Little Nescopeck Creek
Little Nescopeck Creek | |
---|---|
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Butler Township |
Mouth | |
• location | Sybertsville |
• elevation | 900 ft (270 m) |
Length | 8.5 mi (13.7 km) |
Basin size | 14 sq mi (36 km2) |
Little Nescopeck Creek is a tributary of Nescopeck Creek in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 8.5 miles (13.7 km) long and flows through Butler Township, Sugarloaf Township, and Conyngham.[1] The watershed of the creek has an area of 14.0 square miles (36 km2). The creek is acidic and receives mine water from the Jeddo Tunnel. The main rock formation in the watershed is the Mauch Chunk Formation. However, the Pottsville Formation also appears in some areas. Soil series in the drainage basin include the Arnot Series, the Basher Series, and various other soil types.
There is one source of acid mine drainage in the watershed of Little Nescopeck Creek: the Jeddo Tunnel. Major roads in the creek's watershed include Interstate 80, Pennsylvania Route 93, and Pennsylvania Route 309. Additionally, wetlands occur in the drainage basin. The watershed of the creek was inhabited by 8000 B.C.E. However, European settlers did not arrive until the 18th century. The
The watershed of Little Nescopeck Creek is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. Several fish species inhabit the creek near its headwaters, but there is no aquatic life downstream of the Jeddo Tunnel. Fourteen amphibian species and eight reptile species also inhabit the watershed; some of them breed there as well. Dozens of species of insects and
Course
Little Nescopeck Creek begins in a valley near Prospect Rock in Butler Township. It flows west-southwest for a few tenths of a mile before turning west-northwest as its valley broadens. The creek crosses Pennsylvania Route 309 before turning west-southwest after more than a mile. It then turns west-southwest for several miles, crossing Interstate 81 and entering Sugarloaf Township, where it flows along the base of Butler Mountain. In Sugarloaf Township, the creek turns northwest for several tenths of a mile, passing through Conyngham before turning north. Several tenths of a mile further downstream, it reaches its confluence with Nescopeck Creek.[1] Little Nescopeck Creek joins Nescopeck Creek 19.26 miles (31.00 km) upstream of its mouth.[2]
Hydrology
Before the Jeddo Tunnel was constructed, Little Nescopeck Creek was around ten feet wide.
The average level of
Water quality
Between 1996 and 1998, the average
Upstream of the Jeddo Tunnel, the manganese concentration of the water of Little Nescopeck Creek averages around 108 micrograms per liter. Downstream of the tunnel, the average manganese concentration is 3320 micrograms per liter. Upstream of the tunnel, the average aluminum concentration is under 200 micrograms per liter. Downstream of the tunnel, the average aluminum concentration is 7470 micrograms per liter. Upstream of the tunnel, the average iron concentration is 380 micrograms per liter. Downstream of the tunnel, the average iron concentration is 1947 micrograms per liter. Upstream of the tunnel, the average nickel concentration is below 50 micrograms per liter. The average nickel concentration for the whole watershed is almost three times higher, at 144 micrograms per liter. The average zinc concentration is under 10 micrograms per liter above the Jeddo Tunnel but 519 micrograms per liter downstream of the tunnel. The calcium average concentration above the tunnel is 16.2 milligrams per liter. The average calcium concentration below the tunnel is 32.5 milligrams per liter.[3]
There are between 10 and 36 micrograms per liter of copper in nine different sites in and near Little Nescopeck Creek. There are between 1 and 3.3 micrograms per liter of lead at these sites on the creek. There are between 10 and 621 micrograms per liter of zinc at these sites. The average concentration of sulfates upstream of the Jeddo Tunnel is below 10 milligrams per liter, but it is 257 milligrams per liter downstream of the tunnel. The average concentration of calcium carbonate upstream of the tunnel is 33 milligrams per liter, and downstream of it, it is 272 milligrams per liter.[3]
There are also a number of
In three different sites on Little Nescopeck Creek downstream of the Jeddo Tunnel, the daily load of aluminum passing through ranges from 2,871 to 3,175 pounds (1,302 to 1,440 kg). In the same sites, the daily load of iron ranges between 859 and 1,126 pounds (390 and 511 kg). The daily load of manganese at the sites ranges from 1,350 to 1,432 pounds (612 to 650 kg). At one site upstream of the Jeddo Tunnel, these values are much lower. The daily load of aluminum is 2.8 pounds (1.3 kg), the daily load of iron is 11.3 pounds (5.1 kg), and the daily load of manganese is 2.6 pounds (1.2 kg).[6]
Geography and geology
The elevation near the
Little Nescopeck Creek is mostly situated on top of the
There are several main types of soil in the watershed of Little Nescopeck Creek. Two of them are the Arnot Series and the Alluvial land. The Arnot
The creek's river valley is steep and narrow. Nescopeck Mountain is in the northern part of the watershed and Buck Mountain is in the southern part. The elevation in the watershed ranges from between 850 and 1800 feet. There is very little limestone near the creek, thus making it very acidic.[3]
There are several floodplains in the watershed of Little Nescopeck Creek. The largest of them is near where the creek turns northward, but there is also one not far from its headwaters.[3]
Watershed
The watershed of Little Nescopeck Creek has an area of 14.0 square miles (36 km2).
