Coal Run (North Branch Buffalo Creek tributary) facts for kids

Coal Run is a small stream, also called a tributary, located in Union County, Pennsylvania. It flows into another stream called North Branch Buffalo Creek. Coal Run is about 3.6 miles (5.8 km) long. It travels through two areas: Lewis Township and West Buffalo Township. The area of land that drains water into Coal Run is about 5.33 square miles (13.8 km²). This stream is special because wild trout live and reproduce in its waters.

Where Coal Run Flows

Coal Run starts near a valley in Lewis Township. It flows generally southeast for a short distance before entering West Buffalo Township. Once it's in West Buffalo Township, the stream turns to flow east. As it travels, several smaller, unnamed streams join Coal Run, adding to its water. After flowing east for a few miles, it turns northeast for a bit. Finally, Coal Run meets and joins North Branch Buffalo Creek. This meeting point is about 0.46 miles (0.74 km) before North Branch Buffalo Creek itself ends.

Smaller Streams Joining Coal Run

Coal Run doesn't have any named smaller streams that flow into it. However, it does have several unnamed streams that contribute water to it along its path.

Water Quality of Coal Run

Some of the smaller streams that flow into Coal Run are considered "impaired." This means their water isn't as clean as it should be. The main reasons for this are too many nutrients (like from fertilizers) and too much siltation (fine dirt or mud). These problems often come from farming activities, especially where animals graze.

The water in Coal Run and other streams in Union County has been described as "not as clean as they should be." For example, there can be germs like E. coli in the water, which can make it unhealthy.

Over the years, efforts have been made to reduce the amount of dirt and other materials flowing into Coal Run. For instance, in 2000, a lot of dirt was carried by the stream, mainly from farm fields and eroding streambanks. There were also contributions from hay and pastures, unpaved roads, and urban areas. Scientists hope to reduce these amounts in the future to make the stream cleaner.

Similarly, the amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus (which are types of nutrients) in Coal Run have been measured. These nutrients can also come from farms and other sources. Plans are in place to try and lower these levels too, which helps improve the water quality for fish and other wildlife.

Land Around Coal Run

The land around Coal Run is mostly used for agriculture (about 50 percent) and forests (about 40 percent). This means a lot of the area is covered by farms and trees. A small part of the land (3 percent) has hard surfaces like roads or buildings.

The agricultural land in the watershed includes areas for growing crops and for hay and pastures. Some of these farm areas are on slopes, which can make it easier for soil to wash into the stream during rain.

History of Coal Run

Coal Run was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System (a database of place names) on August 2, 1979. Its special ID number in this system is 1172067.

A steel arch bridge was built over Coal Run in 1984. This bridge, which carries a road called T-394, is about 21.0 feet (6.4 m) long. It is located about 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the town of Mifflinburg.

Animals and Plants in Coal Run

One of the most exciting things about Coal Run is that wild trout live and reproduce there. This means the stream is healthy enough for these fish to lay their eggs and for baby trout to hatch and grow naturally, from the very beginning of the stream all the way to where it joins North Branch Buffalo Creek.

Along about 3.3 miles (5.3 km) of the streams in the Coal Run area, there are special strips of plants and trees called buffer strips. These plant buffers help protect the stream by filtering out pollution, preventing soil erosion, and providing shade for the water, which keeps it cool for the trout.