Little Wapwallopen Creek
Little Wapwallopen Creek | |
---|---|
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Boyle Pond in Rice Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania |
• elevation | 1,220 ft (370 m) |
Mouth | |
• location | Susquehanna River in Conyngham Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania |
• elevation | 495 ft (151 m) |
Length | 17 mi (27 km) |
Basin size | 39.5 sq mi (102 km2) |
Discharge | |
• average | 40 cu ft/s (1.1 m3/s) near mouth |
Basin features | |
Progression | Susquehanna River → Pond Creek, Nuangola Outlet |
Little Wapwallopen Creek is a
Little Wapwallopen Creek ranges from slightly acidic to slightly basic. It is a significant source of flooding in Conyngham Township, Dorrance Township, and Rice Township. Numerous bridges have been constructed across the creek. The surficial geology in its vicinity consists of alluvium, alluvial terrace, alluvial fan, Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift, Wisconsinan Till, and wetlands. Numerous bridges have also been constructed across the creek.
Course
Little Wapwallopen Creek begins in
Little Wapwallopen Creek is approximately 17 miles (27 km) long.[1] It joins the Susquehanna River 168.16 miles (270.63 km) upriver of its mouth.[2]
Tributaries
Little Wapwallopen Creek has numerous unnamed tributaries and two named tributaries: Nuangola Outlet and Pond Creek.[1] Pond Creek joins Little Wapwallopen Creek 1.52 miles (2.45 km) upstream of its mouth. Its watershed has an area of 9.69 square miles (25.1 km2). Nuangola Outlet joins Little Wapwallopen Creek 14.55 miles (23.42 km) upstream of its mouth. Its watershed has an area of 2.35 square miles (6.1 km2).[2]
Hydrology
The
The concentration of
The concentration of organic nitrogen in Little Wapwallopen Creek was once measured to be 0.06 milligrams per liter (6.0×10−5 oz/cu ft) and the ammonia concentration was once measured to be 0.064 milligrams per liter (6.4×10−5 oz/cu ft). The concentration of nitrogen in the form of nitrates was measured to be 0.74 milligrams per liter (0.00074 oz/cu ft) and the concentration of nitrogen in the form of nitrites was measured to be 0.13 milligrams per liter (0.00013 oz/cu ft).[3]
In the 1970s, the concentration of calcium in the waters of Little Wapwallopen Creek were found to range from 5.00 to 5.90 milligrams per liter (0.00499 to 0.00589 oz/cu ft). The magnesium concentration ranged from 1.50 to 2.20 milligrams per liter (0.00150 to 0.00220 oz/cu ft). The combined concentrations of sodium and potassium ranged from 2.3 to 3.0 milligrams per liter (0.0023 to 0.0030 oz/cu ft) and the recoverable iron concentration was once measured at 0.08 milligrams per liter (8.0×10−5 oz/cu ft). The sulfate concentration ranged from 12.0 to 16.0 milligrams per liter and the concentration of chloride ranged from 2.3 to 7.0 milligrams per liter (0.0023 to 0.0070 oz/cu ft).[3]
The concentration of dissolved solids in Little Wapwallopen Creek was once measured to be 60 milligrams per liter (0.060 oz/cu ft).[3]
At its mouth, the peak annual discharge of Little Wapwallopen Creek has a 10 percent chance of reaching 2,750 cubic feet per second (78 m3/s). It has a 2 percent chance of reaching 5,250 cubic feet per second (149 m3/s) and a 1 percent chance of reaching 7,000 cubic feet per second (200 m3/s). The peak annual discharge has a 0.2 percent chance of reaching 12,500 cubic feet per second (350 m3/s). Upstream of the tributary Pond Creek, the peak annual discharge of the creek has a 10 percent chance of reaching 2,150 cubic feet per second (61 m3/s). It has a 2 percent chance of 4,400 cubic feet per second (120 m3/s) and a 1 percent chance of reaching 5,900 cubic feet per second (170 m3/s). The peak annual discharge has a 0.2 percent chance of reaching 10,400 cubic feet per second (290 m3/s).[5]
At a point 0.6 miles (0.97 km) downstream of Blue Ridge Trail, the peak annual discharge of Little Wapwallopen Creek has a 10 percent chance of reaching 1,400 cubic feet per second (40 m3/s). It has a 2 percent chance of reaching 2,300 cubic feet per second (65 m3/s) and a 1 percent chance of reaching 2,700 cubic feet per second (76 m3/s). The peak annual discharge has a 0.2 percent chance of reaching 3,900 cubic feet per second (110 m3/s). At a point 0.3 miles (0.48 km) upstream of Blue Ridge Trail, the peak annual discharge of the creek has a 10 percent chance of reaching 1,250 cubic feet per second (35 m3/s). It has a 2 percent chance of 2,070 cubic feet per second (59 m3/s) and a 1 percent chance of reaching 2,470 cubic feet per second (70 m3/s). The peak annual discharge has a 0.2 percent chance of reaching 3,550 cubic feet per second (101 m3/s).[5]
