Covey Swamp Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Covey Swamp Creek |
|
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Covey Creek |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | hill in Moosic, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, not far from Scranton between 1,080 and 1,100 feet (330 and 340 m) |
| River mouth | Spring Brook in Moosic, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania 709 ft (216 m) |
| Length | 2.2 mi (3.5 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Spring Brook → Lackawanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
Covey Swamp Creek, also known as Covey Creek, is a small stream in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. It flows into Spring Brook, which is a larger stream. Covey Swamp Creek is about 2.2 miles (3.5 km) long. It flows through the town of Moosic. This creek is a small mountain stream.
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About Covey Swamp Creek
Covey Swamp Creek is an important part of the local water system. It helps carry water from the land to bigger rivers. Along its path, you can find a few dams. These dams create reservoirs, which are like small lakes. Some of these include Glenwood Lake Dam, Covey Dam, and Stark Dam.
Where Does the Creek Flow?
Covey Swamp Creek starts on a hill in Moosic, not far from the city of Scranton. At first, it flows towards the northwest, moving down the hill. Then, it turns and flows west-southwest for more than a mile. Along this part of its journey, another small stream joins it from the left side.
After that, the creek turns south-southwest for a short distance. It then flows into Glenwood Lake. From the lake, it travels northwest for a while before turning west again. It crosses over Interstate 476 and soon after, it meets Spring Brook. This is where Covey Swamp Creek's journey ends.
What's the Area Like?
Covey Swamp Creek is a small stream that flows through a mountainous area. Its starting point, or "source," is high up on Moosic Mountain. The elevation there is between 1,080 and 1,100 feet (330 and 340 m) above sea level. When the creek reaches its end, or "mouth," where it joins Spring Brook, the elevation is about 709 feet (216 m) above sea level.
The creek's path includes areas where dams have been built. For example, the Glenwood Lake Dam holds back water to form Glenwood Lake. There are also other reservoirs, like the Covey Reservoir and the Stark Reservoir, that are part of the creek's water system.
The Creek's Watery Home
The entire area that drains water into Covey Swamp Creek is called its watershed. Imagine it like a big bowl where all the rain and melted snow eventually flow into this one creek. This watershed is located entirely within the Avoca area, according to the United States Geological Survey.
Within this watershed, there's a wet area known as Covey Swamp. This swamp is about 1,060 feet (320 m) above sea level. The creek also drains water from a beautiful valley called Rocky Glen. So, the creek collects water from both the swamp and the glen as it flows.
A Look Back in Time
Covey Swamp Creek has been officially recognized for a while. It was added to the Geographic Names Information System on January 1, 1990. This system helps keep track of names for places like rivers and mountains. The creek was added because it appeared on a map called Patton's Philadelphia and Suburbs Street and Road Map, which was published in 1984.
In the past, the area around the creek was important for mining. A company called the Covey Creek Coal Company was started in Moosic in 1900. Also, two of the dams that are still in the creek's watershed, Covey Dam and Stark Dam, were approved way back in 1917. Both of these dams were owned by a company called the Spring Brook Water Supply Company, which provided water to the area.
