Tributaries

Most of the Ohio River Basin is drained by tributaries; less than five percent of the basin runoff drains directly into the main stem. The runoff characteristics of the tributaries therefore determine the quantity of flow in the Ohio River at any time. The Corps of Engineers operates numerous reservoirs in the Ohio River Basin. Most were built for flood control purposes; many are also used to provide flow augmentation at critical periods. These reservoirs have resulted in an increase in the quantity of flow that could otherwise be expected in the dry weather months.

Tributary Name

Mile Point (Miles)

Stream Length (Miles)

Drainage Area (Square Miles)

Allegheny River (PA)

0.0*

325

11,700

Monongahela River (PA)

0.0

128

7,400

Chartiers Creek (PA)

2.5

277

Beaver River (PA)

25.4

21

3,130

Raccoon Creek (PA)

29.6

200

Little Beaver River (PA)

39.5

51

510

Yellow Creek (OH)

50.4

34

240

Cross Creek (OH)

71.6

27

128

Buffalo Creek (WV)

74.7

160

Short Creek (OH)

81.4

29

147

Wheeling Creek (OH)

91

30

108

Wheeling Creek (WV)

91

300

McMahon Creek (OH)

94.7

28

91

Grave Creek (WV)

102.5

75

Captina Creek (OH)

109.6

39

181

Fish Creek (WV)

113.8

250

Sunfish Creek (OH)

118

31

114

Fishing Creek (WV)

128.3

220

Middle Island Creek (WV)

154

560

Little Muskingum River (OH)

168.3

70

315

Duck Creek (OH)

170.7

52

228

Muskingum River (OH)

172.2

112

8,040

Little Kanawha River (WV)

184.6

160

2,320

Little Hocking River (OH)

191.8

18

103

Hocking River (OH)

199.3

100

1,190

Shade River (OH)

210.6

221

Shady Creek (WV)

220.6

115

Mill Creek (WV)

231.5

230

Leading Creek (OH)

254.2

30

151

Kanawha River (WV)

265.7

97

12,200

Raccoon Creek (OH)

276

109

684

Guyandotte River (WV)

305.2

66

1,670

Symmes Creek (OH)

308.7

70

356

Twelvepole Creek (WV)

313.2

440

Big Sandy River (WV-KY)

317.1

27

4,280

Little Sandy River (KY)

336.4

724

Pine Creek (OH)

346.9

48

185

Little Scioto River (OH)

349

41

233

Tygarts Creek (KY)

353.3

336

Scioto River (OH)

356.5

237

6,510

Kinniconnic Creek (KY)

368.1

253

Ohio Brush Creek (OH)

388

57

435

Eagle Creek (OH)

415.7

31

154

Whiteoak Creek (OH)

423.9

49

234

Little Miami River (OH)

463.5

90

1,670

Licking River (KY)

470.2

320

3,670

Mill Creek (OH)

472.5

28

166

Great Miami River (OH)

491.1

161

5,400

Tanners Creek (IN)

494.8

136

Laughery Creek (IN)

498.7

39

350

Kentucky River (KY)

545.8

255

6,970

Little Kentucky River (KY)

546.5

35

147

Indian Kentucky River (IN)

550.5

150

Silver Creek (IN)

606.5

225

Salt River (KY)

629.9

125

2,890

Big Indiana Creek (IN)

657

253

Blue River (IN)

663

435

Sinking Creek (KY)

700.9

154

Anderson Creek (IN)

731.5

234

Blackford Creek (KY)

742.2

124

Little Pigeon Creek (IN)

773

415

Green River (KY)

784.2

370

9,230

Pigeon Creek (IN)

792.9

375

Wabash River (IN-IL)

848

474

33,100

Saline River (IL)

867.3

27

1,170

Tradewater River (KY)

873.5

110

1,000

Cumberland River (KY)

920.4

693

17,920

Tennessee River (KY)

934.5

652

40,910

Cache River (IL)

975.7

720

Drainage Area Summary

Total Ohio River Basin – 203,940 square miles
Tributaries with drainage areas 1,000 square miles or more – 182,370 square miles (89.4 percent)