Bellas Brook facts for kids

Bellas Brook, also known as Hiller Brook, is a small stream in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. It flows into Mehoopany Creek. This brook is about 2.3 miles (3.7 km) long. It runs through Forkston Township. The area of land that drains into Bellas Brook is 2.71 square miles (7.0 km²). This stream is very clean and healthy. It is known as a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery, which means it's great for fish that like cold water.

Where Bellas Brook Flows

Bellas Brook starts in a small, unnamed pond in Forkston Township. From there, it flows mostly northwest through a wetland area. A wetland is a special place where the land is covered by water, like a swamp or marsh.

The stream then changes direction, flowing north-northeast. It passes through another small pond. After that, it turns north-northwest for a short distance. Then, it turns again to flow north-northeast and enters a valley.

Finally, Bellas Brook turns northeast. It receives water from a small, unnamed stream that joins it from the left side. Soon after, Bellas Brook meets and joins Mehoopany Creek. This meeting point is about 18.40 miles (29.61 km) upstream from where Mehoopany Creek itself ends.

Facts About the Stream

How High is Bellas Brook?

The land where Bellas Brook begins, its source, is about 2,101 feet (640 m) above sea level. Where Bellas Brook joins Mehoopany Creek, its mouth, the elevation is about 1,722 feet (525 m) above sea level. This shows that the stream flows downhill from its start to its end. Bellas Brook is known for being a small and quiet stream.

Is the Water Clean?

Yes, Bellas Brook is considered a very clean stream. It is not listed as an "impaired waterbody." This means the water quality is good and it's healthy for the plants and animals that live there.

Life Around the Brook

What is a Watershed?

The watershed of Bellas Brook is the entire area of land where all the rain and snowmelt drain into this stream. For Bellas Brook, this area covers about 2.71 square miles (7.0 km²). The stream is located entirely within a specific map area called the Dutch Mountain quadrangle, as mapped by the United States Geological Survey. The end of the stream is close to a place called Bellasylva.

Animals and Plants

Bellas Brook is important for aquatic life, which means it supports animals and plants that live in water. It is classified as a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery. This is a special name for streams that are cold and clean enough to support fish like native trout. In fact, in 1986, people noted that the stream had a good number of these native trout.

Bellas Brook Swamp

Near the very start of Bellas Brook, there is a swamp called the Bellas Brook Swamp. This swamp is listed on the Wyoming County Natural Areas Inventory, which means it's an important natural place. It's a special kind of swamp called a spruce-hemlock swamp, named after the types of trees that grow there. In 1995, scientists found two small groups of a plant that is rare in Pennsylvania growing in this swamp under red spruce trees.

History of the Stream

Bellas Brook was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system keeps track of names and locations of places in the United States. The stream also has another name, Hiller Brook, which can be seen on some maps made by the United States Geological Survey.

The Bellas Brook Swamp is located inside Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 57. These are areas set aside for wildlife and outdoor activities.