Meshoppen Creek
Meshoppen Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Susquehanna and Wyoming counties, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 30.6 miles (49.2 km) long and flows through Bridgewater Township, Dimock Township, and Springville Township in Susquehanna County and Lemon Township, Washington Township, Meshoppen Township, and Meshoppen in Wyoming County.[1] The watershed of the creek has an area of 114 square miles (300 km2). It is possible to canoe on 17.0 miles (27.4 km) of Meshoppen Creek.
Course
Meshoppen Creek begins on a hill in
Upon leaving Susquehanna County, Meshoppen Creek enters Lemon Township, Wyoming County. It continues meandering southwest, crossing Pennsylvania Route 29, entering Washington Township and passing Valentine Hill. The creek then reaches Kaiserville and begins meandering west. The creek eventually enters Meshoppen Township. It almost immediately picks up West Branch Meshoppen Creek and turns south. After less than a mile, it turns west. A few miles later, it reaches the community of Meshoppen. In Meshoppen, it crosses U.S. Route 6 and reaches its confluence with the Susquehanna River.[1]
Meshoppen Creek joins the Susquehanna River 234.44 miles (377.29 km) upstream of its mouth.[2]
Geography, geology, and climate
The elevation near the mouth of Meshoppen Creek is 617 feet (188 m) above sea level.[3] The elevation of the creek's source is between 1,620 feet (490 m) and 1,640 feet (500 m).[1]
A waterfall that is 20 feet (6.1 m) high is on Meshoppen Creek. Another waterfall is also situated on the creek near Meshoppen. There are wide, shallow riffles on the creek near State Route 3017. Large numbers of riffles and few pools area also found downstream of Pennsylvania Route 29.[4]
The
The topography of the watershed of Meshoppen Creek is described as "rough and hilly" in a 1921 book. Steep but rounded hills are present in the watershed, as are forests and some swamps and lakes.[5]
The rate of precipitation in the watershed of Meshoppen Creek ranges between 35 inches (89 cm) and 40 inches (100 cm) per year.[5]
Watershed
The watershed of Meshoppen Creek has an area of 114 square miles (300 km2).[2] The watershed is situated in southwestern Susquehanna County and northern Wyoming County. The creek's drainage basin is part of the Upper North Branch Susquehanna drainage basin.[5]
Major lakes in the watershed of Meshoppen Creek include Schooleys Pond and Sound Pond. They have surface areas of 39.3 and 34 acres, respectively.[5]
Meshoppen Creek flows through
A stream gauge is not present on Meshoppen Creek.[4]
Name, history and industries
Meshoppen is a name derived from a Native American language purported to mean "glass beads".[6]
In the early 1900s, major industries in the watershed of Meshoppen Creek included
In 1921, the largest communities in the watershed of Meshoppen Creek were Meshoppen and Springville. Their populations were 630 and 550, respectively.[5]
Recreation
A total of 17.0 miles (27.4 km) of Meshoppen Creek are possible to canoe on during snowmelt or within several days of heavy rain. Edward Gertler describes the scenery along the creek as "good to excellent" and also writes that the creek is an "awfully pretty little creek". The difficulty rating of the creek for canoeing mostly ranges from 1 to 3-, but there is a patch of class 6 rapids.[4]
See also
- Little Mehoopany 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 September 6, 2014
- ^ a b Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, retrieved September 6, 2014
- ^ Topographic Map Stream Features in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, retrieved September 6, 2014
- ^ a b c d Edward Gertler (1984), Keystone Canoeing, Seneca Press, pp. 254–255
- ^ a b c d e f g Water Supply Commission of Pennsylvania (1921), Water Resources Inventory Report, p. 441, retrieved September 6, 2014
- ISBN 978-0-8063-0416-8.