White Deer Hole Creek
White Deer Hole Creek | |
---|---|
Crawford Township, Clinton County | |
• coordinates | 41°05′19″N 77°11′38″W / 41.08861°N 77.19389°W[1] |
• elevation | 2,180 ft (660 m)[2] |
Mouth[4] | |
• average | 70.4 cu ft/s (1.99 m3/s)[4] |
• minimum | 33 cu ft/s (0.93 m3/s) |
• maximum | 111 cu ft/s (3.1 m3/s) |
Discharge | |
• location | near Elimsport[5] |
• average | 4,200 cu ft/s (120 m3/s)[5] |
Basin features | |
Tributaries | |
• left | Spring Creek |
• right | Beartrap Hollow |
White Deer Hole Creek is a 20.5-mile (33.0 km)
As of 2006, the creek and its 67.2-square-mile (174 km2) watershed are relatively undeveloped, with 28.4 percent of the watershed given to agriculture and 71.6 percent covered by forest, including part of
Historically, two paths of the native
Name
Two
In 1870, 88-year-old John Farley gave a second explanation of the name. His family had settled on the banks of White Deer Hole Creek in 1787, and John's father John built a mill on the creek by 1789. The creek was named because "a white deer is said to have been killed at an early day in a low hole or pond of water that once existed where my father built his mill". The hole was "a large circular basin of low ground of some ten acres [(four ha)] in extent....after my father's mill and dam were built the water of the dam overflowed and covered the most of the hollow basin of ground."[8] The mill was just west of the mouth at the unincorporated village of Allenwood (then called Uniontown), now in Gregg Township in Union County.[8]
The name "White Deer Hole Creek" is unique in the USGS Geographic Names Information System and on its maps of the United States.[1] Although the whole creek is now referred to by this name, in 1870 the name applied only to the section from the confluence with Spring Creek east to its mouth, while the main branch west of Spring Creek was called "South Creek".[9] Meginness used this name in 1892 and it appeared on a 1915 state map of Union County (but not the 1916 Lycoming County map).[8][10][11] As of 2022 the name "South Creek" has disappeared, but there is still a "South Creek Road" on the right bank of the creek in Gregg Township from near the mouth of Spring Creek west to the county line.[12]
According to Meginness, the 17-mile (27 km) long and 8-mile (13 km) wide White Deer Hole Creek valley was just called "White Deer valley" by many in 1892, and this is still common.[8][13] Confusion about the names arises since White Deer Creek is the next creek south of White Deer Hole Creek (they are on opposite sides of South White Deer Ridge).[14] The Lenape name for White Deer Creek was Woap'-achtu-hanne (translated as "white-deer stream").[7]
Spring Creek is the only named tributary of White Deer Hole Creek. Five unnamed tributaries flow through named features of South White Deer Ridge. Going upstream in order they are: Beartrap Hollow, First Gap, Second Gap, Third Gap, and Fourth Gap.[15]
Course
Lycoming County is about 130 miles (210 km) northwest of
It soon flows into Washington Township, which has more of White Deer Hole Creek than any other township. It receives unnamed tributaries in the Fourth, Third, Second, and First Gaps of South White Deer Ridge on the south or right bank. The creek leaves Tiadaghton State Forest after the Third Gap (the forest itself continues along the ridge to the river), and stops being "Class A Wild Trout Waters" between the Second and First Gaps.[17] It receives the unnamed tributary in Beartrap Hollow 10.8 miles (17.4 km) upstream of its mouth, then passes south of the unincorporated village of Elimsport.[18]
White Deer Hole Creek then flows east into Gregg Township in Union County, receiving its major tributary, Spring Creek, on the left bank 3.6 miles (5.8 km) upstream of its mouth.
The creek next flows just south of the hamlet of Spring Garden, then south of the village of Allenwood, where it has its
From the mouth of White Deer Hole Creek it is 17.7 miles (28.5 km) along the West Branch Susquehanna River to its confluence with the
For its entire length, White Deer Hole Creek runs along the north side of South White Deer Ridge, an east–west ridge of the Appalachian Mountains. North White Deer Ridge and Bald Eagle Mountain form the northern edge of the creek valley. There are 24 unnamed tributaries on the south side of the creek, all flowing down the side of South White Deer Ridge, while there are only 11 tributaries on the north side, including Spring Creek.[15]
White Deer Creek, the next major creek to the south, flows along the other side of South White Deer Ridge in Union County and is just 1.9 miles (3.1 km) away (as measured along the West Branch Susquehanna River). The next major creek to the north is
White Deer Hole Creek joins the West Branch Susquehanna River 17.66 miles (28.42 km) upstream of its mouth.[18]
Geology
White Deer Hole Creek is in a sandstone, limestone, and shale mountain region, entirely in the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians.
