Falls Creek (Buttermilk Creek tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Falls Creek |
|
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Falls Creek No. 2 |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Newton Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania between 1,200 and 1,220 feet (366 and 372 m) |
| River mouth | Buttermilk Creek in Falls Township, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania 748 ft (228 m) 41°28′42″N 75°49′59″W / 41.47842°N 75.83312°W |
| Length | 6.0 mi (9.7 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Buttermilk Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 7.27 sq mi (18.8 km2) |
| Tributaries |
|
Falls Creek (also called Falls Creek No. 2) is a small river, or tributary, that flows into Buttermilk Creek. It runs through Lackawanna County and Wyoming County in Pennsylvania, USA.
This creek is about 6.0 miles (9.7 km) long. It flows through Newton Township and Falls Township. The area of land that drains into Falls Creek is about 7.27 square miles (18.8 km2). Good news: the creek is not considered polluted or "impaired." Many bridges have been built over Falls Creek.
Contents
Where Falls Creek Flows
Falls Creek starts in Newton Township, Lackawanna County. This is close to the border of South Abington Township.
First, it flows west for a short distance. It then gets a small stream joining it from the right side. After that, the creek turns southwest for more than a mile. It then winds west-southwest past a place called Griffin Hill. It flows like this for over a mile.
Next, the creek turns south-southwest and another small stream joins it from the left side. Then, it turns west and leaves Newton Township and Lackawanna County.
Once Falls Creek leaves Lackawanna County, it enters Falls Township, Wyoming County. It flows west-northwest for a bit. Another small stream joins it from the left. Then, it turns north-northwest. After a short distance, the creek turns west-northwest again. It flows this way for more than a mile, passing by Square Top. Finally, the creek continues west-northwest through the valley of Buttermilk Creek. It then meets Buttermilk Creek.
Falls Creek joins Buttermilk Creek about 2.00 miles (3.22 km) before Buttermilk Creek reaches its own end.
Water Quality and Flow
Falls Creek is considered a healthy waterway. It is not listed as "impaired," which means its water quality is good.
When there's a lot of rain, the water level in Falls Creek can rise. For example, there's a 10 percent chance each year that the water flow could reach 431 cubic feet per second (12.2 m3/s). This is when the creek drains an area of 3.10 square miles (8.0 km2).
Land and Rocks Around the Creek
The land around the mouth of Falls Creek is about 748 feet (228 m) above sea level. The very beginning of the creek is higher up, between 1,200 and 1,220 feet (366 and 372 m) above sea level.
The ground along the lower parts of Falls Creek is mostly made of a type of soil left by glaciers, called Wisconsinan Till. Near the mouth, you can also find alluvium, which is sand and gravel. There's also some Wisconsinan Outwash, which is also material left by glaciers. In some spots, you might see patches of bedrock (solid rock) and other glacial deposits.
Further upstream, the ground along the creek is mostly alluvium. However, you can also find larger areas of Wisconsinan Till and bedrock. There are also smaller areas of other glacial deposits and even peat bogs, which are wet, spongy areas of land.
Falls Creek's Drainage Area
The entire area of land that collects water and sends it into Falls Creek is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 7.27 square miles (18.8 km2). The end of the creek is shown on a map called the Ransom quadrangle. But the beginning of the creek is on a different map called the Scranton quadrangle.
Falls Creek can sometimes cause flooding in Newton Township, Lackawanna County. Big floods on the creek can cause some local buildings to get wet. The creek is important for supporting aquatic life, meaning it's a home for fish and other water creatures.
History of Falls Creek
Falls Creek was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system keeps track of names for places in the United States. Its special ID number there is 1198722.
Several bridges have been built over Falls Creek:
- A steel bridge for T366 was built in 1920. It's about 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of Mill City. This bridge is 23.0 feet (7.0 m) long, but it is now closed to traffic.
- Another similar bridge was built in 1937 in Newton Township, Lackawanna County. It's 24.9 feet (7.6 m) long and carries State Route 4037.
- A third bridge of the same type was built in 1987 for T362. It's 36.1 feet (11.0 m) long and is located about 1.4 miles (2.3 km) northeast of Falls.
