Fiddle Lake Creek facts for kids

Fiddle Lake Creek is a small river, also called a tributary, located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. It flows into the West Branch Lackawanna River. This creek is about 6 miles (9.7 km) long. It winds its way through Ararat Township, Herrick Township, and Union Dale. The area of land that drains water into the creek, known as its watershed, covers about 6.47 square miles (16.7 km2). Part of the creek has some water quality issues, mainly with its temperature. Fiddle Lake Creek flows through a deep, narrow area called the Union Dale Gorge, which is about 50 to 60 feet (15 to 18 m) deep.

Where Fiddle Lake Creek Flows

Fiddle Lake Creek starts in Fiddle Lake, which is near the southern edge of Ararat Township. From there, it flows southeast for a short distance. It then enters Herrick Township and goes through a wetland area before reaching another lake.

At this point, the creek turns and flows south-southeast for a few miles. It passes through two more wetland areas. In the southern wetland, it changes direction again, flowing south-southwest for a short distance. It then crosses Pennsylvania Route 374. After that, it turns southeast and goes through another wetland.

The creek then flows south-southwest for a bit before turning south-southeast. It enters Lewis Lake, where it flows into Union Dale. From the southeastern end of Lewis Lake, Fiddle Lake Creek flows east for a short distance. Finally, it meets and joins the West Branch Lackawanna River. Fiddle Lake Creek joins the West Branch Lackawanna River about 1.20 miles (1.93 km) upstream from where the West Branch meets the main Lackawanna River.

Water Quality of the Creek

Part of Fiddle Lake Creek is listed as an "impaired waterbody." This means that the water quality in that section isn't as good as it should be. The main problems are related to the water temperature and another cause that isn't fully known. These issues are thought to come from natural sources.

Land and Rocks Around the Creek

The land around where Fiddle Lake Creek joins the West Branch Lackawanna River is about 1,591 feet (485 m) above sea level. Where the creek starts, its source, the elevation is higher, between 2,000 and 2,020 feet (610 and 616 m) above sea level.

At the start of the creek, where water flows out of Fiddle Lake, the creek is about 3 feet (0.91 m) wide and 1 foot (0.30 m) deep. However, where it flows into Lewis Lake, it becomes much wider, about 20 to 30 feet (6.1 to 9.1 m) across, and about 3 feet (0.91 m) deep. When it flows out of Lewis Lake, it narrows again to only about 10 feet (3.0 m) wide and 6 inches (15 cm) deep.

In Union Dale, Fiddle Lake Creek flows through a deep, narrow gorge called the Union Dale Gorge. In this gorge, the creek has cut through layers of sandstone and shale rock. This has created tall, vertical rock walls that are 50 to 60 feet (15 to 18 m) deep. The creek also helps drain water from a higher area called the Ararat Plateau. There is a beautiful waterfall called Lake Lewis Falls in the area that drains into Fiddle Lake Creek, located in Union Dale.

In the early 1900s, people noted that the bottom of Fiddle Lake Creek, where it flowed out of Fiddle Lake, was muddy but didn't have much trash. However, at the outlet of Lewis Lake, the creek's bottom was rocky and had some debris. Where the creek flowed into Lewis Lake, its path was clear and went through a swampy area.

The Creek's Watershed

The watershed of Fiddle Lake Creek, which is the entire land area that collects and drains water into the creek, covers about 6.47 square miles (16.7 km2). Fiddle Lake Creek is considered a first-order stream. This means it's one of the smallest types of streams, though it does have some smaller, unnamed streams that flow into it.

The land in the creek's watershed has very little paved or covered surface, less than 10 percent. This makes it a "sensitive stream," meaning it's more easily affected by changes in the environment. Important lakes in the watershed include Lewis Lake, Lowe Lake, and Fiddle Lake. Lewis Lake is in Union Dale, and Fiddle Lake is in Herrick Township.

History and Fun Facts

Fiddle Lake Creek 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.

In the 1800s and possibly into the early 1900s, a mill used to operate along Fiddle Lake Creek in the Union Dale Gorge. This mill used the fast-flowing water of the creek to power its machinery. You can still find an old millstone near the bottom of the gorge today.

A concrete bridge was built in 1959 to carry Pennsylvania Route 374 over Fiddle Lake Creek. This bridge is 32.2 feet (9.8 m) long and is located in Herrick Township.

A special painting of Fiddle Lake Creek, called "Headwaters Of The Susquehanna River 2007," was created by artist Robert Stark. This painting is a diptych, meaning it's made of two panels. As of 2013, you can see this painting on display at the William J. Nealon Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Scranton.

Part of Fiddle Lake Creek also flows through Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 236. These are areas set aside for wildlife and outdoor activities.