From 1961 to 1995, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) operated one stream gauge on White Deer Hole Creek at the Gap Road bridge (upstream of Elimsport), for the uppermost 18.2 square miles (47 km2) of the watershed. The highest yearly peak discharge measured at this site was 4,200 cubic feet (120 m3) per second and the highest yearly peak gauge height was 11.83 feet (3.61 m), both on June 22, 1972, during Hurricane Agnes. The lowest yearly peak discharge in this time period was 135 cubic feet (3.8 m3) per second and the lowest yearly peak gauge height was 4.29 feet (1.31 m), both on November 26, 1986.[5] The USGS also measured discharge at Allenwood, very near the creek's mouth, as part of water quality measurements on seven occasions between 1970 and 1975. The average discharge was 70.4 cubic feet (1.99 m3) per second, and ranged from a high of 111 cubic feet (3.1 m3) per second to a low of 33 cubic feet (0.93 m3) per second.[4] There are no other known stream gauges on the creek.
Watershed
The White Deer Hole Creek watershed consists of 0.08 percent of the area of Clinton County, 4.40 percent of the area of Lycoming County, and 3.67 percent of the area of Union County. Neighboring watersheds are the West Branch Susquehanna River and its minor tributaries (north and east), White Deer Creek (south), and
In 2000, the White Deer Hole Creek watershed population was 2,672.[3] In the 1970s, Amish began moving to the Elimsport area from Lancaster County. In 1995 there were over 200 Amish in more than twenty families.[13] In comparison, Washington Township's population was 1,619 in 2010 (and 1769 in 2020).[27] Elimsport has Amish harness, machine repair, and food shops, and a new one-room school was built nearby in 1997.[28][29]
The watershed area is 67 square miles (170 km2), with 48 square miles (120 km2) of forest and 19 square miles (49 km2) for agriculture. By area, 1.1 percent of the watershed lies in Clinton County (in Crawford and Greene Townships), 81.6 percent lies in Lycoming County (in Brady, Clinton, Limestone, and Washington Townships), and 17.3 percent lies in Union County (in Gregg, Lewis, West Buffalo, and White Deer Townships).[3]
Spring Creek is the major tributary, draining an area of 21.1 square miles (55 km2) or 31 percent of the total White Deer Hole Creek watershed. No other tributaries are named and only the area of the tributary in Beartrap Hollow is known, with 0.42 square miles (1.1 km2) or 0.63 percent of the total.[18]
Water quality and pollution
Clearcutting of forests in the early 20th century and the ordnance plant in the Second World War adversely affected the White Deer Hole Creek watershed's ecology and water quality.[30][31] Agricultural runoff was and is another potential source of pollution. Gregg Township had no wastewater treatment plant until an 800,000-gallon/day (304 m3/day) plant was built along the river just north of the creek for the federal prison (90 percent) and village of Allenwood (10 percent).[32] The drainage basin has been designated by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as "a high quality watershed" since 2001.[33]
The mean annual
Recreation
Edward Gertler writes in Keystone Canoeing that White Deer Hole Creek "offers a good springtime beginner cruise through a pretty, agricultural valley" with "many satisfying views" and "good current and many easy riffles".
