Fourmile Creek (Pennsylvania)
Fourmile Creek | |
---|---|
Etymology | the creek's distance from Erie, Pennsylvania |
Location | |
Country | United States |
State | Pennsylvania |
County | Erie |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Greene Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania |
• coordinates | 42°3′55″N 79°56′37″W / 42.06528°N 79.94361°W[1] |
Lawrence Park, Erie County, Pennsylvania | |
• coordinates | 42°9′36″N 80°1′47″W / 42.16000°N 80.02972°W[1] |
Length | 8.0 mi (12.9 km) |
Basin size | 11.93 sq mi (30.9 km2) |
Fourmile Creek is a tributary of Lake Erie in Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is approximately 8 miles (13 km) in length.[2] It has a drainage basin of 11.93 square miles (30.9 km2) and is a part of the Lake Erie Watershed.[2]
Course
Fourmile Creek starts in
Hydrology
The pH of Fourmile Creek ranges between 6 and 9. The salinity ranges from 0.1 parts per trillion to 0.3 parts per trillion.[4] The total concentration of dissolved solids ranges from 180 to 500 parts per million.[5] In 1982, the concentration of sodium in the creek ranged from 2.91 to 40.8 milligrams per liter at two sites. In the same year, the concentration of magnesium ranged from 2.9 to 14.2 milligrams per liter at two sites. The calcium concentration ranged from 29.3 to 134.5 milligrams per liter at two sites. The concentration of phosphates ranged from 0 to 0.55 milligrams per liter at two sites.[6]
During times of flooding, the velocity of the waters of Fourmile Creek is 1.25 metres (4.1 ft) per second. During droughts, the velocity is 0.051 metres (0.17 ft) per second. The discharge ranges from 1400 cubic centimeters per second in times of drought to 91,000 cubic centimeters per second during floods.[4] The conductivity of the creek ranges from 274 micro-siemens to 747 micro-siemens. Between late summer and spring, the water temperature ranges from 9.9 °C (49.8 °F) to 24.5 °C (76.1 °F).[5]
In a list of 22 tributaries of Lake Erie compiled in a Strategic Action Plan, Fourmile Creek was ranked as the fourth-lowest in water quality. There are few cases of nonpoint source pollution in the upper reaches of the creek.[2]
There are two dams on Fourmile Creek. One is located in the Lawrence Park Golf Course and the other is located south of Station Road. There is also a block of concrete in the stream that functions as a third dam.[2]
A stream in the watershed of Fourmile Creek received sewage discharges for at least 20 years in the 1900s.[6]
Geology and Geography
There is one waterfall on Fourmile Creek. It is 5 feet (1.5 m) high and located between Cooper Road and Interstate 90.[2]
There are granite formations along the upper reaches of Fourmile Creek. Sheets of porphyry are mixed in with the granite. The shale-containing Belt formation occupies parts of the creek's watershed. There is a large mass of rhyolite located near the creek. It is approximately 75 feet (23 m) thick and is the largest such mass in Pennsylvania.[7] Another mass of rhyolite in the watershed is 250 feet (76 m) thick.[7]
In its upper reaches, Fourmile Creek flows through a relatively narrow valley that is 30 feet (9.1 m) deep. There is slide rock in the valley.[7]
Fourmile Creek has an elevation of 574 feet (175 m) above sea level.[1]
History
Since 2007, improvements have been undertaken to improve
Biology
The pathogenic
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Fourmile Creek". Geographic Names Information System. 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f Dave Skellie (February 1, 2007), Focus on Fourmile Creek, retrieved February 3, 2014
- ^ Google Maps, 2014, retrieved February 3, 2014
- ^ a b c Brianne E. Campbell (2012), SEASONAL WATER QUALITY MONITORING ALONG FOURMILE CREEK, ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, retrieved February 3, 2014
- ^ a b Brianne E. Campbell, WATER QUALITY MONITORING ALONG THE FOURMILE CREEK AND EIGHTMILE CREEK TRIBUTARIES TO LAKE ERIE, NORTHWESTERN, PA, archived from the original on February 3, 2014, retrieved February 3, 2014
- ^ ISBN 9789061930037
- ^ a b c d Charles Doolittle Walcott (1896), The Cambrian Rocks of Pennsylvania
- ^ Mike Bleech (May 1, 2011), Clearing up Four Mile Creek project, retrieved February 8, 2014
- ^ Deborah Wisenberg (October 25, 2012), Steelheading on Erie's Fourmile is better now, retrieved February 3, 2014
- Penn State Erie, 2010, retrieved January 3, 2014