Miller Run
Miller Run | |
---|---|
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | base of a small hill in East Buffalo Township, Union County, Pennsylvania |
• elevation | between 500 and 520 feet (150 and 160 m) |
Mouth | |
• location | Limestone Run in Lewisburg, Union County, Pennsylvania |
• coordinates | 40°57′38″N 76°53′00″W / 40.96046°N 76.88326°W |
• elevation | 430 ft (130 m) |
Length | 1.2 mi (1.9 km) |
Basin size | 0.87 sq mi (2.3 km2) |
Basin features | |
Progression | Limestone Run → West Branch Susquehanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
Tributaries | |
• left | "North Miller Run" |
Miller Run is a
Most of the watershed of Miller Run is owned by
Course
Miller Run begins at the base of a small hill in East Buffalo Township. It flows north for a short distance before turning north-northeast for several tenths of a mile. In this reach, the stream crosses
Tributaries
Miller Run has no named tributaries.[1] However, it has a tributary that is unofficially known as North Miller Run. The reach of Miller Run that is upstream of this tributary is sometimes known as South Miller Run.[2]
Hydrology and climate
Miller Run is impacted by
The average discharge of Miller Run averages approximately 0.005 cubic meters per second (0.18 cu ft/s), but can be considerably higher, sometimes over 1 cubic meter per second (35 cu ft/s).[2] The stream exhibits highly unusual hydrologic behavior during rainstorms and snowmelts. In typical streams the discharge in the upper reaches peaks before that of the lower reaches. However, in Miller Run, this pattern is reversed and the discharge sometimes even peaks more than once. This is caused by large amounts of water flowing into it from storm drains and runoff-impervious surfaces.[2]
Miller Run has sediment loads as high as 2287 parts per million. This is more than ten times higher than the nearby
In February 2009, the sodium concentration in the upper reaches of Miller Run was measured to be 32.2 milligrams per liter in the stream's upper reaches and 21.9 milligrams per liter in its lower reaches. The potassium concentration was 3.2 milligrams per liter in the upper reaches and 2.8 milligrams per liter in its lower reaches. In the stream's upper reaches, the magnesium and calcium concentrations were 9.7 and 57.9 milligrams per liter, respectively. In the lower reaches, they were 9.9 and 53.5 milligrams per liter, respectively. The concentrations of chromium, manganese, and iron were less than 0.004, 0.05, and 0.2 milligrams per liter in the upper reaches and less than 0.004, less than 0.03, and 0.23 milligrams per liter in the upper reaches. The concentrations of nickel, copper, and zinc were less than 0.005, less than 0.04, and less than 0.02 milligrams per liter in the upper reaches and the lower reaches. The arsenic, cadmium, and lead concentrations were less than 0.005, less than 0.001, and less than 0.01 milligrams per liter both reaches.[2]
During one day in April 2009, the
The average annual rate of precipitation in the watershed of Miller Run is 1.04 meters (3.4 ft). During one day in April 2009, the water temperature of the stream ranged from about 7 to 12 °C (45 to 54 °F).[2]
Geography and geology
The elevation near the mouth of Miller Run is 430 feet (130 m) above sea level.[4] The elevation of the stream's source is between 500 and 520 feet (150 and 160 m) above sea level.[1] The average elevation in the watershed is 518 feet (158 m) above sea level. The average slope is 3.12 degrees, or 11.36 meters per kilometer (60.0 ft/mi). As is the case with most streams, the gradient is highest in the stream's upper reaches.[2]
The main
The
Miller Run is a "tiny stream" that is closer in appearance to a
Watershed
The watershed of Miller Run has an area of 0.87 square miles (2.3 km2).[2] The stream is entirely within the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Lewisburg.[4]
Approximately 80 percent of the watershed of Miller Run is owned by Bucknell University. Land uses in the stream's watershed include an urban college campus, a golf course, a new housing development, and suburban territory on the edge of the watershed. A total of 37.5 percent of the watershed is on urban land and 13.1 percent is on forested land.[2]
Miller Run has been described as "not appealing on the University campus" and can damage property during high flow conditions. Wetlands in the vicinity of the stream have been proposed for the purpose of stormwater retention.[2] The Music and Arts Building is situated on top of the stream at one location. Its removal has been recommended to reduce building flooding and restore the stream to a natural state.[5]
In one reach, Miller Run flows past
History
Miller Run was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on October 1, 1992. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1214632.[4]
Miller Run has historically experienced significant modifications to increase its ability to carry away stormwater. Channelization and terracing was being done in the floodplain of Miller Run as early as the 1930s. By the 1940s, a reach of the stream near the old Davis Gymnasium has been straightened and channelized, but there was still no riprap. By the 1950s, numerous culverts and extensive channelization existed along the stream.[2]
Some time in or before 2011, a major research project involving 80 students and 11 faculty members was carried out on Miller Run. The project involved
The Bucknell University golf course is located in the vicinity of Miller Run.[3] In 2015, a restoration project on the stream attracted some criticism from users of the golf course, as it has dried up the area and caused the driving range to look "like a desert" and business had been significantly reduced. They also criticized the scientific merit of the project, as the stream had barely any water in it. However, the Bucknell University website states that the project—which is supported by a $270,000 Growing Greener grant—"could change the way stream monitoring and restoration is carried out statewide".[6]
Biology
Miller Run is considered by the
Miller Run has an extremely low concentration of
Common macroinvertebrate taxa in Miller Run at site MR-1 include
Much of the length of Miller Run has experienced a lack of riparian vegetation.[2] However, people from Bucknell University have planted and grown trees alongside the stream.[7]
Miller Run has been assessed using the method used by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. On a scale from 0 to 240, it ranked between 59 (poor) and 122 (marginal), depending on the stream reach. The ratings became progressively poorer as the stream moved downstream through the Bucknell University campus. The concentration of Chlorophyll a in Miller Run ranges from 2 to 12 micrograms per square centimetre (6.6×10−5 to 0.000393 oz/sq ft), and varies even at a single site. The concentration generally tends to increase further downstream.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, archived from the original on March 29, 2012, retrieved July 14, 2015
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Characterization of Miller Run and Conceptual Plan for Watershed Restoration (PDF), 2009, pp. 4, 8–13, 19–20, 27–28, 34, 39–41, 43, 46, 53, 56, 59–66, 68–69, 79–80, 83, retrieved July 21, 2015
- ^ a b c d Julia Ferrante (December 7, 2011), Dozens of students, faculty collaborate to restore local creek, retrieved July 14, 2015
- ^ a b c Geographic Names Information System, Feature Detail Report for: Miller Run, retrieved July 14, 2015
- ^ a b Bucknell University, The Master Plan A Vision for Bucknell Appendices (PDF), p. 51, retrieved July 22, 2015[dead link]
- ^ a b c Justin Strawser (May 29, 2015), "Golfers irked by stalled creek restoration project", The Daily Item, retrieved July 22, 2015
- ^ "Coming Events", Mifflinburg Telegraph, p. 4, April 26, 2012, retrieved July 22, 2015