White Deer Hole Creek is designated by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission as a "Class A Wild Trout Waters" stream, from the source downstream to the Township Road 384 (Gap Road) bridge. The unnamed tributary in Fourth Gap is also "Class A Wild Trout Waters". The creek downstream from the bridge, as well as Spring Creek, have been designated as approved trout waters by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and are
Hunting, trapping, and fishing are possible with proper licenses in Tiadaghton State Forest and the 3,018 acres (1,221 ha) in State Game Lands No. 252.[36] In 2002, a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources report on "State Forest Waters with Special Protection" rated White Deer Hole Creek from its source to Spring Creek as a "High Quality-Cold Water Fishery".[37] In addition to these public lands, there are private hunting and fishing clubs and cabins along White Deer Hole Creek and its tributaries. Popular game species include American black bear, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, and wild turkey.[38]
Part of the 261-mile (420 km)
Roads and trails in the state forest are also open for horseback riding and mountain biking.[39] Some trails are dedicated to cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in winter. The state forest is open for primitive camping, although certain areas require a permit. Small campfires are allowed, except from March to mid-May and October through November, or by order of the district forester, when self-contained stoves are allowed.[38]
History
Native American paths
The first recorded inhabitants of the Susquehanna River valley were the Susquehannocks, an Iroquoian speaking people. Their name meant "people of the muddy river" in the Algonquian, but their name for themselves is unknown. Decimated by diseases and warfare, they had largely died out, moved away, or been assimilated into other tribes by the early 18th century. The lands of the West Branch Susquehanna River valley were then chiefly occupied by the Munsee phratry of the Lenape (or Delaware), and were under the nominal control of the Five (later Six) Nations of the Iroquois. Two important paths of these native indigenous peoples ran along parts of White Deer Hole Creek.[8]
The Great Island Path was a major trail that ran north along the Susquehanna River from the Saponi village of Shamokin at modern Sunbury, fording the river there and following the west bank of the West Branch Susquehanna River north until White Deer Hole valley. The path turned west at Allenwood and followed White Deer Hole Creek until about the present location of Elimsport. There it headed northwest, crossed North White Deer Ridge and passed west through the Nippenose valley, then turned north and crossed Bald Eagle Mountain via McElhattan Creek and ran along the south bank of the river to the Great Island (near the present day city of Lock Haven). The stretch from the mouth of the creek to the Nippenose valley is approximately followed by Route 44. From the Great Island, the Great Shamokin Path continued further west to the modern boroughs of Clearfield and Kittanning, the last on the Allegheny River.[41]
Culbertson's Path followed White Deer Hole Creek west from Allenwood, then followed Spring Creek north, crossed Bald Eagle Mountain and followed Mosquito Run to the river at the current borough of Duboistown. Here it crossed the river to "French Margaret's Town" (western modern day Williamsport) before joining the major Sheshequin Path, which led north up Lycoming Creek to the North Branch of the Susquehanna River, modern New York, and the Iroquois there. These trails were only wide enough for one person, but settlers in White Deer Hole valley broadened the path to DuBoistown to take grain to Culbertson's mill on Mosquito Run, hence the name.[41] Culbertson's Path was used as a part of the Underground Railroad until the American Civil War began in 1861. Escaped slaves would often wade in creeks to hide their scent from pursuing bloodhounds.[42] In 2009, there is still a "Culbertson's Trail", for hiking over Bald Eagle Mountain from Pennsylvania Route 554 to Duboistown.[15]
Lycoming County boundaries
When Lycoming County was organized on April 13, 1795, the bill passed by the Pennsylvania legislature defined the new county's boundaries thus:
That all that part of
Nittany mountain; thence running along the top or highest ridge of said mountain, to where White Deer Hole creek runs through the same; and from thence by a direct line crossing the West Branch of Susquehanna, at the mouth of Black Hole creek to the end of Muncy Hills; thence along the top of Muncy Hills and the Bald Mountain to the Luzerne county line, shall be, and the same is hereby erected into a separate county, to be henceforth called and known by the name of Lycoming County.[8][emphasis added]
The borders of the county have changed considerably since, but the White Deer Hole Creek watershed still approximates the county line in the south. Until 1861, what is now Gregg Township in Union County was a part of Brady Township in Lycoming County. Thus, until the start of the American Civil War, almost all of White Deer Hole Creek and its watershed were part of Lycoming County.[8]
Early inhabitants
Prior to construction, the site of the wastewater treatment plant yielded archeological evidence of habitation by indigenous peoples from the
In the American Revolutionary War, settlements throughout the Susquehanna valley were attacked by
Lumber and logging railroad
Beginning with the first settlers, much of the land along White Deer Hole Creek was slowly cleared of timber. Small sawmills were constructed in the 19th century, and a much larger lumber operation was run by the Vincent Lumber Company from 1901 to 1904. The company built a
From 1900 to 1935, much of what is now Tiadaghton State Forest was purchased by Pennsylvania from lumber companies that had no further use for the clear-cut land. In the 1930s there were seven Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps to construct roads and trails in the forest.[38] CCC Camp S-125-Pa (Elimsport) was located 15 miles (24 km) west of Allenwood along the creek, between the Third and Fourth Gaps.[45]
Small-scale lumbering continues in the watershed, but the forest is certified as well-managed "in an environmentally sensitive manner" and lumber from it qualifies for a "green label".[38] Gertler reports lumber operations along White Deer Hole Creek near Elimsport in the early 1980s.[35] A sawmill owned and operated by Amish on Route 44 in Elimsport burned down on May 10, 2006, causing $500,000 in damages, but was expected to be back in operation in a month;[46] it has since reopened. Despite this small-scale lumbering, the forests have grown back since the clear cutting of the 19th century, and are mixed oak, with blueberry and mountain laurel bushes. White Deer Hole Creek and its tributaries also have stands of hemlock and thickets of rhododendron along them.[39]
Ordnance plant to federal prison and game lands
During the Second World War, the federal government built the $50 million Susquehanna
The depot closed after the war and the land was used by the United States Army for testing.