Geography, geology, and climate
The elevation near the mouth of Little Wapwallopen Creek is 495 feet (151 m) above sea level.[6] The elevation of the creek's source is approximately 1,220 feet (370 m) above sea level.[1] The course of the creek is tortuous.[7]
In the Sybertsville quadrangle, the surficial geology in the valley of Little Wapwallopen Creek mainly consists of alluvium, alluvial terrace, alluvial fan, Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift, and some small patches of Wisconsinan Till. The surficial geology on the valley slopes and uplands mainly consists of bedrock.[8] In the quadrangle of Freeland, the surficial geology near Little Wapwallopen Creek mainly features Wisconsinan Till, Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift, and alluvium.[9] The surficial geology near the creek in the Wilkes-Barre West quadrangle mainly consists of Wisconsinan Till, with some scattered areas of bedrock and alluvium.[10]
The Berwick Axis, which is also known as the Montour Axis, crosses the Susquehanna River half a mile downstream of the mouth of Little Wapwallopen Creek. There is concealed
The water temperature of Little Wapwallopen Creek near Wapwallopen was measured several times during the 1970s. The values ranged from 7.0 °C (44.6 °F) in May 1971 to 19.5 °C (67.1 °F) in September 1972.[3]
Watershed
The watershed of Little Wapwallopen Creek has an area of 39.5 square miles (102 km2).[2] The mouth of the creek is in the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Berwick. However, its source is in the quadrangle of Wilkes-Barre West. It also flows through the quadrangles of Freeland and Sybertsville.[6] The creek is one of the major streams in Luzerne County.[12]
The land in the 100 year
A 160-acre (65 ha) lake known as Lilly Lake is in the watershed of Little Wapwallopen Creek, on one of its tributaries.[14][15] A pond known as Triangle Pond is also in the upper reaches of the watershed. Henry C. Bradsby's book History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania described Round Pond as being in the watershed as well.[16] A swamp known as Turner Swamp is also in the watershed.[17] Other lakes in the creek's vicinity include Andy Pond, Lake Blytheburn, Boyle Pond, Nuangola Lake, and the Ice Ponds. Many patches of wetlands are found in the watershed's upper reaches.[10]
A package
Little Wapwallopen Creek is one of the main sources of
History
Little Wapwallopen Creek was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1179707.[6]
Historically, a Native American path went from Council Cup up the Little Wapwallopen Creek valley and to
In the late 1800s, there was an old ferry road near the mouth of Little Wapwallopen Creek.
Numerous bridges have been constructed across the creek. A concrete stringer/multi-beam or girder bridge carrying Blytheburn Road was built over Little Wapwallopen Creek in 1920. It is 33.1 feet (10.1 m) long. A concrete slab bridge was built across the creek in 1935 and repaired in 2007. It is 23.0 feet (7.0 m) long and carries T-477/Weyhenmyr Street. In 1940, a bridge carrying Pennsylvania Route 239 was constructed over the creek in Conyngham Township. This bridge is a steel stringer/multi-beam or girder bridge with a length of 65.0 feet (19.8 m) long.[20]
A three-span bridge carrying
Floodwaters from Little Wapwallopen Creek reached a height of 2 feet (0.61 m) over St. Marys Road in Dorrance Township during a storm in 1972. This is the only recorded flooding of a developed area caused by a major storm in the township. The creek also once flooded to a depth of 18 to 20 inches (46 to 51 cm) over Hislop Road in Rice Township.[5]
In August 2002, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council received $57,897.76 to carry out a restoration plan on the upper reaches of Little Wapwallopen Creek.[21] Since 2005, a project to remedy streambank erosion on the creek has been successful.[22] The creek has a watershed association known as the Little Wapwallopen Creek Watershed Association.[23]
Biology
The drainage basin of Little Wapwallopen Creek is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery.[24] Wild trout naturally reproduce in the creek from its mouth upstream for 4.40 miles (7.08 km) to T-392. They also do so in the tributary Pond Creek from its headwaters downstream to its mouth.[25]
Henry C. Bradsby's 1893 book History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania stated that Long Pond and Round Pond, two ponds in the watershed, had a large
