Dundaff Creek facts for kids

Dundaff Creek is a small tributary (a stream that flows into a larger one) in Pennsylvania, USA. It flows through parts of Susquehanna County and Lackawanna County. The creek is about 6.7 miles (10.8 km) long. It eventually flows into the East Branch Tunkhannock Creek.

The land area that drains water into Dundaff Creek is about 10.3 square miles (27 km²). This creek is considered healthy and clean. It is not listed as a polluted waterbody. The valley around Dundaff Creek is quite deep. Sometimes, the creek can flood, affecting nearby communities like Clifford and Dundaff.

Many bridges have been built over Dundaff Creek. The water in the creek is cold, which is good for fish. Wild trout live and reproduce naturally in the creek. There are also important wetlands at the start of the creek. These wetlands are listed in the Susquehanna County Natural Areas Inventory.

Journey of Dundaff Creek

Dundaff Creek starts in a wetland in Clifford Township, Susquehanna County. It flows generally northwest at first. Then, it turns southwest and enters more wetlands. Along its journey, it receives water from several smaller, unnamed streams.

The creek crosses Pennsylvania Route 247. It continues flowing southwest. After a while, it leaves Susquehanna County and enters Greenfield Township, Lackawanna County.

In Lackawanna County, the creek flows south. It then gradually turns west. It flows next to Pennsylvania Route 106 for some distance. It crosses this highway and turns north-northwest. The creek then turns west-southwest again.

Finally, Dundaff Creek turns north and re-enters Clifford Township, Susquehanna County. Here, it flows north and crosses Pennsylvania Route 106 one more time. After flowing northwest for a bit, it joins the East Branch Tunkhannock Creek. Dundaff Creek is about 6.7 miles (10.8 km) long in total.

Water Levels and Flooding

Dundaff Creek is not considered a polluted waterbody. This means its water quality is good.

The amount of water flowing in the creek can change a lot. During heavy rains, the water level can rise quickly. For example, there is a 10 percent chance each year that the water flow could reach 953 cubic feet per second (27.0 m³/s) at the county line. There is a 1 percent chance of a very large flood, where the flow could reach 1,946 cubic feet per second (55.1 m³/s).

Sometimes, major flooding has happened along Dundaff Creek. This has caused water to cover some buildings in local areas. The village of Clifford has also been affected by floods from the creek.

Land and Rocks Around the Creek

The land around the mouth (end) of Dundaff Creek is about 1,037 feet (316 m) above sea level. Near its source (beginning), the elevation is about 1,776 feet (541 m) above sea level.

The valley of Dundaff Creek is quite deep. During the Ice Age, huge sheets of ice moved across this area. The valley has thick layers of till (rock and soil left by glaciers) on its north side. On the south side, there is solid bedrock.

The ground along the lower parts of the creek is mostly made of alluvium. This is soil and sediment left by flowing water. There are also patches of wetlands and other glacial deposits nearby. Further upstream, the alluvium band gets thinner. Here, you can find more bedrock, which is made of sandstone and shale. Near the creek's start, the ground is mostly till and bedrock, with more wetlands.

Wildlife and Nature

The area that drains into Dundaff Creek is important for aquatic life. This means it supports many plants and animals that live in or near water. The wetlands at the start of the creek are very special. They are listed in the Susquehanna County Natural Areas Inventory.

The forests around these wetlands are sometimes broken up by farmland. There is also more housing being built south of the wetlands. Some wetlands in Susquehanna County are at risk of being flooded for fun activities.

The creek's watershed is known as a Coldwater Fishery. This means the water is cold enough for fish like trout. It is also a Migratory Fishery, meaning fish travel through it. Wild trout naturally live and reproduce in Dundaff Creek, from its very beginning all the way to its end.

The wetlands at the creek's source are likely influenced by beavers. They create small dams that form ponds. You can also find shrub swamps and sedge grass marshes. These areas are surrounded by northern hardwood forests. There is even a peatland or bog habitat nearby, surrounded by a large hemlock swamp forest.

History of the Creek

Dundaff Creek was officially named and added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979.

A dam called the Dundaff Dam was built on the creek in 1956. It was in Greenfield Township, Lackawanna County. A private rod and gun club built it for recreation. The dam was 7 feet (2.1 m) high and 55 feet (17 m) long. However, it was later removed because it was in poor condition. Its removal helped improve about 5.8 miles (9.3 km) of the stream's habitat for fish and other wildlife.

Many bridges have been built over Dundaff Creek over the years.

• A steel bridge carrying State Route 2008 was built in 1951 in Clifford Township. It is 47.9 feet (14.6 m) long.
• A newer bridge for Pennsylvania Route 106 was built in 2009 in the same township. It is 45.9 feet (14.0 m) long.
• Another bridge for Pennsylvania Route 106 in Greenfield Township was built in 1959 and fixed in 2007. This one is 61.0 feet (18.6 m) long.
• A bridge for State Route 1013 was built in Greenfield Township in 1996. It is 42.0 feet (12.8 m) long.

In 2013, the weight limit for the bridge carrying State Route 2008 (Airport Road) over Dundaff Creek was changed. It was set to 33 tons for single vehicles. This was part of a change for about a thousand bridges in Pennsylvania.

In August 2015, a bridge carrying Creamery Road over Dundaff Creek in Clifford Township was closed for repairs. This was part of a big project to fix many bridges in Pennsylvania. Even with some delays, the bridge was reopened on March 15, 2016. Also, two new bridges for Pennsylvania Route 247 over the creek are planned to be finished in 2018 and 2020.