The remaining 3,018 acres (1,221 ha) were given to Pennsylvania and became State Game Lands 252.
See also
- Delaware Run, next tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River going downriver (left bank)
- Black Run (West Branch Susquehanna River), next tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River going upriver (right bank)
- List of rivers of Pennsylvania
References
- ^ a b c d e Geographic Names Information System, United States Geological Survey (1979-08-02). "Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report: White Deer Hole Creek". Retrieved 2022-11-17.
- ^ OCLC 17150333.
- ^ a b c d "Chesapeake Bay Program: Watershed Profiles: The White Deer Hole Creek - At Allenwood Watershed". Chesapeake Bay Program Office, 10 Severn Avenue, Suite 109, Annapolis, MD 21403. Archived from the original on 2009-04-18. Retrieved 2006-03-21.
- ^ a b c United States Geological Survey. "Water Quality Samples for the Nation, USGS 01553110 White Deer Hole Creek at Allenwood, PA". Charts, Graphs. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
- ^ a b c United States Geological Survey. "Peak Streamflow for the Nation, USGS 01553050 White Deer Hole Creek near Elimsport, PA". Charts, Graphs, Map. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
- ^ a b "Class A Wild Trout Waters" (PDF). Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). 2009-02-14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
- ^ ISBN 1-889037-11-7. Also see the following, which cites Donehoo: Runkle, Stephen A. (September 2003). "Native American Waterbody and Place Names Within the Susquehanna River Basin and Surrounding Subbasins (Publication No. 229)" (PDF). Susquehanna River Basin Commission. p. 23. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
- ^ OCRtypos).
- ^ a b Wolfinger, J.F.; contributed to USGenWeb Archives by Harold E. Bower, Jr. (1870-09-02). "White Deer Hole Valley". Lycoming Gazette and West Branch Bulletin. p. 4. Archived from the original on 2008-02-09. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
- ^ Pennsylvania State Highway Department (1915-05-01). "Map of the Public Roads in Union County, Pennsylvania" (PDF). Retrieved 2022-11-17. Note: shows "White Deer Hole Creek" and "South Creek"
- ^ Pennsylvania State Highway Department (1916-12-01). "Map of the Public Roads in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania" (PDF). Retrieved 2022-11-17. Note: shows only "White Deer Hole Creek"
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. 2022 General Highway Map of Snyder County and Union County (Note: shows White Deer Hole Creek and almost all streams feeding it in Union County) (PDF) (Map). Retrieved 2022-11-17.
{{cite map}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Ruoff, Mary (1995-11-12). "Amish, New Homes Bringing Changes to Elimsport". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. p. A3. Note: refers to "White Deer valley"
- ^ Note: For a document that refers (mistakenly) to both "White Deer Creek valley" and to "White Deer Creek" for White Deer Hole Creek and its valley, see: The Lycoming County Planning Commission; and the Lycoming County Department of Planning and Community Development (2009-02-09). "The Comprehensive Plan for Lycoming County, PA Phase II" (PDF). Completed and Adopted by the Lycoming County Board of Commissioners. pp. 227, 234. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
- ^ a b c d e f Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (2022-05-20). "Tiadaghton State Forest Map" (PDF). Retrieved 2022-11-17.
- ^ USGS Topographic Map, Carroll Quad (Map). Cartography by United States Geological Survey. ACME Mapper 2.0. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
- ^ a b "PFBC County Guide". Searchable map. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). Archived from the original on 2010-05-29. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
- ^ a b c d e f Bureau of Watershed Management, Division of Water Use Planning, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (2001). Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF). Prepared in Cooperation with the United States Department of the Interior Geological Survey. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-06-25. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Bureau of Planning and Research, Geographic Information Division. 2022 General Highway Map of Lycoming County (PDF) (Map). Retrieved 2022-11-19.
