Muncy Creek
Muncy Creek | |
---|---|
Native name | Occohpocheny |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | southeastern Laporte Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania |
• elevation | 2,260 to 2,280 feet (688.8 to 694.9 m) |
Mouth | |
• location | West Branch Susquehanna River in Muncy Creek Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania |
• coordinates | 41°12′35″N 76°48′12″W / 41.2098°N 76.8033°W |
• elevation | slightly less than 480 feet (150 m) |
Length | 35.8 mi (57.6 km) |
Basin size | 216 sq mi (560 km2) |
Discharge | |
• average | 44.9 cu ft/s (1.27 m3/s) |
Basin features | |
Tributaries | |
• left | Little Muncy Creek |
• right | Wolf Run |
Muncy Creek (also known as Big Muncy Creek
There are a number of lakes in the watershed of Muncy Creek, including Eagles Mere Lake, Highland Lake, and Beaver Lake. The creek was known as Occohpocheny to Native Americans. The area in its vicinity was settled in 1783. Various other industries and mills were constructed in the creek's vicinity from the late 18th century to the early 20th century. Wild trout naturally reproduce in part of Muncy Creek. Part of the creek is navigable by canoe.
Course
Muncy Creek begins in southeastern
Upon exiting Davidson Township, Sullivan County, Muncy Creek enters Lycoming County and flows along the border between
Tributaries
Significant tributaries of Muncy Creek include
Hydrology
The highest recorded discharge of Muncy Creek near Muncy is 46,600 cubic feet (1,320 m3) per second.[8] In 2012 and 2013, the creek's discharge at this location ranged from 29 to 379 cubic feet (0.82 to 10.73 m3) per second.[8] The discharge of the creek at Sonestown averages 44.9 cubic feet per second.[9] The osmotic pressure of the stream's waters at this location ranged from less than 1 up to 4 millios-moles per 2.2 pounds (1.00 kg).[8] The annual rate of precipitation near the creek ranges from 35 to 50 inches (89 to 127 cm).[7]
The
Between November 2012 and September 2013, the lowest recorded water temperatures of Muncy Creek at Muncy were 1.4 °C (34.5 °F) on January 9, 2013 and 2.6 °C (36.7 °F) on March 19, 2013. The highest recorded water temperatures were 20.6 °C (69.1 °F) and 20.4 °C (68.7 °F), on September 4, 2013 and July 9, 2013, respectively.[8]
The concentration of
There are trace amounts of
The concentration of aluminum in Muncy Creek ranges from less than 20 micrograms per liter (0.0014 gr/imp gal) up to 30 micrograms per liter (0.0021 gr/imp gal) and the copper concentration is always less than 4 micrograms per liter (0.00028 gr/imp gal) micrograms per liter. The lead concentration is always less than 1 microgram per liter (7.0×10−5 gr/imp gal). In 2013, the creek's concentration of manganese was observed to be 20 micrograms per liter (0.0014 gr/imp gal). The zinc concentration ranges from less than 5 micrograms per liter (0.00035 gr/imp gal) up to 30 micrograms per liter (0.0021 gr/imp gal). The nickel and selenium concentrations are less than 4 and 7 micrograms per liter (0.00028 and 0.00049 gr/imp gal), respectively, while the boron concentration is less than 200 micrograms per liter (0.014 gr/imp gal). The creek's strontium concentration is 40 or 50 micrograms per liter (0.0028 or 0.0035 gr/imp gal).[8]
Geography and geology
The mouth of Muncy Creek has an elevation of slightly less than 480 feet (150 m), while the source of the creek has an elevation of between 2,260 feet (690 m) and 2,280 feet (690 m).[10] The headwaters of the creek are more than 1,500 feet (460 m) higher than its mouth.[11] The headwaters of Muncy Creek are mountainous and are situated on the Allegheny Plateau.[11][12] The southern edge of the Allegheny Mountain runs from the creek west as far as Lock Haven or Pine Creek.[12] The valley of Muncy Creek is surrounded by scalloped hills.[13] Muncy Creek's course winds significantly, but flows generally southwest.[11]
A narrow belt of the
The Tombs Run and Muncy Creek
The soils in the valley of Muncy Creek are deep but relatively poor.[12] However, farming was done in the valley in the late 1800s and still is as of the late 1900s.[12][14] The valley has forested hills on either side.[14] The Morris-Oquaga-Wellsboro soil series is found along the creek in Sullivan County.[15]
The
Watershed
The watershed of Muncy Creek has an area of 216 square miles (560 km2).[6] The area of the watershed upstream of Hugesville comprises approximately half of the total watershed.[11] The area of the creek's watershed upstream of Sonestown is 25.8 square miles (67 km2).[9] The watershed of the creek occupies parts of Lycoming County, Sullivan County, Columbia County, and Montour County.[7]
There are a number of lakes in the watershed of Muncy Creek. The largest is Eagles Mere Lake, which has an area of 116.2 acres (47.0 ha). Hunters Lake has an area of 90.2 acres (36.5 ha) and Highland Lake has an area of 10 acres (4.0 ha). Additionally, Beaver Lake (which has an area of 6 acres (2.4 ha)) is located in the watershed of the tributary Little Muncy creek.[7]
