honeysuckle were the two main obstacles.
Q: What did you learn?
A: I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was, when I saw how much trash gets blown into the areas that are near neighborhoods. Walcutt was the worst. The part of the stream behind the houses of Golfview Woods had trash that looked like what I find in my yard when trash cans and recycling cans got blown over. The industrial areas had trash too. Many businesses just let the growth and trash along the stream go and its ugliness is overlooked. I visited the Millikin Falls at Quarry Trails the other day and noticed a cup at the bottom of the falls and a yellow plastic bag in the deeper water – trash that was probably flushed downstream.
Q: Did you find any nice, more natural areas along the stream?
A: Miles McClellan (2100 Builders Pl) built a bridge over the creek that leads to their office. It’s the most beautiful and respected part of the stream that I saw. The area that goes under 270 could be a park like setting, but there is a big tire in the water that changes the scene. It’s also in an industrial area, not for the public. It is a nice spot for their employees to visit during their lunch hour.
Q: Any other thoughts?
A: Surprisingly, the water looked clear despite all the trash.