Furnace Run (Shamokin Creek tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Furnace Run |
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Mouth of the tunnel carrying Furnace Run
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | small lake in Coal Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania between 840 and 860 feet (256 and 262 m) |
| River mouth | Shamokin Creek in Shamokin, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania 745 ft (227 m) 40°47′21″N 76°33′47″W / 40.7892°N 76.5630°W |
| Length | 1.0 mi (1.6 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Shamokin Creek |
| Basin size | 1.61 sq mi (4.2 km2) |
Furnace Run is a small stream, or tributary, that flows into Shamokin Creek in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. It's about 1.0 mile (1.6 km) long. The stream flows through Coal Township and the town of Shamokin.
The area of land that drains into Furnace Run is about 1.61 square miles (4.2 km2). Sadly, the stream is affected by dirt and mud from urban runoff and storm sewers. However, it's not badly affected by water from old mines. Parts of Furnace Run are even completely covered underground.
The stream got its name from an iron furnace that was built nearby in 1825. Furnace Run is a special place for fish, as it's known as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. This means it's a good home for fish that like cold water, and it's a path for fish that travel to different places.
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Where Does Furnace Run Flow?
Furnace Run starts in a small lake in Coal Township. This area is known as Fairview-Ferndale. From there, it flows towards the east-northeast.
Almost right away, the stream enters another area called Edgewood. After flowing a bit further, Furnace Run reaches the town of Shamokin. Here, it joins up with the larger Shamokin Creek.
Furnace Run meets Shamokin Creek about 21.54 miles (34.67 km) before Shamokin Creek reaches its own end.
What is the Water Quality of Furnace Run Like?
Furnace Run is considered an "impaired" waterbody. This means its water quality isn't as good as it should be. The main problems are too much sedimentation (dirt settling) and siltation (fine mud settling).
These issues come from urban runoff and storm sewers. Urban runoff is water from streets and buildings that flows into the stream. Sometimes, raw sewage has also entered the stream, which is very harmful.
However, Furnace Run is lucky because it's not seriously affected by water from old coal mines. There isn't much acid mine drainage flowing into it.
Water Chemistry Details
The pH of Furnace Run, which tells us how acidic or basic the water is, usually ranges from 6.6 to 7.5. The average is 6.9. This is good because it means the stream meets the pH standards set by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
The amount of iron in the stream averages about 2.5 micrograms per liter (2.5×10−6 oz/cu ft). Sometimes it can go up to 4.7 micrograms per liter (4.7×10−6 oz/cu ft). The water also has an average alkalinity of 54 milligrams per liter (0.054 oz/cu ft).
The amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, which fish need to breathe, is usually between 8.9 and 10.2 milligrams per liter (0.0089 and 0.0102 oz/cu ft). Other substances like aluminum, manganese, and sodium are also found in the water in small amounts.
In 1999 and 2000, the amount of sulfate in Furnace Run was between 20 and 24 milligrams per liter (0.020 and 0.024 oz/cu ft). The levels of nitrogen were between 1.20 and 2.0 milligrams per liter ([convert: unit mismatch]). In 2000, the phosphorus level was 0.039 milligrams per liter ([convert: unit mismatch]), and chloride was 55 milligrams per liter ([convert: unit mismatch]).
Stream Flow and Temperature
Sometimes, water from mine seepage (water leaking from mines) adds to the flow of Furnace Run. But in the 1950s, some of this water was sent into underground mines instead. This made it harder for the stream to carry away waste in its channel.
In 1999 and 2000, the stream's flow rate was very low, around 0.1 to 0.1 cubic feet per second (0.0028 to 0.0028 m3/s). The water temperature varied with the seasons. It was coldest in March 2000 at 5.8 °C (42.4 °F) and warmest in August 1999 at 21.5 °C (70.7 °F).
Geography and Surroundings of Furnace Run
The elevation near where Furnace Run meets Shamokin Creek is about 745 feet (227 m) above sea level. The stream's source (where it begins) is higher, between 840 and 860 feet (256 and 262 m) above sea level.
Near Furnace Run, there's a geological feature called an anticline. This is a type of rock fold that looks like an arch. In the past, people dug up a type of iron ore called bog ore from the ground near the stream.
As mentioned before, some parts of Furnace Run have been completely covered over. The entire area that drains into Furnace Run, called its watershed, covers about 1.61 square miles (4.2 km2).
A Brief History of Furnace Run
Furnace Run was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system keeps track of names and locations of places in the United States.
Back in 1825, people were already doing some coal mining near Furnace Run. That same year, a man named Henry Myers built an iron furnace right on the stream. He bought the land from Solomon Dunkelberger to do this. This furnace is how the stream got its name!
More recently, in 2011, Furnace Run experienced flooding.
What Lives in Furnace Run?
The area around Furnace Run is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. This means it's an important habitat for fish that prefer cold water, and it's a pathway for fish that migrate.
However, when scientists checked the stream in 1999 and 2000, they didn't see any fish at one of the testing sites.
The water in Furnace Run has also shown signs of pollution from bacteria. In 1999, the amount of coliform bacteria was very high, more than 3000 colonies per 100 milliliters. The level of E. coli bacteria was also very high, over 3000 colonies per 100 milliliters. These types of bacteria can indicate that sewage or animal waste is getting into the water.
