County Line Branch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids County Line Branch |
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County Line Branch in Northumberland County
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Muncy Hills in Anthony Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania/Lewis Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania |
| River mouth | West Branch Chillisquaque Creek in Anthony Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania 518 ft (158 m) 41°04′46″N 76°41′10″W / 41.0794°N 76.6861°W |
| Length | 8.9 mi (14.3 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | West Branch Chillisquaque Creek → Chillisquaque Creek → West Branch Susquehanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 8.97 sq mi (23.2 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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County Line Branch is a small stream in Pennsylvania, USA. It flows through parts of Northumberland County and Montour County. This stream is about 8.9 miles (14.3 kilometers) long. It eventually flows into the West Branch Chillisquaque Creek.
The area around County Line Branch is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 8.97 square miles (23.2 square kilometers). Two smaller streams, Beaver Run and McKee Run, flow into County Line Branch. The headwaters, or beginning, of County Line Branch are considered a special natural area.
Contents
The Stream's Path
County Line Branch starts in the Muncy Hills. This is near the border between Anthony Township in Montour County and Lewis Township in Northumberland County. For a few miles, the stream flows south. It mostly follows the line between the two counties.
Then, the stream makes a sharp turn towards the southeast. It leaves the county line and flows roughly next to the border between Anthony Township and Limestone Township. Along this part of its journey, it crosses two main roads: Pennsylvania Route 44 and Pennsylvania Route 54.
Near the end of this stretch, a stream called Beaver Run joins County Line Branch. The stream then turns northeast into Anthony Township. Here, another stream called McKee Run flows into it. Finally, County Line Branch turns southeast one last time. It then meets the West Branch Chillisquaque Creek. This meeting point is at the southern edge of Anthony Township.
Smaller Streams that Join In
County Line Branch has several smaller streams that flow into it. These are called tributaries. The main ones are Beaver Run and McKee Run. There are also other smaller, unnamed streams that add water to County Line Branch.
Water Quality
The water in County Line Branch and its smaller streams is not as clean as it could be. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection says that the water is "impaired." This means it's not healthy enough for all the plants and animals that should live there.
One big reason for this is siltation. Siltation happens when fine dirt and mud wash into the stream. This often comes from farms in the area. When too much silt is in the water, it can harm fish and other aquatic life.
Land and Rocks Around the Stream
The land around County Line Branch has different types of rocks and soils. The stream's mouth, where it joins another creek, is about 518 feet (158 meters) above sea level.
Rock Formations
The southern part of the watershed has rocks from the Onondaga and Old Port Formation. Some areas also have rocks from the Keyser and Tonoloway Formation. In the middle parts of the watershed, you'll find rocks from the Hamilton Group. The northernmost areas, near where the stream starts, have rocks from the Trimmers Rock Formation. These different rock types show the long geological history of the area.
Soil Types
The watershed also has several kinds of soil.
- The Chenango-Pope-Holly soil series is found near the stream's mouth.
- The Hagerstown-Edom-Washington series covers a larger area in the southern part.
- The Watson-Berks-Alvira series is in the middle parts of the watershed.
- The Berks-Weikert-Beddington series is found near the stream's beginning and on its southwestern side.
You can also find glacial till in the watershed. This is a mix of rocks and soil left behind by ancient glaciers.
The Stream's Drainage Area
The watershed of County Line Branch is the entire area of land that drains water into the stream. It covers about 8.97 square miles (23.2 square kilometers). Most of this area is in Anthony and Limestone Townships in Montour County. However, a good part of it is also in Lewis Township, Northumberland County. A small section of the watershed even includes part of Turbotville. The northern edge of the watershed touches the border of Lycoming County.
The area where County Line Branch begins is mostly covered by forests. But most of the rest of the watershed is used for farming. There aren't many buildings or towns in the watershed, so it's mostly natural or agricultural land.
Past Times and Local Jobs
People have lived near County Line Branch for a very long time. An old site called the Pulsifer Site (also known as Site 36Mo79) is found on a flat area next to the stream. This is a prehistoric archaeological site. This means it's a place where scientists study things left behind by people from ancient times.
At this site, archaeologists have found 32 artifacts. Most of these are small pieces of chert, a type of rock used to make tools. One artifact is a biface, which is a stone tool shaped on both sides, like an early hand axe. These tools are made from rock that isn't found nearby, meaning ancient people brought them from other places. Some of these artifacts are from the Archaic period and the Transitional period, showing that people lived here thousands of years ago.
Today, the main jobs and activities in the upper parts of the watershed are agriculture (farming) and timbering (cutting down trees for wood).
Plants and Animals
The headwaters of County Line Branch are a very special place for nature. Many different kinds of native plants and animals live there. The forests at the headwaters are part of a larger area of woodlands.
The Montour County Natural Heritage Inventory calls the headwaters of County Line Branch a "locally significant" site. This means it's an important natural area for the region.
Trees, Shrubs, and Herbs
You can find 12 different kinds of trees at the headwaters. These include:
There are also many American beech trees.
Some of the shrubs that grow here are witch hazel, blackberry, spicebush, and mountain laurel. There are also 23 different kinds of herb plants. These include Christmas fern, Indian cucumber, veined skullcap, fleabane, and wild sarsaparilla.
Animals
The headwaters are home to three types of salamanders: the redback salamander, the northern spring salamander, and the northern two-lined salamander. You might also see stoneflies and fireflies in the area.
Ten different kinds of birds live at the stream's headwaters. These include various warblers, thrushes, and woodpeckers.
Unfortunately, some invasive species (plants or animals that are not native and can harm the environment) are found near the stream's source. There's also a concern about Beech bark disease, which could hurt the many American beech trees in the area.
