If you’re searching for acreage with water, you may have wondered what the differences are between streams, creeks, brooks and springs. These terms often are used interchangeably.  Let’s “explore” their exact meanings, including how they are formed and in what ways, if any, they contribute to larger bodies of water.

The best place to begin is with the general term for flowing water (or air) of any kind: stream. It may be surprising to know that a river is a stream, but so are a creek and a brook. “Stream” is an “umbrella” term used in the scientific community for all flowing natural waters confined within a bed and stream-banks, regardless of size. The exceptions to this definition are the steams that are found within oceans, such as the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream is a river within an ocean (but obviously not confined within banks).

It might be interesting to note here that some streams, called intermittent, only flow for part of the year.  Others, called ephemeral, only flow during or after precipitation. These streams are marked on a topographical map differently than a stream that flows year around. Be sure to check this out before purchasing land with any kind of stream or you might be wondering where your babbling brook went during the dry summer months.

Main Types of Streams

River
A river is a large natural stream of water, usually freshwater, flowing toward an ocean, a lake or another stream.  It often begins far up in the mountains or hills. Its source is generally a small spring or in cold areas, a melting glacier. As the river flows on, other streams join it and water seeps into it from the ground.  As a result, it continues to increase in size.  It may be a waterway but there is no rule
that defines what can be called a river.

Creek

A creek is a small to medium sized natural   stream and is often a tributary to a river. It is generally smaller than a river, often shallow and sometimes navigable by motor craft.  It may flow for only part of the year (intermittent).  Some streams were given the name “___ Creek” long ago before the people responsible knew the

character of the entire stream. Thus there are creeks that are larger in width and water volume than some rivers.  Take, for instance, Shoal Creek to the right. Looks like a bit more than just a creek, doesn’t it?   Follow it for 30 – 40 miles and it becomes a significant waterway. So don’t let the name “creek” fool you.


Brook
Brooks are shorter in length and smaller in volume than creeks, especially one that is fed by a spring (which we’ll get to shortly). They are usually fairly shallow and their beds are composed primarily of rocks. They are often found in rugged terrain.

Water Origins

Many interesting things can be learned about a stream by observing a dirt roadway after a heavy rain.  Drops of water collect into little rills.  These unite with others to form larger rills. A number of these unite and form a main stream that carries the water into the ditch. Each tiny stream wears a channel or bed in the soft earth.   The raindrops that flow in one stream are separated from those flowing in another by a little ridge or a tiny hill.  The top of the ridge forms a watershed in the little landscape.  No matter how large a stream may be, it has been formed in much the same way

Streams get most of their water from precipitation in the form of rain and snow.  Much of the water from precipitation evaporates. Some of it flows as runoff into streams, as mentioned above.  And some of it sinks into the earth. This is the source of springs.

Spring

A spring is a natural source of water that flows from the ground.  When water from rain and snow seeps into the ground, it filters through the pores and cracks in the soil into layers of rock.  The water finally reaches a layer it cannot pass through.  The water held underground is called ground water.  Gravity may force the water to rise until it finds a way out to the surface as a spring. Sometimes this is also called a “seep.”

Springs are often found in mountains, hills, and valleys.  They may be found at the foot of a cliff or slope or where a crack or fault reaches the surface. The largest springs are found in limestone regions where the water flows underground in cave-like channels often found in

Middle Tennessee). Where these channels reach the surface, water may pour from the ground.  The water may form into a pool or flow away from the source.  A stream that carries the outflow away from the source to a nearby larger stream is also referred to as a spring. It is also sometimes called a branch or run. Springs can run above or below the ground.  Most of the time they do both.

Even though some of the terms for streams are used interchangeably, as we have seen, there are minor differences in definitions.  Knowing more about what you are viewing when looking at property (or anything, for that matter) often adds another level of appreciation.

A quick quiz: Do the pictures below show a river or a creek? (Answers below)

Please note: All pictures are of properties we have for sale or have sold, with the exception of the brook picture.