Burgess Brook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burgess Brook |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | valley on the northern side of Bartlett Mountain in North Branch Township, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania 1,489 ft (454 m) |
| River mouth | North Branch Mehoopany Creek in North Branch Township, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania at Lovelton 892 ft (272 m) 41°32′01″N 76°10′07″W / 41.5336°N 76.1687°W |
| Length | 1.2 mi (1.9 km) |
| Width |
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| Basin features | |
| Progression | North Branch Mehoopany Creek → Mehoopany Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 1.42 sq mi (3.7 km2) |
Burgess Brook is a small stream, also called a tributary, located in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It flows into another stream called North Branch Mehoopany Creek.
This brook is about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long. It flows through a place called North Branch Township. The land area that drains water into Burgess Brook is about 1.42 square miles (3.7 km2).
Burgess Brook is quite narrow and flows downhill quickly. It's in a quiet, remote area, far from most roads. It's special because it's known for its wild trout. It has many brook trout and some brown trout. Other fish species also live there.
Contents
Where Does Burgess Brook Flow?
Burgess Brook starts in a valley on the northern side of Bartlett Mountain. This is in North Branch Township.
The stream first flows northeast for a short distance. Then, it turns and flows north-northeast for a longer stretch. After that, it flows north for several tenths of a mile. It leaves the valley at the bottom of Bartlett Mountain. Finally, it meets and joins the North Branch Mehoopany Creek.
Burgess Brook joins North Branch Mehoopany Creek about 2.92 miles (4.70 km) before that creek reaches its own end.
What is the Water Like?
The land where Burgess Brook ends, near its mouth, is about 892 feet (272 m) above sea level. Where the stream begins, at its source, the land is higher, about 1,489 feet (454 m) above sea level.
Burgess Brook is a "high-gradient" stream. This means it flows downhill very steeply, dropping about 90.6 meters per kilometer (478 ft/mi) for every kilometer it travels. It's also quite narrow, only about 0.8 meters (2.6 ft) wide at its mouth.
Scientists studied the water in August 2001. They found the water's pH was 6.4. This number tells you if water is acidic or basic. They also measured other things like alkalinity and water hardness. When the air was 26.0 °C (78.8 °F), the water temperature was 16.7 °C (62.1 °F). These conditions are good for the fish that live there.
The Land Around the Stream
The area of land that collects water for Burgess Brook is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 1.42 square miles (3.7 km2). The stream is entirely within a map area called the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Jenningsville. It meets North Branch Mehoopany Creek near a place called Lovelton.
The very beginning of Burgess Brook is in a remote area. It's close to the edge of Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 57. People have described this area as "a remote, natural and unspoiled environment." In 2000, not many people lived in this watershed. There were only about 3 people per square kilometer.
Most of the land near the stream's source is covered in forests. However, closer to where the stream ends, you can find some farms.
Burgess Brook is quite isolated. No part of the stream is within 100 meters (330 ft) of a road. Only a small part (9 percent) is within 300 meters (980 ft) of a road. Even less (22 percent) is within 500 meters (1,600 ft) of a road. About 30 percent of the stream's length flows through public land.
History and Fun Facts
Burgess Brook was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system keeps track of names for places like rivers and mountains.
In 2001, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission studied the stream. They suggested that Burgess Brook should be called Class A Wild Trout Waters. This is a special designation for streams that have healthy populations of wild trout. In 2016, someone from the Mehoopany Creek Watershed Association suggested an even higher protection for the stream. They wanted it to be a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery and Migratory Fishery.
Even though it has trout, Burgess Brook was noted in 2001 as not being a great place for angling (fishing).
Animals in the Water
Wild trout naturally live and reproduce in Burgess Brook. They are found from the very beginning of the stream all the way to its mouth. In 2013, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission added Burgess Brook to its list of wild trout streams.
In a 2001 study, scientists found five different types of fish at the mouth of Burgess Brook. These included wild brook trout and brown trout. They counted 41 brook trout, which were between 50 to 199 millimeters (2.0 to 7.8 in) long. They also found one brown trout, which was between 150 and 174 millimeters (5.9 and 6.9 in) long. The total weight of trout in the stream was about 43.35 kilograms per hectare (38.68 lb/acre). Other fish species found in the stream were blacknose dace, longnose dace, and creek chub.
Burgess Brook is officially classified as a Coldwater Fishery. This means it's a stream that is cold enough for fish like trout to live in. Even more, its current use is considered a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery. It's also designated as Class A Wild Trout Waters for brook trout along its entire length.