The greenway of Little Wapwallopen Creek has been proposed as a conservation area in the Open Space, Greenways & Outdoor Recreation Master Plan for Luzerne County and Lackawanna County.[27]
See also
- Rocky Run (Susquehanna River), next tributary of the Susquehanna River going upriver
- Big Wapwallopen Creek, next tributary of the Susquehanna River going downriver
- List of rivers of Pennsylvania
References
- ^ a b c d United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, archived from the original on March 29, 2012, retrieved March 9, 2015
- ^ a b c Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, pp. 91, 107, 115, retrieved March 9, 2015
- ^ a b c d e f United States Geological Survey, USGS 01537900 Little Wapwallopen Creek near Wapwallopen, PA, retrieved March 9, 2015
- ^ United States Environmental Protection Agency, Assessment Summary for Reporting Year 2006 Pennsylvania, Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna Watershed, archived from the original on February 2, 2017, retrieved March 10, 2015
- ^ a b c d e Federal Emergency Management Agency, Flood Insurance Study VOLUME 1 of 6 LUZERNE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA (ALL JURISDICTIONS) (PDF), pp. 20–21, 51, archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015, retrieved January 20, 2015
- ^ a b c Geographic Names Information System, Feature Detail Report for: Little Wapwallopen Creek, retrieved March 9, 2015
- ^ a b Proceedings and Collections of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society 1923–24, 1924, retrieved April 9, 2014
- ^ a b Duane D. Braun (2008), Surficial geology of the Sybertsville 7.5-minute quadrangle, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, pp. 4, 6, 21, archived from the original on May 24, 2014, retrieved March 10, 2015
- ^ Duane D. Braun (2009), Surficial geology of the Freeland 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, p. 14, archived from the original on May 24, 2014, retrieved January 15, 2015
- ^ a b Duane D. Braun (2008), Surficial geology of the Wilkes-Barre West 7.5-minute quadrangle, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, p. 14, archived from the original on May 24, 2014, retrieved March 10, 2015
- ^ a b Israel Charles White (1883), The Geology of the Susquehanna River Regíon in the Six Counties of Wyoming, Lackwanna, Luzerne, Columbia, Montour, and Northumberland, pp. 197–198, retrieved April 4, 2014
- ^ CHAPTER 3 ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS (PDF), p. 7, archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015, retrieved March 9, 2015
- ^ FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT, SECTION 401, retrieved April 9, 2014
- ^ ISBN 9780738592565, retrieved April 8, 2014
- ^ Rob Wnuk (2013), Lily Lake Luzerne County 2013 Sportfish Population Survey (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015, retrieved March 9, 2015
- ^ a b c d Henry C. Bradsby, ed. (1893), History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania: With ..., Volume 1, Pages 1–667, pp. 27, 29, 541, retrieved March 9, 2015
- ^ a b Nuangola Borough – Act 537 Study, retrieved March 9, 2015
- ^ a b Philip Ruth (2005), A Look Back at the Ice Lakes of Rice Township Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (PDF), archived from the original on November 27, 2013, retrieved March 9, 2015
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Pennsylvania Department of Health (1908), Report, retrieved April 5, 2014
- ^ a b Luzerne County, retrieved March 9, 2015
- ^ STATE PROVIDING AREA COUNTIES WITH GRANT MONEY FOR ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORTATION, Times Leader, August 18, 2002, archived from the original on April 2, 2015, retrieved April 8, 2014
- ^ Streambank Stabilization (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016, retrieved April 9, 2014
- ^ Rivers Unlimited, Inc. (2009), About Us, retrieved March 9, 2015
- ^ § 93.9k. Drainage List K. Susquehanna River Basin in Pennsylvania Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania Code, retrieved March 9, 2015
- ^ Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (January 2015), Pennsylvania Wild Trout Waters (Natural Reproduction) – Jan 2015 (PDF), p. 49, retrieved March 9, 2015
- United States Bureau of Fisheries (1910), The distribution of fish and fish eggs during the fiscal year of 1909, Issue 728, p. 56, retrieved March 9, 2015
- ^ Open Space, Greenways & Outdoor Recreation Master Plan (PDF), 2004, retrieved March 10, 2015