Deckers Creek is a 24.6 miles (39.6 km) tributary of the Monongahela River

Monongahela River

The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...

 that runs through north-central West Virginia

West Virginia

West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...

. It begins west of Arthurdale

Arthurdale, West Virginia

Arthurdale is an unincorporated community in Preston County, West Virginia, United States. Arthurdale was named for Richard Arthur, former owner of the land on which it was built, who had sold the land to the federal government under a tax default....

 and flows southeast, then north, then northwest towards Morgantown

Morgantown, West Virginia

Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...

, where it empties into the Monongahela River. The stream has been contaminated by various sources, though largely due to extractive resource mining and improper sewage disposal. Recently, a conservation effort has been launched and conditions are improving, as the area continues to develop for recreational purposes.

Geography

Deckers Creek is a major tributary of the Monongahela River

Monongahela River

The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...

 with an approximate drainage area of 63 square miles (163.2 km²). The stream has its origin in Monongalia County

Monongalia County, West Virginia

As of the census of 2000, there were 81,866 people, 33,446 households, and 18,495 families residing in the county. The population density was 227 people per square mile . There were 36,695 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile...

 at approximately 2100 feet (640.1 m). From there it meanders southeast into Preston County

Preston County, West Virginia

As of the census of 2000, there were 29,334 people, 11,544 households, and 8,357 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 13,444 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...

, passing through Arthurdale, where it turns north and flows to Masontown

Masontown, West Virginia

Masontown is a town in Preston County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 647 at the 2000 census.-History:Located near Masontown is the Ralphsynder Decagonal Barn, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.-Geography:...

. Here it turns sharply to the west and descends through a gorge back into Monongalia County and passes the community of Dellslow

Dellslow, West Virginia

Dellslow is an unincorporated community in Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States. Dellslow was established in 1798 and is located along West Virginia Route 7 near the southern border of Brookhaven. Dellslow has a post office with ZIP code 26531....

, then emptying into the Monongahela River in Morgantown, at an approximate elevation of 800 feet (243.8 m).

Environmental issues

Deckers Creek has been plagued with environmental issues surrounding the extractive resource industry of the region and improper sewage disposal for many years. The admittance of Acid mine drainage

Acid mine drainage

Acid mine drainage , or acid rock drainage , refers to the outflow of acidic water from metal mines or coal mines. However, other areas where the earth has been disturbed may also contribute acid rock drainage to the environment...

 (AMD) into Deckers Creek by surface mining has been the biggest detractor to the quality of the water throughout the past 200 years, but specifically beginning in the early 20th century. A conservation effort beginning in the late 1990s, and spearheaded by the NPO

Nonprofit organization

Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...

 "Friends of Deckers Creek", has focused community and regional attention on the area, and has been crucial in the restoration of water quality.

Cultural history

Deckers Creek was first settled by Europeans in the mid-18th century, by a group of colonists led by brothers Tobias, Garret, and John Decker, from which the creek's name is derived. Prior to the Decker settlement, the area had been inhabited by various Native American tribes for thousands of years. The Decker colony was short-lived due to Native American attacks, but the region was permanently inhabited by Europeans several years later. By the end of the 18th century, a burgeoning industry was developing along the creek, and by the late 19th century the B&O Railroad had been constructed along the creek's banks.

Recreation

Deckers Creek is the site of one of many former railroad grades developed by the Rails to Trails organization into a public recreation area used as a cycling and foot path. The trail was originally the site of the Morgantown & Kingwood Railroad. The rail trail is a popular recreational site in the area, and hosts a variety of events, such as an annual race, sponsored by Friends of Deckers Creek to promote environmental awareness in the watershed. Other recreational activities include popular swimming destinations near Greer, and in the spring the creek becomes a popular whitewater

Whitewater

Whitewater is formed in a rapid, when a river's gradient increases enough to disturb its laminar flow and create turbulence, i.e. form a bubbly, or aerated and unstable current; the frothy water appears white...

boating destination.