{{cite map}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Note: shows White Deer Hole Creek and almost all streams feeding it. - ^ USGS Topographic Map, Allenwood Quad (Map). Cartography by United States Geological Survey. ACME Mapper 2.0. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
- ^ Michels, Chris (1997). "Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculation". Retrieved 2006-03-21.
- ^ North Shore Railroad System. "The North Shore Railroad Company & Affiliates: Union County Industrial Railroad". Retrieved 2022-11-19. Note: The list of stations and current map show New Columbia is the northernmost point served, and do not include Allenwood.
- ^ Bureau of Rail Freight, Ports, & Waterways, Bureau of Planning and Research (August 2022). Pennsylvania Railroad Map (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
{{cite map}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey. "Geologic Map of Pennsylvania" (PDF). Map. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 16, 2001. Retrieved 2006-07-24.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey. "Distribution of Pennsylvania Coals" (PDF). Map. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 18, 2000. Retrieved 2006-07-24.
- ^ Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey. "Oil and Gas Fields of Pennsylvania" (PDF). Map. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 18, 2000. Retrieved 2006-07-24.
- ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ Pauling, Dena (2005-08-25). "Amish food store near Elimsport will remain open". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. p. B1, B3.
- ^ Barr, James P. (1997-07-24). "Amish Don't Want 'Anything Fancy': One-Room School Gets Zoning OK". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. p. A1, A6.
- ^ Natural Resources Defense Council. "What Is Clearcutting?". Retrieved 2006-11-08.
- ^ a b c "History". Organizations United for the Environment. June 1988. Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
- ^ a b c d United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons; prepared with the assistance of Louis Berger & Associates, Inc. (1991-11-15). Allenwood, Pennsylvania Federal Correctional Complex Wastewater Treatment Facility Environmental Assessment.
- ^ Lycoming County Planning Commission; prepared by Science Applications International Corp. (Sep 2001). Water Supply Plan (PDF). p. 18. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
- ^ "Acid Precipitation". Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Archived from the original on April 4, 2006. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
- ^ ISBN 0-9605908-2-X.
- ^ a b "HuntingPA.com Game Lands: Pennsylvania State Game Lands, their general location and acreage" (Searchable Database). Retrieved 2006-11-19.
- ^ "State Forest Waters with Special Protection" (PDF). Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2004. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
- ^ a b c d e Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry (November 2004). "A Public Use Map for Tiadaghton State Forest" (Map / Brochure).
- ^ a b c Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry (2002). "Central Mountains Shared Use Trails System: Union, Lycoming and Clinton Counties, Bald Eagle and Tiadaghton State Forests" (Map / Brochure).
- ^ "A Map Of The State Of Pennsylvania. Howell, Reading, 1792". The David Rumsey Map Collection, Cartography Associates. Retrieved 2008-06-22. Note: This website has more information on the mapw and the complete file in .sid.
- ^ ISBN 0-89271-090-X. Note: ISBN refers to 1998 impression.
- ^ Produced by North Star and WVIA-TV (1997). Follow The North Star To Freedom (documentary). Scranton, Pennsylvania: WVIA-TV. Archived from the original on 2009-03-05 – via PBS. 60 minutes. Retrieved on 2009-03-03.
- )
- ISBN 0-9603398-5-X.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ "Pennsylvania CCC Archive: Camp Information for S-125-Pa". Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-19. Note: this mistakenly refers to the camp as "Elmsport" instead of "Elimsport"
- ^ Holmes, Philip A. (2006-05-13). "Fire claims Route 44 sawmill". Williamsport Sun-Gazette.
- ^ a b Hunsinger Jr., Lou (2000-05-14). "Alvira: an explosive ghost town". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. p. B-1.
- ^ a b Brenneman, Pamela A. (1997-11-02). "State Ordnance Works Bunkers Remain". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. p. B-5.
- ^ Audubon Pennsylvania; Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (2004). Susquehanna River Birding and Wildlife Trail. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. pp. 34, 35. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-11-20.) Note: This guide is available both as a book (page numbers given) and website (URL given).
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ Long, Eric (2006-09-10). "Tracking Ghosts: Barn owls found, banded near Elimsport". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. p. F1, F6.
External links
- Susquehanna River Watersheds Map
- Official Clinton County Map of Crawford Township, showing source of White Deer Hole Creek (unlabeled)
- Official Lycoming County Floodplain map
- Official Union County map