Those two beloved "streams" were actually the Hurricane Rapids, there were two in fact. One on the East side and one on the West. The East side was used most every day and the West used on busier days. The staff referred to the two rapids as "river side" (East side) or "Paradise Side" (West Side). River side because it was on the same side as the lazy river, and the other was on the same side as the then named Paradise Plunge, formerly white lightning, and others.
These rapids were a huge hit. Even more so, a huge hit with the Herschend children. WW has never been a park prone to injury, but at the time, the few significant injuries that came from the park, usually came from the rapids. So, alas, preference gives way to progress and although the slides are still there, they are full of gravel and landscaping and the plumbing is all but gone.
The picture in my avatar is actually of the waterfall a rider would pass through on his first drop in the rapids after being dispatched.
If the lifeguard was energetic, the rapids were a great post to have. Lots of interaction with the guests, and you could spend much of your time in the water. The rapids were fun because it was kinda like floating between temporarily private pools. For this same reason, guards had to watch the pools to stop any non G-rated activity if ya know what I mean.
I was sad when we pulled the rapids, but it wasn't really up to me.
