Together Barbee Ditch and Trabue Run drain West Columbus, a highly developed, built-up and paved area with very little tree cover (drainage 5.9sqmi, land use: 96% developed, 43.4% impervious, 14% forest, StreamStats). This watershed is also under significant new development pressure converting low density residential and old commercial/industrial lands to high-density mixed-use. Public access to viewing the stream is very limited.
The confluence of Barbee Ditch with the Scioto River is near one of the historic quarry lakes, Larrison Lake, just south of Lakeshore Dr. east of McKinley Ave, the stream runs through a densely vegetated area flanked on the north side by Hidden Lake Condo Association, and on the south side, by the old McKinley landfill, which is currently a 55ac construction and remediation site (Westbend QOZB LLC), in preparation for planned development.
West of McKinley Ave, Barbee Ditch winds through a 43ac forest owned by the City of Columbus. Nothing much, but honeysuckle thicket is seen from the road. Going west from the forest, Barbee Ditch crosses railroad tracks alongside a large warehouse complex on Safin Rd. The stream crosses Safin Rd north of the warehouses, but there is no public access: The land is owned by Hague Ravines LLC presumably another new development. From there, the creek flows through Whispering Creeks and Wildwood apartment complexes. But again, it cannot be seen because of densely overgrown fences. Just north of the apartments, the stream branches on private property, with Barbee Ditch continuing to the south and Trabue Run to the north (Drainage areas: Trabue 3sqmi, Barbee 2.4sqmi).
Barbee Ditch then crosses Hague Ave and continues in Redick Park, where it is finally seen. Here, Barbee meanders through a forested shallow ravine though the banks become steeper going west. Following the creek on informal trails through the park, one reaches the park boundary at a guard rail near Brookside Blvd. Just west of the park boundary, within private Westfork Apartments LP property is another fork.
The South Branch skirts along residential homes on Brookside Blvd. Then past self-storage units as it reaches Wilson Rd between Fossil Dr and Meadowood Apartments. It can be seen crossing Wilson Rd in a culvert. According to the Franklin County Auditors maps the surface portion of the stream ends here. Conversely, on Apple maps the stream continues south from Wilson Rd, toward a ditch along I70, but it is not seen on aerial views. Since the south branch’s drainage area reaches far beyond I270, presumably water is in storm sewers going west.
The North Branch continues north westerly. From the end of a large new construction area along Twin Creeks, Westfork Apartments LP, a woody boarder hints at the location of the stream. Going from Twin Creek to Wilson Woods to Cross Creek Rd into Hilliard Village apartments the stream is accessible and seen running through a meadow. From there it runs through residential area, through a retention pond (Darby Point HOA), crossing Newell Dr where it is seen, then past some businesses (1550 Wilson Rd, accessible with permission), before crossing Wilson Rd in a culvert. It continues west through a residential area between Poplar Bend and Ongaro, running through a private home front yard and crossing Ongaro the Hickory. Here it is only a narrow 1-2ft wide creek. Following west, near Cornerstone Crossing, surface water is no longer seen. As with the South Fork, the drainage area reaches far beyond I270, presumably in storm sewers.
It is noteworthy that the drainage area of Barbee Ditch is a potpourri of various jurisdictions; some areas are Columbus, some are Franklin Township, some are Southwestern Schools, some are Hilliard Schools. It may be expected that the face of these neighborhoods will change with all the ongoing development. Hopefully, forested stream corridors can be protected and become accessible for public enjoyment.