East Branch Lackawanna River facts for kids

The East Branch Lackawanna River is a cool river in Pennsylvania, USA. It's a tributary (a smaller stream that flows into a larger one) of the Lackawanna River. This river flows through Wayne County and Susquehanna County.

The East Branch Lackawanna River is about 12.7 miles (20.4 km) long. It starts in Preston Township and flows through several other towns. The area of land that drains into the river, called its watershed, is about 19.0 square miles (49 km²). The river has really good water quality and is a great place for fishing.

Nearby, you can find parts of the Moosic Mountains, like Ararat Mountain. The river's watershed also has several ponds and lakes. These include Bone Pond, Dunns Pond, Independent Lake, Lake Lorain, Mud Pond, and Orson Pond. You'll also see wetlands, swamps, farms, and forests in the area.

Historically, a railway called the New York, Ontario and Western Railway passed through this area. Many bridges cross the river, and there are three main road crossings. The river is known as a High Quality Coldwater Fishery, meaning its waters are cold and clean, perfect for fish. It's also a Migratory Fishery, which means fish travel through it. Both brook trout and brown trout live here. It's even called an "excellent wild trout fishery" because so many trout live here naturally!

Where the River Flows (Course)

The East Branch Lackawanna River starts in a small lake in Preston Township, Wayne County. It flows southwest through a valley. Along the way, it gets water from smaller streams that join it.

The valley around the river gets wider, and the river briefly turns west before heading south-southwest. It then leaves Wayne County and enters Ararat Township in Susquehanna County. Here, it flows south next to the county line.

The river passes through Mud Pond and turns west for a short bit before turning south-southeast. It then goes back into Preston Township, Wayne County, and crosses Pennsylvania Route 370. More small streams join it before it turns west-southwest and re-enters Ararat Township.

The river then flows south and slightly west for several miles, entering Herrick Township. Many more small streams add to its flow from both sides. It eventually crosses Pennsylvania Route 371 and enters Union Dale. Here, it turns south-southeast and then flows south again.

After more than a mile, the river enters Clifford Township. It turns west and quickly flows into Stillwater Lake, where it meets the main Lackawanna River. The East Branch Lackawanna River joins the Lackawanna River about 40.32 miles (64.89 km) upstream from where the Lackawanna River ends.

Smaller Streams that Join the River

The East Branch Lackawanna River doesn't have any named smaller streams (tributaries) that flow into it. However, it has many unnamed ones! Some of these include "Orson/Lorain Tributary," "Dunns Tributary," "Bone Tributary," "Independent Tributary," and "Unnamed trib 1." These smaller streams range in length from 0.8 miles (1.3 km) to 2.8 miles (4.5 km).

River Health and Water Quality

The East Branch Lackawanna River is considered a very healthy stream. Its water quality is generally excellent. In 2002, a report described most of the river's waters as "clear and inviting."

Sometimes, a place called The Preserve at Dunn Lake is allowed to release treated water into the river. This is done under a permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Scientists have measured how much water flows in the river. In 1970, the flow was 26 cubic feet per second on one day and 4.5 cubic feet per second on another. Between 1950 and 1991, the average flow at Union Dale was about 15.47 cubic feet per second (0.438 m³/s). The water temperature in the 1970s was usually between 11.0 to 18.5 °C (51.8 to 65.3 °F).

The river's pH (how acidic or basic the water is) usually ranges from 6.0 to 7.4, which is a healthy range for aquatic life. The water also contains dissolved oxygen, which fish and other creatures need to breathe. In 1975, the dissolved oxygen level was 11.0 milligrams per liter, which is very good.

River Landscape and Rocks

The land around the East Branch Lackawanna River is quite high up. The river's mouth (where it ends) is about 1,572 feet (479 m) above sea level. Its source (where it begins) is even higher, between 2,040 and 2,060 feet (620 and 630 m) above sea level.

The river starts in areas with bogs and lakes formed by ancient glaciers. Ararat Mountain and Sugar Loaf Mountain, which are part of the Moosic Mountains, are in the river's watershed. These mountains are about 2,400 feet (730 m) high.

The river has areas with gravel bottoms called riffles, which help add air to the water. It also has deep pools where fish can rest. Most of the river's banks are strong and stable. However, there are a few spots where the banks are eroding (wearing away) near bridges or farms.

