Crooked Creek (Kitchen Creek tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crooked Creek |
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Crooked Creek in Ricketts Glen State Park
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | pond at the base of North Mountain in Fairmount Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania between 1,340 and 1,360 feet (410 and 410 m) |
| River mouth | Kitchen Creek in Fairmount Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania 994 ft (303 m) |
| Length | 1.8 mi (2.9 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Kitchen Creek → Huntington Creek → Fishing Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 1.20 sq mi (3.1 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Crooked Creek is a small stream, or tributary, located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. It flows into another stream called Kitchen Creek. Crooked Creek is about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) long. It runs through Fairmount Township. This creek is special because it's home to wild trout and part of it flows through the beautiful Ricketts Glen State Park. The area around the creek covers about 1.20 square miles (3.1 km2).
Contents
Where Does Crooked Creek Flow?
Crooked Creek starts in a pond at the bottom of North Mountain. This spot is near the community of Ripple and close to Ricketts Glen State Park. The creek first flows southwest, crossing Pennsylvania Route 118.
Then, it turns west-southwest for over a mile. As it flows, the valley around it gets deeper. It crosses Bethel Hill Road and gets water from a small, unnamed stream joining it from the left. Finally, the creek turns south and soon meets Kitchen Creek. Crooked Creek joins Kitchen Creek about 4.80 miles (7.72 km) before Kitchen Creek reaches its own end.
What Is the Land Like Around the Creek?
The land around Crooked Creek has different types of soil and rocks. Much of the creek flows through areas with special ground types left behind by glaciers. These are called Wisconsinan Till and Wisconsinan Outwash.
Glacial Deposits and Alluvium
- Wisconsinan Till: This is a type of glacial till that can be more than 6 feet (1.8 m) thick. It's like a mix of rocks and dirt left by ancient glaciers.
- Wisconsinan Outwash: This material is made of layers of sand and gravel. It can be from 6 feet (1.8 m) to over 30 feet (9.1 m) thick.
- Alluvium: This is soil made of layered silt, sand, and gravel. It's usually more than 6 feet (1.8 m) thick and is found along the creek banks.
In the lower parts of the creek, you can also find bedrock made of shale and sandstone. The Wisconsinan Till is more common in the upper parts of the creek.
What Is the Creek's Watershed?
The watershed of Crooked Creek is the entire area of land where all the rain and snowmelt drain into the creek. This area is about 1.20 square miles (3.1 km2). The creek is located within two United States Geological Survey map areas: Red Rock and Sweet Valley. The mouth of the creek is in the Red Rock area, and its source is in the Sweet Valley area. The middle and lower parts of Crooked Creek flow right through Ricketts Glen State Park.
A Home for Wild Trout
Crooked Creek is very important for fish! The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has named it "Class A Wild Trout Waters" for brook trout. This means the creek is a great place for these trout to live and reproduce naturally along its entire length.
What Are Class A Wild Trout Waters?
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission says that Class A Wild Trout Waters can:
- "Support a population of naturally produced trout." This means the trout are born and grow up in the creek, not brought in from elsewhere.
- Have enough trout of a good size to make fishing fun and rewarding for a long time.
- Are not stocked with fish. This helps keep the natural balance of the creek.
