Farr Hollow facts for kids

Farr Hollow, also called Farr Hollow Run, is a small stream in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. It flows into a larger stream called North Branch Mehoopany Creek. Farr Hollow is about 3.1 miles (5.0 km) long. It runs through Windham Township and North Branch Township. The area of land that drains into Farr Hollow is about 2.99 square miles (7.7 km2). This stream is healthy and flows through forests and farms. Scientists have found eleven different types of fish here, including brook trout.

Where Farr Hollow Flows

Farr Hollow starts in a pond near Farr Hollow Road. This pond is in Windham Township. The stream first flows southeast, then turns south. After a short distance, it enters North Branch Township.

In North Branch Township, the stream flows south-southeast. It moves through a valley that gets narrower. This valley is located between Douglas Hill and Cedar Hill. After flowing for a few miles, Farr Hollow joins the North Branch Mehoopany Creek. It meets the creek about 0.50 miles (0.81 km) before the creek's own end.

How Healthy Is Farr Hollow's Water?

Farr Hollow is considered a healthy stream. It is not listed as a "polluted" or "impaired" waterbody.

In 2001, scientists measured the water's pH. This tells us how acidic or basic the water is. Near the start of the stream, the pH was 7.4. Near the end, it was 7.0. The water's alkalinity was also measured. This shows how well the water can resist changes in pH. It was between 66 and 72 mg/l. The water's total hardness was 132 mg/l near the start. It was 84 mg/l near the end.

The water temperature was also checked in August 2001. The air temperature nearby was 28°C (82°F). The stream's water was 17.4°C (63.3°F) in its lower parts. It was 19.1°C (66.4°F) in its upper parts.

Geography of Farr Hollow

The land around Farr Hollow has different heights. Near where the stream ends, its elevation is 781 feet (238 meters) above sea level. Near where the stream begins, its elevation is 1158 feet (353 meters) above sea level.

Farr Hollow is a stream with a moderate slope. This means it flows downhill at a steady rate. Its source is an unnamed pond. The stream is about 0.6 meters (2.0 feet) wide. This makes it the narrowest stream that flows into North Branch Mehoopany Creek that has been measured. Farr Hollow generally flows towards the southeast.

The Land Around Farr Hollow

The area of land that drains into Farr Hollow is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 2.99 square miles (7.7 km2). The entire stream is located within the Jenningsville quadrangle. This is a specific map area used by the United States Geological Survey. Farr Hollow joins North Branch Mehoopany Creek at a place called Forkston. The stream is important for supporting aquatic life.

The land near Farr Hollow is a mix of forests and farms. About 36 percent of the stream's length is close to a road. This means it's within 100 meters (330 feet) of one. In 2000, about 5 people lived in each square kilometer of the watershed. This was one of the highest population densities for streams in the area.

History of Farr Hollow

The valley where Farr Hollow flows was officially named on August 2, 1979. Its official ID number is 1174631. The stream itself doesn't have a separate official name. It is named after the valley it runs through. It is also known as Farr Hollow Run.

In the late 1800s, there was a school in Farr Hollow. It was one of five schools in what was then Forkston Township. A telephone line was built between Farr Hollow and Jenningsville in 1905.

In 2001, scientists from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission studied the fish in Farr Hollow. They also did other research on streams in the North Branch Mehoopany Creek area. They studied two spots on Farr Hollow. One was close to its mouth, and the other was further upstream. In 2016, a group called the Mehoopany Creek Watershed Association asked for more studies on Farr Hollow. They wanted to learn more about its health.

Fish and Wildlife in Farr Hollow

Wild trout naturally live and reproduce in Farr Hollow. They can be found from the stream's start all the way to its end. The stream is known as a Coldwater Fishery. This means its waters are cold enough for fish like trout to live. However, in 2001, there were not many wild brook trout found.

During the 2001 study, scientists used a method called electrofishing. They found 11 different types of fish in the lower part of Farr Hollow. They saw three wild brook trout. These trout were between 125 and 174 millimeters long. They also found one brook trout that had been stocked by people living nearby. The reason for the low number of trout was mainly that it was hard for fish to get into the stream.

Other fish species found in Farr Hollow in 2001 included:

• central stonerollers
• common shiners and golden shiners
• blacknose dace and longnose dace
• creek chub
• white sucker
• brown bullhead
• pumpkinseed
• sculpins