The Little Nescopeck Creek watershed is affected by pollution from the Jeddo Tunnel. However this is the only source of acid mine drainage in the watershed. The pollution of the Jeddo Tunnel affects Nescopeck Creek, the Susquehanna River, and the Chesapeake Bay. The creek's watershed consists mostly of farmland and suburbs. However, there are also some woodlands and riparian buffers. The major highways in the Little Nescopeck Creek watershed are Interstate 80, Pennsylvania Route 93, and Pennsylvania Route 309.[3]
There are a number of different types of
History
The area in the vicinity of Little Nescopeck Creek was inhabited by
The
There are a number of historical sites in the Little Nescopeck Creek watershed. Most of them are devoted to the anthracite industry. Little Nescopeck Creek's name comes from a Lenni Lenape word meaning "deep black river".[3]
In 1995, a
Biology
The drainage basin of Little Nescopeck Creek is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery.
The most common large
The
Common plants in the Little Nescopeck Creek watershed include
Little Nescopeck Creek's riparian zone has survived to date due to conservation efforts of the local community. The narrowest area of the riparian zone is zero feet in a pasture one mile upstream of the Jeddo Tunnel. The widest area of the riparian zone is 500 feet (150 m) on the Keystone Jobs Corps Center property. At Little Nescopeck Creek's confluence with Nescopeck Creek, the riparian zone is 100 feet (30 m) wide or more.[3]
There are a total of five species of special concern in the Little Nescopeck Creek watershed. These include the
Recreation
There are few opportunities for activities in Little Nescopeck Creek itself, such as swimming and boating. However, there are some
In 1998, there were plans to convert abandoned railroad beds in the Little Nescopeck Creek watershed to rail-trails. There are already a number of trails in the watershed. Some of these date back to Native American times. There are also a number of outlooks in the creek's watershed. There is some kayak traffic on the creek during the spring. There is a 24-acre area of fields and woodlands known as the Bishop Tract; a portion of this tract is along Little Nescopeck Creek.[3]
See also
- Black Creek (Nescopeck Creek), next tributary of Nescopeck Creek going downstream
- Long Run (Nescopeck Creek), next tributary of Nescopeck Creek going upstream
References
- ^ a b c United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, archived from the original on March 29, 2012, retrieved July 3, 2015
- ^ a b Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, p. 89, retrieved July 3, 2015
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Executive Summary (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2013, retrieved May 16, 2013
- ^ ISBN 9780801866289, retrieved May 20, 2013
- ^ a b Federal Emergency Management Agency (November 2, 2012), Flood Insurance Study (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015, retrieved May 29, 2013
- ^ a b c United States Environmental Protection Agency, Black Creek, Little Nescopeck Creek and UNT Little Nescopeck Creek Watershed TMDL Luzerne County (PDF), retrieved May 28, 2013
- ^ a b Geographic Names Information System, Feature Detail Report for: Little Nescopeck Creek, retrieved July 3, 2015
- ^ U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (1981), Soil survey, retrieved May 28, 2013
- ^ Conyngham borough (2012), Home, archived from the original on 2013-05-07, retrieved May 29, 2013
- ^ H.C. Bradsby, ed. (1893), History of Luzerne County Pennsylvania, retrieved May 29, 2013
- ^ Renita Fennick (July 21, 1995), $50,000 Grant to Be Used In Clean-Up of County Creek, Times Leader, archived from the original on July 4, 2015, retrieved May 29, 2013
- ^ "§ 93.9k. Drainage List K. Susquehanna River Basin in Pennsylvania Susquehanna River", Pennsylvania Code, retrieved July 3, 2015