Drakes Creek (East Fork Harveys Creek tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Drakes Creek |
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|---|---|
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | village of Chase, in Jackson Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania between 980 and 1,000 feet (300 and 300 m) |
| River mouth | East Fork Harveys Creek in Jackson Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania 866 ft (264 m) 41°15′23″N 75°59′44″W / 41.25649°N 75.99547°W |
| Length | 2.2 mi (3.5 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | East Fork Harveys Creek → Harveys Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 2.10 sq mi (5.4 km2) |
Drakes Creek is a small stream, also called a tributary, that flows into East Fork Harveys Creek in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. It's about 2.2 miles (3.5 km) long and runs through Jackson Township. The area of land that drains water into the creek, called its watershed, is about 2.10 square miles (5.4 square kilometers). Back in 1974, experts said the water in Drakes Creek was "excellent" quality. The ground around the creek has different types of rocks and soil, including sandstone, shale, and coal.
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Where Drakes Creek Flows
Drakes Creek starts in a village called Chase in Jackson Township. First, it flows west for a short distance. Then, it turns southwest and travels through a valley for more than a mile.
After that, the creek turns south for a little while. Finally, it turns south-southwest and joins East Fork Harveys Creek. Drakes Creek meets East Fork Harveys Creek about 0.40 miles (0.64 km) before East Fork Harveys Creek ends.
Water Flow in Drakes Creek
The amount of water flowing in Drakes Creek can change a lot, especially during big storms. This flow is called discharge. For example, at a certain spot on the creek, there's a 10 percent chance that the water flow will reach 260 cubic feet per second in a year. This means it's a fairly common event.
There's also a smaller chance, about 1 percent, that the water flow could reach 510 cubic feet per second. This would be a much larger amount of water. Even further upstream, near Pine Tree Road, the water flow is usually a bit less.
Land and Rocks Around the Creek
The land around Drakes Creek is quite interesting! Near where the creek joins East Fork Harveys Creek, the elevation is about 866 feet (264 meters) above sea level. Where Drakes Creek begins, its source, the elevation is higher, between 980 and 1000 feet (299 and 305 meters) above sea level.
A mountain called Larksville Mountain runs right next to Drakes Creek on its eastern side.
The ground and rocks around the creek are mostly made up of something called Wisconsinan Till. This is a type of soil and rock left behind by glaciers. You can also find solid rock, called bedrock, which includes sandstone, a type of sandstone with pebbles in it, shale, and coal. There are also areas with Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift, which is made of layers of sand and gravel, and some large boulders. One of these areas is right where the creek starts in Chase.
The Creek's Watershed
The watershed of Drakes Creek is the entire area of land where all the rain and snowmelt eventually drain into the creek. This watershed covers about 2.10 square miles (5.4 square kilometers). Drakes Creek is located entirely within an area mapped by the United States Geological Survey called the Kingston quadrangle.
History of Drakes Creek
Drakes Creek was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system helps keep track of names and locations of places like rivers and mountains.
In 1974, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Water Quality Management studied Drakes Creek. They found that the creek had "excellent" water quality, meaning its water was very clean and healthy.
