Briar Creek Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Briar Creek Reservoir |
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| Briar Creek Lake, Briar Creek Park Lake | |
the Briar Creek Reservoir in August 2014
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 Briar Creek Reservoir
Location in Pennsylvania
Briar Creek Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Briar Creek Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 41°04′01″N 76°17′07″W / 41.0669°N 76.2854°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | East Branch Briar Creek |
| Primary outflows | East Branch Briar Creek |
| Built | early 1970s |
| Surface area | 51.04 acres (20.66 ha) |
| Max. depth | at least 12 to 14 feet (3.7 to 4.3 m) |
| Shore length1 | 1.4 km (0.87 mi) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
The Briar Creek Reservoir (also known as Briar Creek Park Lake or Briar Creek Lake) is a man-made lake in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It covers about 51 acres and is found in Briar Creek Township. This lake was built in the early 1970s to help control floods.
The reservoir is part of the 173-acre Briar Creek Lake Park. It is a popular spot for fishing and boating. Many different kinds of fish live here, and you can also see various birds.
Contents
Where is Briar Creek Reservoir?
The Briar Creek Reservoir is located on the East Branch Briar Creek. It sits in the southeastern part of the creek's area. The lake is just under 600 feet (183 meters) above sea level.
You can find the Briar Creek Reservoir west of Berwick. It is on the Berwick-Evansville Road in southwestern Briar Creek Township. The lake's edges are smooth and rounded. It has a clear channel that winds from west-northwest to east-southeast.
How Deep is the Lake?
The Briar Creek Reservoir is at least 12 to 14 feet (3.7 to 4.3 meters) deep in some parts of its eastern half. Other areas of the lake are at least 2 to 8 feet (0.6 to 2.4 meters) deep.
The Briar Creek Dam
The Briar Creek Reservoir is held back by a dam called the Briar Creek Dam. This dam was built to be about 37 feet (11 meters) high. It was designed by the Soil Conservation Service.
The land around the reservoir is mostly covered by shale rock. There is also a strip of limestone rock to the south of the lake. Much of the land nearby is grassland and not used for farming.
History of Briar Creek Reservoir
The area where the Briar Creek Reservoir now sits used to be covered in forests. In 1966, tests were done to see if the land was good for building a lake. The lake was planned for 1967 but was built in the early 1970s. Its main goal was to help control floods.
For a long time, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission owned the reservoir. They rented it to Columbia County, which took care of the lake. Today, the lake is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission now maintains it.
Since 1986, the Fowlersville Covered Bridge has been located near the Briar Creek Reservoir. The lake was officially named Briar Creek Reservoir in 1990. It was once known as Evansville Lake.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has studied the fish in the reservoir several times. They did surveys in 2002 and again in 2010.
Animals and Plants at the Lake
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regularly adds trout to the Briar Creek Reservoir. They have also placed special habitats in the lake for fish. These include platforms for turtles to sunbathe and structures called porcupine cribs for fish to hide in.
Fish Species
More than a dozen types of fish live in the Briar Creek Reservoir. The most common fish include yellow perch, brown bullhead, golden shiner, white crappie, hatchery trout, and bluegill.
Other fish you might find are white sucker, black crappie, largemouth bass, yellow bullhead, and pumpkinseed. Rarer fish species include common carp, smallmouth bass, hybrid sunfish, and channel catfish.
The largemouth bass in the lake can grow quite large, up to 20.5 inches (52 cm) long. The black crappies can be up to 14 inches (36 cm) long. The largest fish found are common carp, which can be 23 to 25 inches (58 to 64 cm) long. The smallest fish are pumpkinseeds, usually 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) long.
Bird Species
Many different waterfowl (birds that live near water) can be seen at the Briar Creek Reservoir. Even Bald eagles, which are a protected species, have been spotted here. Sandhill cranes often visit the lake when they are migrating.
Fun Activities at the Lake
The Briar Creek Reservoir is a central part of the area's outdoor activities. It is located within the 173-acre Briar Creek Lake Park. The park is named after the lake itself.
Fishing and Boating
Fishing and boating are popular activities at the Briar Creek Reservoir. However, only boats with electric motors or boats without motors are allowed on the lake. You can also moor (tie up) un-powered boats here. The lake has a special boat ramp for easy access.
The Briar Creek Reservoir is known as Approved Trout Waters. This means you can fish for trout all year round.
Other Activities
There are also places for picnicking around the Briar Creek Reservoir. Sometimes, even Weddings are held near the beautiful lake.
