Browns Creek (Huntsville Creek tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Browns Creek |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | valley in Lehman Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania between 1,120 and 1,140 feet (340 and 350 m) |
| River mouth | Huntsville Creek in Jackson Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania 919 ft (280 m) 41°17′40″N 75°56′49″W / 41.29454°N 75.94683°W |
| Length | 3.6 mi (5.8 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Huntsville Creek → Toby Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 3.86 sq mi (10.0 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Browns Creek is a small stream in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. It flows into Huntsville Creek. The creek is about 3.6 miles (5.8 km) long. It travels through Lehman Township and Jackson Township. The area of land that drains into the creek, called its watershed, is 3.86 square miles (10.0 km2). This area is not as developed as some nearby places. However, more buildings are starting to appear.
Contents
Where Browns Creek Flows
Browns Creek starts in a valley. This valley is in Lehman Township, southwest of the Huntsville Reservoir. The creek flows mostly south-southeast for over a mile. It then enters Jackson Township. As it flows, its valley gets a bit deeper.
Near the town of Chase, the creek turns. It starts flowing east-northeast along the border of the town. After a short distance, another small stream joins it from the left side. A bit further downstream, the creek turns again. It flows east-southeast, then east-northeast. Finally, after a few more tenths of a mile, it meets Huntsville Creek. Browns Creek joins Huntsville Creek about 1.20 miles (1.93 km) before Huntsville Creek reaches its own end.
How Healthy is Browns Creek?
Browns Creek is considered a healthy stream. It is not currently facing major pollution problems.
Land and Rocks Around the Creek
The land around Browns Creek has different types of soil and rocks. Near where the creek ends, the ground is about 919 feet (280 m) above sea level. Where the creek begins, it is higher up. The source is between 1,120 and 1,140 feet (340 and 350 m) above sea level.
Most of the ground near Browns Creek is covered by a type of soil called till. This till was left behind by glaciers. There are also areas with solid rock, called bedrock. This bedrock is made of sandstone and shale. Near the middle part of the creek, there's a large area of "Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift." This is another type of material left by glaciers. You can also find alluvium along the creek in some spots. Alluvium is soil deposited by flowing water. There are also some areas where sandstone and shale were dug out, creating pits.
The Browns Creek Watershed
The watershed of Browns Creek covers an area of 3.86 square miles (10.0 km2). The entire creek is located within the Kingston area, as mapped by the United States Geological Survey.
The land in the Browns Creek watershed is less developed. This means it has fewer buildings and roads compared to areas around Toby Creek. However, the watershed is slowly becoming more urbanized. This means more towns and cities are growing there. There are several wetlands along the creek. Wetlands are areas of land covered by shallow water. A pond called Beckers Pond is also found in this watershed.
History of Browns Creek
Browns Creek was officially named and 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.
In 2000, there was an environmental incident near the Browns Creek watershed. About 5,500 gallons of gasoline leaked from a broken pipeline. This gasoline affected three streams: Browns Creek, one of its small tributaries, and Huntsville Creek. Browns Creek was the second most affected stream. The small tributary of Browns Creek was hit the hardest. After the spill, dead fish and other water animals were seen there.
