Toby Creek

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Coordinates: 41°15′05″N 75°54′42″W / 41.2514°N 75.9118°W / 41.2514; -75.9118
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For the tributary of the Susquehanna in Montour County, Pennsylvania, see Toby Run.

Toby Creek
Toby Creek looking upstream
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationDallas Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
 • elevationbetween 1,220 and 1,240 feet (370 and 380 m)
Mouth 
 • location
Susquehanna River in Edwardsville, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and Larksville, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
 • coordinates
41°15′05″N 75°54′42″W / 41.2514°N 75.9118°W / 41.2514; -75.9118
 • elevation
518 ft (158 m)
Basin size36.5 sq mi (95 km2)
Discharge 
 • average41.2 cu ft/s (1.17 m3/s)
Basin features
ProgressionSusquehanna River →
Trout Brook
 • rightHuntsville Creek

Toby Creek (also known as Toby's Creek

Kingston Township, Courtdale, Luzerne, Pringle, Kingston, Edwardsville, and Larksville.[2]
The watershed of the creek has an area of 36.5 square miles (95 km2). The entire drainage basin is designated as a Migratory Fishery and parts are designated as either a Coldwater Fishery, a Warmwater Fishery, or a Trout Stocking Fishery. The creek has two named tributaries: Huntsville Creek and Trout Brook. It is said to show "some degraded conditions", but does not experience severe pollution and is not considered to be impaired. The creek is piped underground in Pringle, but resurfaces in Edwardsville.

The watershed of Toby Creek occupies part or all of ten boroughs and four townships. The creek's watershed is mainly rural.

US Route 11 are partially within it. The two-billion-gallon Huntsville Reservoir is also in the creek's drainage basin. Several mills
were built along the creek in the 1800s and many bridges have been constructed over it. The creek experienced significant floods in 1942 and 1972.

Course

Toby Creek begins in Dallas Township. It flows south-southeast for a short distance before turning south and then southeast. The creek then flows east-southeast alongside Pennsylvania Route 415 for a few miles, passing through Dallas on the way. It then crosses Pennsylvania Route 309 and enters Dallas Township. At this point, it turns east for a few tenths of a mile and receives the tributary Trout Brook from the left. The creek then turns south and slightly east for a few miles, flowing not far from Pennsylvania Route 309 and entering Kingston Township. It then turns south-southeast, crossing Pennsylvania Route 309 and receiving the tributary Huntsville Creek from the right. At this point, the creek enters a water gap, flowing very close to Pennsylvania Route 309. After several tenths of a mile, it gradually turns northeast and then turns south-southeast, briefly passing through Courtdale and into Luzerne, where it exits the water gap. After several tenths of a mile, the creek turns south, crossing Pennsylvania Route 309 and entering Pringle, where it disappears from the surface. The creek reappears in Edwardsville and flows west for a few tenths of a mile before turning south and then south-southwest. Several tenths of a mile further downstream, it reaches its confluence with the Susquehanna River on the border between Edwardsville and Larksville.[2]

Toby Creek joins the Susquehanna River 187.79 miles (302.22 km) upriver of its mouth.[3]

Tributaries

Toby Creek has two named tributaries: Huntsville Creek and Trout Brook.[2] Huntsville Creek joins Toby Creek 5.04 miles (8.11 km) upstream of its mouth. Its watershed has an area of 14.7 square miles (38 km2). Trout Brook joins Toby Creek 7.60 miles (12.23 km) upstream of its mouth. Its watershed has an area of 4.20 square miles (10.9 km2).[3]

Hydrology

The lower reaches of Toby Creek were polluted by coal mining waste in the early 1900s.

combined sewer overflow in the watershed, near the mouth of the creek.[7]

The

gage height of the creek between 1986 and 1993 ranged from 0.25 feet (0.076 m) to 1.46 feet (0.45 m), but can be over 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m) during severe floods.[9][10]

The

water hardness in the creek's waters ranges from 26 to 84 milligrams per liter (0.026 to 0.084 oz/cu ft).[11]

The concentration of

dissolved oxygen in the waters of Toby Creek ranges from 9.1 to 13.6 milligrams per liter (0.0091 to 0.0136 oz/cu ft) and is typically over 10 milligrams per liter (0.0100 oz/cu ft). The concentration of carbon dioxide in the waters of the creek ranges from 0.9 to 12 milligrams per liter (0.00090 to 0.01199 oz/cu ft) and the ammonia concentration ranges from 0.05 to 0.76 milligrams per liter (5.0×10−5 to 0.000759 oz/cu ft) per liter. The nitrite concentration ranges from 0.048 to 0.124 milligrams per liter (4.8×10−5 to 0.000124 oz/cu ft) and the nitrate concentration ranges from 0.94 to 1.60 milligrams per liter (0.00094 to 0.00160 oz/cu ft). The phosphorus concentration ranges between 0.06 and 0.62 milligrams per liter (6.0×10−5 and 0.000619 oz/cu ft). The concentration of chloride ranges from 7 to 25 milligrams per liter (0.0070 to 0.0250 oz/cu ft) and the sulfate concentration ranges from 2 to 24 milligrams per liter (0.0020 to 0.0240 oz/cu ft).[11] The average concentration of total dissolved solids in the creek is 117 milligrams per liter (0.117 oz/cu ft), but this was historically slightly higher.[7] A total of 10,200 tons of dissolved solids flow through the creek per day.[11]

