The Mill Creek Valley is a remnant of the Deep Stage Ohio River from the days of the Last Glacial Maximum. The stream, with its water power and valley, were important to the development of Cincinnati. Then, for a time, the steep hillsides that surround the creek limited expansion and gave impetus to the free growth of surrounding communities that were over that barrier. Finally, inclined planes solved the problem, before highways and automobiles eliminated it.
Pollution
Throughout Cincinnati's history, Mill Creek has been the scene of heavy industry. At the turn of the 20th-century, it was seen as "a great open city sewer".[2] In 1997, it was described as "the most endangered urban river in America."[3]
Discharge
A USGSstream gauge on the creek at Mitchell Avenue in Cincinnati recorded a mean annual discharge of 115.9 cubic feet per second (3.28 m3/s) during the four combined water years 1942-1943 and 1946–1947.[4]
Crossings
The Mill Creek empties into the Ohio River in Queensgate.
A number of substantial viaducts cross the valley of the Mill Creek. From south to north, the crossings - both high above and near the water level - are:
^U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National MapArchived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 26, 2011
