Sowashee Creek | |
---|---|
![]() Sowashee Creek in Meridian, Mississippi | |
Location | |
Country | United States |
State | Mississippi |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• coordinates | 32°28′29″N 88°36′30″W / 32.4745846°N 88.6083748°W |
Mouth | |
• coordinates | 32°18′16″N 88°45′04″W / 32.3043112°N 88.7511578°W |
Length | 20.5 mi (33.0 km) |
Basin size | 52.1 sq mi (135 km2) [1] |
Sowashee Creek is a stream in the U.S. state of Mississippi. [2] Tributaries include Nanabe Creek. Sowashee Creek is a tributary of Okatibbee Creek.
Sowashee is a name derived from the Choctaw language meaning "raccoons are there". [3] Variant names are "Siwashee Creek", "Sowwasha Creek", and "Sowwashy Creek". [2]
The city of Meridian was founded on the banks of Sowashee Creek and "Sowashee" was suggested as a possible name for the new community. [4]
The City of Meridian is constructing the Sowashee Creek Bike Trail, a multi-use recreational trail. [5]
Sowashee Creek has been subject to multiple instances of pollution and industrial runoff, including a violation of the Clean Water Act that included a $120 million fine from the Environmental Protection Agency against the City of Meridian and a 5,000 gallon diesel fuel spill from a Norfolk Southern railway yard. [6] [7]