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Riverside 4-H’ers to name English River tributary
RIVERSIDE — An unnamed tributary to the English River, roughly 2.5 miles long flowing by the east end of Riverside and under Highway 22, will get its title soon thanks to a legacy project of the local 4-H group.
Riverside Enterprisers 4-H Club President Calvin Meller, 13, said members had spent weeks brainstorming names, then narrowing their list down.
“I can tell you a lot of people are pretty amped up about if we pick a bad name or a good name,” Meller said. “I think a lot of people are excited.”
The group plans to decide this month between the three names still in the running. Members wanted their options to include an animal, historic information, and a community theme. The three options left are “Bobcat Creek,” “Lincoln Gate Creek,” and “Enterprisers Creek.”
The endeavor started with an unrelated project of the Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District. Commissioner Kate Giannini said the group was placing signs identifying creeks throughout the county, in an effort to raise awareness of drainage and water runoff issues.
But when it came to the creek in the English River Watershed, she said commissioners were surprised to find it without a moniker.
“It’s just a really small stream, that flows kind of on the city boundary,” she said. “And we thought that would be a really great opportunity to do some outreach.”
Community interest has grown since the naming process began in the fall. Giannini said a presentation on the Riverside area’s history from local historian Mike Zahs, meant to give 4-H’ers more context about the creek, drew a crowd of over 100 people.
Once 4-H’ers have settled on a name, Giannini said the commission would submit the title to the Geographic Board of Names, a federal body that keeps track of landmark labels and the various rules governing them. She said the approval process could take two to three years, as committee members review the application alongside countless others.
“It is a long process,” she said. “But the club members are younger club members, and they’re excited about being able to leave this legacy for the community.”
Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com
