East Branch Rausch Creek facts for kids

The East Branch Rausch Creek is a small stream, or tributary, located in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. It's about 2.3 miles (3.7 km) long. This creek flows through two areas: Porter Township and Hegins Township.

The land area that drains into the creek, called its watershed, covers about 4.21 square miles (10.9 km²). Sadly, the creek is affected by pollution. This pollution comes from old, unused mines, which cause problems like too many metals, wrong pH levels (how acidic or basic the water is), and too much dirt or silt in the water.

Where does the creek flow?

East Branch Rausch Creek starts in a valley in Porter Township. It flows north for a short distance. Then, it turns west and gets water from a smaller stream. After that, it heads northwest, crossing a road and entering Hegins Township.

The creek then flows mostly west or west-northwest through a larger valley. It eventually turns southwest for a bit. After crossing another road, it flows west again, then west-northwest. Finally, it meets the West Branch Rausch Creek. When these two branches join, they form the main Rausch Creek.

What is the water like?

Some parts of East Branch Rausch Creek are considered "impaired." This means the water isn't as healthy as it should be. The main problems are too much siltation (dirt and mud), high levels of metals, and unhealthy pH levels. These issues are mostly caused by abandoned mine drainage (water flowing out of old mines) and other mining activities.

The creek's water often has a pH between 4.5 and 6.8. A healthy stream usually has a pH closer to neutral (around 7). The water also contains metals like iron, manganese, and aluminum. These metals can be harmful to fish and other living things in the creek.

There's also a lot of sediment (dirt and small rocks) in the creek. Most of this sediment comes from "disturbed land." This is land that has been changed by human activities, like mining. To make the creek healthy again, a lot of these pollutants need to be greatly reduced.

Where is the creek located?

The East Branch Rausch Creek starts at an elevation of about 1,303 feet (397 m) above sea level. Where it joins Rausch Creek, its elevation is about 869 feet (265 m).

The creek's watershed is nestled between two mountains: Good Springs Mountain and Big Lick Mountain. The very beginning of the creek is in a large, old strip mine that is no longer used.

There are also two large pools of water from old mines in the area. One of these, the Good Spring No. 1 Pool, drains into East Branch Rausch Creek. The other mine pool drains into a different creek.

What's in the creek's watershed?

The entire area of land that drains into East Branch Rausch Creek is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 4.21 square miles (10.9 km²). Most of the land in the watershed is covered by forests, especially deciduous forests (trees that lose their leaves in the fall).

However, a significant part of the land is "disturbed land." This means it has been changed by human activities, often from mining. There are also smaller areas of cropland and urban development.

The drainage basin of East Branch Rausch Creek is supposed to be a "Coldwater Fishery." This means it should be a good place for fish that like cold water. However, the pollution from old mines makes it difficult for fish and other wildlife to thrive there.

History of the creek

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

As of 2001, there were still seven mining operations allowed in the creek's watershed. However, only a few of them had permits to discharge water, and only one of those was actively releasing water into the environment.