An old book from 1921 described the land around the river as "rough and mountainous." The river flows through a narrow valley with steep hills. Many ponds, lakes, and swamps are found in the watershed, which was shaped by glaciers long ago. The river's path is winding and goes through sandstone and shale rock formations.

The River's Surroundings (Watershed)

The watershed (the area of land that drains into the river) of the East Branch Lackawanna River covers about 19.0 square miles (49 km²). It's found in southeastern Susquehanna County and northwestern Wayne County.

The watershed is mostly undeveloped, meaning there aren't many big cities or lots of buildings. You'll find farms, small towns, and homes. The land is used for agriculture, including dairy farms, and there are also old abandoned farms and forests. You'll also see patches of wetlands and swamps. Less than 10% of the land is covered by paved surfaces.

There are three main roads that cross the river. Also, a closed landfill (a place where trash was buried) is located near Dunn Pond in the upper part of the watershed.

The East Branch Lackawanna River is a "second-order" stream, which is a way scientists classify rivers based on how many smaller streams flow into them. Interestingly, Lake Poyntelle, which drains into the Delaware River, is very close to Lake Lorain, which drains into the East Branch Lackawanna River.

Many ponds feed the East Branch Lackawanna River. Some of the named ones are Bone Pond, Dunns Pond, Independent Lake, Lake Lorain, Mud Pond, and Orson Pond. The river's mouth is at Stillwater Dam, which was built in 1960.

River History

The East Branch Lackawanna River was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System (a list of place names) on August 2, 1979.

The New York, Ontario and Western Railway used to run through the river's watershed, starting near Lake Lorain. In the early 1900s, the main activity in the area was agriculture. Back then, small communities like Orson and Poyntelle were in the watershed.

Many bridges have been built over the East Branch Lackawanna River over the years.

• A concrete bridge for Pennsylvania Route 370 was built in 1948 in Preston Township.
• Another concrete bridge for State Route 4035 was built in Preston Township in 1960.
• A steel bridge for T592/Suecz Road in Susquehanna County was repaired in 1993.
• Another steel bridge for T609/East Mountain Road in Union Dale was built in 1920 and repaired in 1981.
• A large bridge for Pennsylvania Route 171 was built in 1958 and repaired in 1996 in Clifford Township.
• A similar bridge for Pennsylvania Route 371 was built in 2008 in Herrick Township.

In 1991, the East Branch Lackawanna River was officially recognized as a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery because of its excellent conditions for fish.

River Life (Biology)

The East Branch Lackawanna River is a special place for fish! It's designated as a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. This means it's a great habitat for fish that like cold water, and fish can travel through it.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has even marked a part of the river as "Class B wild trout waters." This means that trout naturally reproduce in the river from Mud Pond all the way to its mouth. The river has lots of brook trout and brown trout. Because so many trout live here naturally, the river doesn't need to be stocked with fish from other places.

While the river is great for fish, it has a slightly low population of macroinvertebrates (tiny creatures without backbones, like insects and worms, that live in the water).

Along the river, there are "important natural areas" at Dunns Pond and Mud Pond. You might even find some rare or endangered plant species there! These ponds and nearby wetlands are very important for the region. A wetland along the river has been named an Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society, which means it's a great place for birds. You might also see hemlock trees growing along the riverbanks.

Overall, the living conditions along the East Branch Lackawanna River are described as "excellent."

Fun Things to Do (Recreation)

The East Branch Lackawanna River is known as an "excellent wild trout fishery" and a "pristine cold-water fishery." This makes it a fantastic spot for fishing!

The O&W Trail, a path for walking and biking, now follows the river for some distance. There's even a proposal to build a public parking area for fly-fishing along the river. Union Dale Park can also be used as a public access point to the river. People exploring the river have found at least four easy ways to get to it.

In his book, Paddling Pennsylvania, Jeff Mitchell suggests that the part of the East Branch Lackawanna River that flows into Stillwater Lake is worth exploring by boat.

Back in 1970, there was an idea to build a reservoir (a large artificial lake) on the East Branch Lackawanna River. It would have been used for recreation and fishing. The plan was for it to be about 9 miles (14 km) north of Forest City, cover 45 acres (18 ha), and have a dam 60 feet (18 m) high. It was estimated that many people would visit it for fun and fishing each year.