East Branch Roaring Brook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids East Branch Roaring Brook |
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|---|---|
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | pond near Freytown in Sterling Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania between 1,940 and 1,960 feet (590 and 600 m) |
| River mouth | Roaring Brook in Covington Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania 1,654 ft (504 m) 41°18′32″N 75°29′19″W / 41.3089°N 75.4887°W |
| Length | 3.7 mi (6.0 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Roaring Brook → Lackawanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 5.90 sq mi (15.3 km2) |
The East Branch Roaring Brook is a small stream, also called a tributary, located in Wayne County and Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. It's about 3.7 miles (6.0 km) long. This stream is special because wild trout live and reproduce here naturally. Many tiny water creatures, called macroinvertebrates, also make their home in its waters.
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Where Does East Branch Roaring Brook Flow?
The East Branch Roaring Brook starts in a pond near a place called Freytown in Sterling Township, Wayne County. It flows north for a short distance. Then, it turns southwest and leaves Wayne County.
After leaving Wayne County, the stream enters Madison Township in Lackawanna County. It quickly passes through a small part of this township. Then, it flows into Covington Township. The stream winds through wetland areas. Finally, it joins a larger stream called Roaring Brook at the Hollister Reservoir. This happens about 17.14 miles (27.58 km) upstream from where Roaring Brook itself ends.
What is the Land Like Around the Stream?
The land around the East Branch Roaring Brook has different elevations. Near where the stream joins Roaring Brook, the elevation is about 1,654 feet (504 m) above sea level. Where the stream begins, its source, the elevation is higher, between 1,940 and 1,960 feet (590 and 600 m) above sea level.
The ground and rocks around the stream are made of different materials. Near the lower parts of the stream, you can find alluvium (silt, sand, and gravel left by flowing water). There are also areas with bedrock made of conglomeratic sandstone, sandstone, and shale. You might also see fill (materials used to level ground) and sand and gravel pits. Further upstream, the ground is mostly covered by a type of till left by glaciers. There are also large areas of wetlands and smaller spots of bedrock and alluvium.
What is a Watershed and Why is it Important?
The watershed of East Branch Roaring Brook covers an area of about 5.90 square miles (15.3 km2). A watershed is like a giant bowl where all the rain and snowmelt drain into a single stream or river. This stream is entirely within the Sterling area, as mapped by the United States Geological Survey.
East Branch Roaring Brook is a very important tributary to Roaring Brook. There are special wetlands nearby that are considered "Exceptional Value." In 1978, there was a plan to build a reservoir on East Branch Roaring Brook. This reservoir, called Small Potential Reservoir #37-9, would have had a dam about 46 feet (14 m) high. It was planned to be used for many different purposes.
A Look at the Stream's History
The East Branch Roaring Brook was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system helps keep track of names and locations of places in the United States. Its special ID number is 1173767.
The PPL Corporation, an electric company, has received permission to build an electric power line over East Branch Roaring Brook and the nearby wetlands.
Amazing Animals in the Stream
Wild trout naturally live and reproduce in East Branch Roaring Brook. You can find them from about 2.48 miles (3.99 km) upstream all the way to where the stream joins Roaring Brook. Because of its healthy environment, the stream is considered a "High-Quality Coldwater Fishery." This means it's a great place for coldwater fish like trout to thrive.
Many different kinds of tiny water creatures, called macroinvertebrates, have been found in East Branch Roaring Brook. These include 17 different types of insects from the orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies).
Scientists took a sample of 212 individual creatures near the stream's mouth. The most common ones were:
- Epeorus (49 individuals)
- Ephemerella (43 individuals)
- Hydropsyche (20 individuals)
- Chironomidae (11 individuals)
- Nigronia (10 individuals)
Other less common but still present creatures included Psephenus, Rhyacophila, Acroneuria, Neophylax, Hexatoma, and Agapetus. Even rarer types like Argentina, Baetis, Stenonema, Paraleptophlebia, and Cambarus were also found. Some very rare ones, like Drunella, Pteronarcys, Pycnopsyche, Promoresia, and Prosimulium, were only seen once! This shows how many different kinds of life the East Branch Roaring Brook supports.