The

aluminum was once measured to be 12,000 milligrams per liter (12 oz/cu ft). The concentrations of chromium and copper were both once measured to be 20 micrograms per liter (2.0×10−5 oz/cu ft) and the arsenic concentration was measured to be 1 microgram per liter (1.00×10−6 oz/cu ft). The manganese and zinc concentrations were once measured to be 520 and 70 micrograms per liter (0.000519 and 7.0×10−5 oz/cu ft).[11]

Geography, geology, and climate

The elevation near the mouth of Toby Creek is 518 feet (158 m) above sea level.[12] The elevation of the creek's source is between 1,220 and 1,240 feet (370 and 380 m) above sea level.[2] Its gradient is relatively low.[13] In its upper 8 miles (13 km), the creek's elevation decreases at a rate of 92.5 feet (28.2 m) per mile. In its lower 3 miles (4.8 km), its elevation decreases at a rate of 24 feet (7.3 m) per mile.[4]

Toby Creek passes through a

glaciation.[4]

The channel of Toby Creek is

Chemung Formation occur in the vicinity of Toby Creek.[1] The bedrock is 4.4 feet (1.3 m) underground in some areas of the watershed.[14]

A large impounding basin diverts water away from Kingston and Pringle.

channelized for much of its length and has been relocated in places.[17]

In the uppermost 31.8 square miles (82 km2) of the watershed of Toby Creek, the annual rate of precipitation ranges from 35 to 50.4 inches (89 to 128 cm), with an average of 40.6 inches (103 cm). The waters of the creek at one site have a velocity of 10.7 feet (3.3 m) per second.[14] The water temperature was measured several times between January and August 1976. In January, February, and March, it ranged from 0.0 to 5.0 °C (32.0 to 41.0 °F).[11]

Watershed

The

stream density of the uppermost 31.8 square miles (82 km2) of the watershed is 1.6 miles (2.6 km) per 1 square mile (2.6 km2). A total of 59.7 percent of this segment of the watershed is forested and 17.7 percent is urban.[14]

Toby Creek's watershed is in part or all of 14 municipalities. It is in ten boroughs:

Endless Mountain regions are associated with the creek's watershed and are adjacent to it.[7]

The watershed of Toby Creek is predominantly rural. Most of it (61.3 percent) is forested land. Considerably less common are grassland (19.6 percent) and urban land (16.4 percent). A total of 2.1 percent of the creek's watershed consists of wetlands and 0.6 percent consists of mining lands. The mining land is confined to one area near the mouth of the creek.[7]

The watershed of Toby Creek is very narrow in its lower reaches. However, it becomes much broader in its middle and upper reaches. The watershed is developed. The number of employees in the creek's drainage basin is expected to increase until 2030.

US Route 11 passes through its southernmost part.[18]

A total of 4.03 million gallons of water per day are withdrawn from Toby Creek and its tributaries. 3.38 million gallons per day (84 percent) are removed by registered water suppliers and 0.51 million gallons per day (13 percent) are removed for commercial and industrial purposes. 0.10 million gallons per day (2 percent) are removed for mineral purposes and 0.04 million gallons per day (1 percent) are removed for residential purposes. A reservoir known as the Huntsville Reservoir is located in the watershed of Toby Creek. It has a capacity of approximately 1.915 billion gallons.[18]

Toby Creek is the main source of flooding in Courtdale, Dallas, Luzerne, Pringle, and Kingston Township. It is also one of the main sources of flooding in the borough of Kingston. However, the creek's floods cause little damage in Courtdale, since its floodplain is relatively undeveloped in that borough.[9] The creek has an Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan.[5]

There are numerous swamps, lakes, and ponds in the watershed of Toby Creek.[4]

History

Toby Creek in the late 1800s or early 1900s

Toby Creek was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1189612.[12]

An ancient fortification is located on a plain near Toby Creek in Kingston Township. The fort is elliptical and measures 337 by 272 feet (103 by 83 m). It is 150 feet (46 m) from the creek and 0.5 miles (0.80 km) from the Susquehanna River.[1]

In the beginning of the 1800s, there were no roads going through the valley of Toby Creek. However, one was built by the late 1800s or early 1900s.

Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad followed also traversed the watershed and followed the creek in its lower reaches.[4]

The two most severe floods in the watershed of Toby Creek occurred on December 30, 1942 and June 22, 1972. During these floods there were peak discharges of 3,010 and 3,390 cubic feet per second (85 and 96 m3/s), respectively. The

gage heights reached 4.8 feet (1.5 m) and 6.1 feet (1.9 m).[9]

Numerous bridges have been built over Toby Creek. One was built in 1920 and repaired in 1989. Another was built in 1928 and repaired in 1963 and a third was built in 1939. Six bridges were built over the creek in 1941, all of them in Kingston Township or Dallas Township.[19] Another bridge was built over Toby Creek in 1955 and four more were built in 1963, one of which was repaired in 1988.[19] One was built in 1970 and repaired in 1980 and another was built in 1976 and repaired in 1997. Two more bridges were built across the creek in 1980, one more in 1984, and one in 1989.[19]

The streambank of Toby Creek underwent a stabilization project after 2005.[20]

Biology

The drainage basin of Toby Creek upstream of the tributary Huntsville Creek is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. From below Huntsville Creek downstream to Pringle, where Toby Creek disappears from the surface, Toby Creek and its drainage basin are designated as a Trout Stocking Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. From that point downstream to the creek's mouth, the drainage basin is designated as a Warmwater Fishery.[16][note 1] Wild trout naturally reproduce in the creek from its headwaters downstream to its mouth.[21]

The concentration of fecal coliform bacteria in the waters of Toby Creek was once measured to be 1000 colonies per 100 millilitres (3.5 imp fl oz; 3.4 US fl oz).[11]

Out of a number of stream segments studied by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, a section of Toby Creek was found to be the poorest habitat. Specific problems faced by the creek at this site include embeddedness, a lack of riffles, poor epifaunal substrate, low instream cover, low-quality streambanks, and sediment deposition.[6] The borough of Dallas has plans to construct a greenway along the creek.[22]

See also

  • Brown Creek, next tributary on the west side of the Susquehanna River going downriver (Note: Shupps Creek is a tributary between Toby Creek and Brown Creek.)
  • Mill Creek (Susquehanna River)
    , next tributary of the Susquehanna River going upriver
  • List of rivers of Pennsylvania

Notes

  1. ^ See § 93.3 of Chapter 25 of the Pennsylvania Code for definitions.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Henry C. Bradsby, ed. (1893), History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, pp. 19, 24, 468–469, 593
  2. ^ a b c d United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, retrieved February 14, 2015
  3. ^ a b c Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, pp. 76, 141–142, retrieved February 14, 2015
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Water Supply Commission of Pennsylvania (1921), Water Resources Inventory Report, pp. 608–609
  5. ^ a b c d Borton-Lawson (June 30, 2010), Luzerne County Act 167 Phase II Stormwater Management Plan (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2014, retrieved February 15, 2015
  6. ^ a b Susquehanna River Basin Commission (September 2009), Susquehanna River Basin Commission Middle Susquehanna Subbasin Year-1 Survey (PDF), retrieved February 15, 2015
  7. ^ a b c d e Dale A. Bruns, Geospatial Tools to Support Watershed Environmental Monitoring and Reclamation: Assessing Mining Impacts on the Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna American Heritage River (PDF), pp. 14–15, 16, 18, 23, archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015, retrieved March 12, 2015
  8. ^ a b United States Geological Survey, USGS 01537000 Toby Creek at Luzerne, PA, retrieved February 15, 2015
  9. ^ a b c d e f Federal Emergency Management Agency, Flood Insurance Study VOLUME 1 of 6 LUZERNE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA (ALL JURISDICTIONS) (PDF), pp. 32, 34, archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2015, retrieved February 15, 2015
  10. ^ United States Geological Survey, USGS 01537000 Toby Creek at Luzerne, PA, retrieved February 15, 2015
  11. ^ a b c d e f g United States Geological Survey, USGS 01537000 Toby Creek at Luzerne, PA, retrieved February 15, 2015
  12. ^ a b c Geographic Names Information System, Feature Detail Report for: Toby Creek, retrieved February 14, 2015
  13. ^ a b c William Penn Ryman (1901), The Early Settlement of Dallas Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, pp. 8, 12–13, 20
  14. ^ a b c Luzerne Conservation District (November 2013), Toby Creek Streambank Stabilization Project (PDF), retrieved February 15, 2015
  15. ^ a b c "New flood maps mean big savings to Kingston", Times Leader, February 16, 2013, retrieved February 15, 2015
  16. ^ a b "§ 93.9k. Drainage List K. Susquehanna River Basin in Pennsylvania Susquehanna River", Pennsylvania Code, retrieved February 15, 2015
  17. ^ a b Luzerne Conservation District, 2010 ANNUAL REPORT (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016, retrieved February 18, 2015
  18. ^ a b Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (October 2009), Supporting Documentation Toby Creek, Luzerne County Nomination for Critical Water Planning Area Under Pennsylvania State Water Plan (PDF), retrieved February 15, 2015
  19. ^ a b c Luzerne County, retrieved February 14, 2015
  20. ^ Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc., Streambank Stabilization (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016, retrieved February 15, 2015
  21. ^ Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (January 2015), Pennsylvania Wild Trout Waters (Natural Reproduction) (PDF), p. 49, retrieved February 18, 2015
  22. ^ Planning Matters: Case Study #4 (PDF), retrieved February 15, 2015

External links

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