Cross Run facts for kids

Cross Run is a small stream located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It's about 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometers) long. This stream flows through an area called Hazle Township. Cross Run is important because it has two reservoirs (man-made lakes) on it. These reservoirs have been used to supply water to the nearby city of Hazleton for a very long time, since at least the late 1800s or early 1900s. Both reservoirs have dams to hold the water back. Cross Run also has one smaller stream that flows into it, which doesn't have a name.

Where Does Cross Run Flow?

Cross Run starts its journey just east of a place called Pismire Ridge in Hazle Township. At first, it flows west-southwest for a short distance. Then, it turns south and soon enters its first reservoir.

Journey Through Reservoirs

After leaving the first reservoir, the stream passes through a dam called the Upper Mount Pleasant Dam. It then quickly turns southeast and enters a second reservoir. From there, it flows south-southwest for a bit. Along the way, it meets its unnamed tributary.

After receiving water from the unnamed tributary, Cross Run turns west. It then enters a third lake and turns south-southwest again. At the very end of this lake, the stream's flow sometimes disappears for a short distance. Finally, it enters a fourth lake, where it joins a larger stream called Catawissa Creek.

Water Quality of Cross Run

Some parts of Cross Run and its unnamed tributary have water quality issues. About 0.22 miles (0.35 kilometers) of Cross Run is affected. Its unnamed tributary is also affected for about 1.54 miles (2.48 kilometers).

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has noted that these sections are not ideal for aquatic life. This means the water isn't as healthy as it should be for fish and other water creatures. The main reasons for this are related to old mining activities and certain metals in the water.

The Land Around Cross Run

Cross Run is located in an interesting area. The land near where Cross Run joins Catawissa Creek is about 1,630 feet (497 meters) above sea level. Where the stream begins, the land is even higher, between 1,700 and 1,720 feet (518 and 524 meters) above sea level.

Natural Features and Resources

There's a ravine (a deep, narrow valley) in the area around Cross Run. Also, a coal mining area known as Coal Basin No. 2 is found near the stream. This coal basin is connected to another stream called Dreck Creek.

The two main reservoirs on Cross Run are near where the stream starts. The upper reservoir is about 15 feet (4.6 meters) deep on average, and its deepest point is about 20 feet (6.1 meters). It covers an area of about eight acres and holds a lot of water – about 26,500,000 gallons! The lower reservoir is also about 15 feet (4.6 meters) deep on average, but its deepest point is 25 feet (7.6 meters). It holds even more water, about 44,000,000 gallons. Both of these reservoirs are held in place by dams.

Cross Run is located in the Conyngham area, according to the United States Geological Survey. It's also in the very upper part of the area that drains into Catawissa Creek. The stream is about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) southwest of the city of Hazleton.

History of Cross Run

Cross Run has been an important water supply for a long time. As early as the 1900s, a water source called the Mount Pleasant supply existed on Cross Run. The Hazleton Water Company bought two supply reservoirs on the stream on January 8, 1895. These reservoirs were part of the Mount Pleasant Plant. They were also supplied by deep wells. Historically, Drilled wells at the start of the stream were used to get water.

Cross Run was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on January 1, 1990. This system keeps track of names for places like streams and mountains. The stream is also shown in a book called Atlas of the Anthracite Coalfields of Pennsylvania.

The water quality of Cross Run was first noted as having issues in 1996. A plan to address these issues, called a total maximum daily load, was put in place in 2003.