geo.wikisort.org - River

Middle Creek is a tributary of Schwaben Creek in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long and flows through Washington Township.[1] The watershed of the creek has an area of 3.28 square miles (8.5 km²). The creek is designated as an impaired waterbody, with the cause of the impairment being siltation, low dissolved oxygen levels/organic enrichment, and vegetation removal and the source being agricultural activity. The creek is classified as a Trout Stocked Fishery.

Middle Creek
Middle Creek looking upstream
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	valley north of Hooflander Mountain in Washington Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
• elevation	817 ft (249 m)
Mouth
• location	Schwaben Creek in Washington Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
• coordinates	40°43′18″N 76°44′09″W
• elevation	551 ft (168 m)
Length	3.5 mi (5.6 km)
Basin size	3.28 sq mi (8.5 km2)
Basin features
Progression	Schwaben Creek → Mahanoy Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay
Tributaries
• left	two unnamed tributaries
• right	three unnamed tributaries

Course

Middle Creek begins in a valley north of Hooflander Mountain in Washington Township. It flows west-southwest for several tenths of a mile before turning west-northwest and then north, away from Hooflander Mountain. In this reach, the creek receives an unnamed tributary from the right. It then continues flowing north for more than a mile, receiving an unnamed tributary from the left and another two from the right. It then turns west for several tenths of a mile and receives an unnamed tributary from the left before turning northwest. After a short distance, it reaches its confluence with Schwaben Creek.[1]

Middle Creek joins Schwaben Creek 3.70 miles (5.95 km) upstream of its mouth.[2]

Hydrology

Middle Creek is designated as an impaired waterbody due to siltation, low dissolved oxygen/organic enrichment, and vegetation removal. The source of the impairment is agricultural activity.[3]

In one measurement on June 15, 1993, Middle Creek had a discharge of 0.68 cubic feet per second (0.019 m³/s) at Rebuck. The specific conductance of the creek was 105 micro-siemens per centimeter at 25 °C (77 °F). The pH of the creek was measured to be 7.6. the alkalinity concentration in the creek's filtered water was 33 milligrams per liter (0.033 oz/cu ft).[4]

On June 15, 1993, the concentration of carbon dioxide in Middle Creek at Rebuck was 1.3 milligrams per liter (0.0013 oz/cu ft) and the bicarbonate concentration was 33 milligrams per liter (0.033 oz/cu ft). The concentration of nitrogen in the form of nitrates and nitrites in the creek's filtered water was 3.5 milligrams per liter (0.0035 oz/cu ft).[4]

Geography, geology, and climate

The elevation near the mouth of Middle Creek is 551 feet (168 m) above sea level.[5] The elevation of the creek's source is 817 feet (249 m) above sea level.[1]

During one measurement in the morning of June 15, 1993, the water temperature of Middle Creek at Rebuck was 18.5 °C (65.3 °F), while the air temperature was 22.0 °C (71.6 °F).[4]

Watershed and biology

The watershed of Middle Creek has an area of 3.28 square miles (8.5 km²).[2] The creek is entirely within the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Klingerstown.[5] The mouth of the creek is located within 1 mile (1.6 km) of the community of Rebuck.[2]

The watershed of Middle Creek is in the middle part of the watershed of Schwaben Creek and in the lower part of the Mahanoy Creek drainage basin.[6]

Middle Creek, like all other streams in the watershed of Schwaben Creek, is designated as a Trout Stocked Fishery.[6]

History

Middle Creek was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1181020.[5]

See also

• Mouse Creek (Schwaben Creek), next tributary of Schwaben Creek going downstream
• List of rivers of Pennsylvania
• List of tributaries of Mahanoy Creek

References

---