Little Shamokin Creek
Little Shamokin Creek | |
---|---|
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Irish Valley |
Plum Creek |
Little Shamokin Creek is a 15.0-mile-long (24.1 km)
Little Shamokin Creek is the only stream in the Shamokin Creek watershed where fish can survive, as of 1999.[4][needs update]
Course
Little Shamokin Creek starts in eastern Northumberland County, several miles north of Trevorton. From its starting point, the creek flows west through the Irish Valley and eventually exits the valley. Upon reaching the Augustaville Church, it turns northwards. The creek continues northwards until it reaches its confluence with Shamokin Creek.[5]
Geology
Little Shamokin Creek is located in the
90% of the rocks in the upper portion of the Little Shamokin Creek watershed are
The main soil series in the Little Shamokin Creek watershed is the Berks-Weikert-Bedington series, which is a shaly silt loam found in the lower areas of the watershed. However, at least two other soil series exist in the watershed. They are the Leck Kill-Meckesville-Calvin series and the Hazelton-Dekalb-Buchanan series.[5] The Berks-Weikert-Bedingon soil series occurs in all the northern and central areas of the watershed. The Leck Kill-Meckesville-Calvin series occurs in a band immediately south of the Berks-Weikert-Bedingon series in the watershed. The Hazelton-Dekalb-Buchanan occurs in an area in the extreme south of the watershed.[6]
The Hamilton Group is a
There is severe erosion on the banks of much of Little Shamokin Creek.[6] The creek is also home to a fishing hole that is approximately 3 feet (0.91 m) deep. This is experiencing erosion as well.[9]
Hydrology
The waters of Little Shamokin Creek have low levels of
As of 1913, the Sunbury Water Company, which provides water to Sunbury, got its water from Little Shamokin Creek. A dam with five reservoirs was created on the creek, 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Sunbury. Reservoir Number 1's capacity was 2,750,000 gallons. Reservoir Number 2's capacity was 2,180,000 gallons. It was located on the east bank of the creek. Reservoir Number 3's capacity was 1,900,000 gallons. It was also located on the east bank of the creek. Reservoir Number 4's capacity was 16,510,000 gallons. It was located on the east bank of the creek. Reservoir Number 5's capacity was 26,670,000 gallons. It was located on the east bank of the creek.[10]
Watershed
The watershed of little Shamokin Creek has an area of 37 square miles. 65% of the watershed is made up of
Pennsylvania Route 890 is a major route in the Little Shamokin Creek watershed. The creek and its tributaries are also accessible via a number of township roads.[6]
History
A number of watermills have been built on Little Shamokin Creek and its tributaries. Miller's Mill was one such mill. It was first built by Colonel Thomas Jones during the 1790s, between Tulpehocken Road and Trevorton. Another mill was built in the same location in 1850. Shipman's Mill was also located on the creek, between Tulpehocken Road and the Susquehanna River. This mill was built by Abraham Shipman in 1850. Fagley's Mill was built in southern Rockefeller Township, on a tributary of the creek. It was constructed in 1856 by Samuel Lantz.[11]
The first
Tributaries
Plum Creek is one named tributary of Little Shamokin Creek. There are no other named tributaries of the creek,[2][3] although there are several unnamed ones.[5]
Fauna and flora
In some of the agricultural areas of the Little Shamokin Creek watershed, there is very little
Recreation
An area of 25.5 acres on the side of Little Shamokin Creek in Rockefeller Township was converted to a recreational area by the Little Shamokin Creek Watershed Association. This was also the first public recreational area in the township. As of August 20, 2012, the recreational area was almost complete.[14]
See also
- Lick Creek (Shamokin Creek), next tributary of Shamokin Creek going upstream
- List of rivers in Pennsylvania
- List of tributaries of Shamokin Creek
References
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed May 4th, 2020
- ^ a b Google Maps (40.860564,-76.775737), 2013, retrieved September 16, 2013
- ^ a b c Little Shamokin Creek Watershed Association, July 2, 2013, retrieved September 16, 2013
- ^ Mid Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide, O Boys Publishing Company, February 1999, retrieved September 24, 2013
- ^ a b c d e f g Jon M. Capacasa (June 27, 2011), Decision Rationale Total Maximum Daily Loads of Sediment and Phosphorus Little Shamokin Creek Subwatershed Northumberland County, Pennsylvania (PDF), retrieved September 18, 2013
- ^ a b c d LITTLE SHAMOKIN CREEK SUBWATERSHED TMDL (PDF), May 6, 2011, retrieved September 20, 2013
- ^ Geological Survey of Pennsylvania (1883), Report of Progress, retrieved September 24, 2013
- ^ Geological Survey of Pennsylvania (1883), Report of Progress 1874-1889,A-Z..., retrieved September 24, 2013
- ^ a b Evamarie Socha (September 25, 2010), Group nursing creek to health, The Daily Item, retrieved September 22, 2013
- ^ Pennsylvania Water Supply Commission (July 25, 1913), Water Resources Inventory Report ...: Act of July 25, 1913, retrieved September 23, 2013
- ^ a b J.J. John (1891), History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, retrieved September 23, 2013
- ^ Growing Greener Project to Improve Little Shamokin Creek Watershed, 2013, retrieved September 22, 2013
- ^ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Board of Fish Commissioners (1985), Pennsylvania Angler, Volumes 54-55, retrieved September 24, 2013
- ^ Larry Deklinski (August 20, 2012), Little Shamokin Creek rec area nears completion, retrieved September 16, 2013