Communities in the watershed of Muncy Creek include Hugesville, Picture Rocks, Lairdsville, and Sonestown. Smaller communities in the creek's watershed include Muncy Valley, Eagles Mere, and Nordmont.[7]
In the late 1800s, the only road in Davidson Township, Sullivan County besides the Susquehanna and Tioga Turnpike passed near Muncy Creek and the settlements along it.[12] The valley of Muncy Creek is largely undeveloped, largely lacking even summer camps.[14]
History
Muncy Creek derives its name from the Munsee Indians.[16] The name sometimes has been spelled "Muncey Creek".[17]
Muncy Creek was known to the Native Americans as Occohpocheny.[13] Historically, Native Americans painted on Picture Rock, a cliff on the creek.[14] Additionally, six Native American lance heads made of stone were found near the creek by Joseph Fahrenbach in the autumn of 1872.[13]
Muncy Creek was settled in 1783 by John Beeber. In 1797, the Willow Grove Mill was built on Muncy Creek in 1797 by Isaac Walton and by the late 1800s, there was a
Historically, railroads ran parallel to Muncy Creek 26 miles (42 km) upstream from its mouth, as far as the community of
In the early 1900s, many of the
Biology
From its headwaters to a point 26.4 miles (42.5 km) upstream of its mouth, the drainage basin of Muncy Creek is designated as Exceptional Value and a Migratory Fishery. From this point downstream to the
A total of 92 percent of assessed streams in the watershed of Muncy Creek are inhabited by trout. Of the inhabited streams, 82 percent are inhabited only by brook trout, nine percent are inhabited by only brown trout, and nine percent are inhabited by both brook trout and brown trout.[21] A number of tributaries of the creek are designated as high-quality coldwater fisheries. These include Lick Run, Roaring Run, Rock Run, and Spring Run in Lycoming County and Big Run, Trout Run, and a number of others in Sullivan County.[15][22]
There are some forested areas in the floodplains of Muncy Creek in the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Hughesville. The Natural Areas Inventory of Lycoming County recommended retaining the natural vegetation in this area to improve water quality.[22]
Recreation
It is possible to
There is a
See also
References
- ^ a b c John Franklin Meginness, ed. (1892), History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
- ^ United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, retrieved July 8, 2015
- ^ United States Geological Survey (1991), laporte.jpg, retrieved June 12, 2014
- ^ United States Geological Survey (1991), davidson.jpg, archived from the original on February 1, 2014, retrieved June 12, 2014
- ^ United States Geological Survey (1993), lycoming.jpg, retrieved June 12, 2014
- ^ a b c Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, retrieved August 8, 2014
- ^ a b c d e f g h Water Supply Commission of Pennsylvania (1921), Water Resources Inventory Report ..., Parts 1–5
- ^ a b c d e f g h United States Geological Survey (2013), Water-Data Report 2013: 01553005 Muncy Creek Near Muncy, PA (PDF), retrieved June 12, 2014
- ^ a b C. A. Billingsley; B. A. Anderson (1976), Surface Water Supply of the United States 1966–70: North Atlantic slope basins-3 v
- ^ United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, retrieved August 9, 2014
- ^ a b c d e f Pennsylvania Department of Health (1909), Report
- ^ a b c d e f g Andrew Sherwood; Franklin Platt (1880), The Geology of Lycoming and Sullivan Counties
- ^ a b c d Jeremiah Mertzler Mohr Gernerd (1868), Now and Then, Volumes 1–3
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Edward Gertler (1993), Keystone Canoeing, Seneca Press, pp. 292–294
- ^ a b Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (2001), A Natural Areas Inventory of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania (PDF), retrieved August 9, 2014
- ISBN 978-0-8063-0416-8.
- ^ Geographic Names Information System, Feature Detail Report for: Muncy Creek, retrieved July 7, 2015
- ^ ISBN 9781439634479
- ^ "§ 93.9l. Drainage List L. Susquehanna River Basin in Pennsylvania West Branch Susquehanna River", Pennsylvania Code, retrieved July 4, 2015
- ^ Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (May 2015), Pennsylvania Wild Trout Waters (Natural Reproduction) (PDF), p. 54, retrieved July 4, 2015
- ^ Samuel Silknetter; John Panas; Caleb Currens; Jonathan Niles, Trout Populations in Unassessed Waters of Loyalsock and Muncy Creek Drainages (PDF), retrieved August 5, 2014
- ^ a b Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy (1998), A Natural Areas Inventory of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania (PDF), pp. 81, 125, retrieved August 9, 2014