Gardner Creek (Mill Creek tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gardner Creek |
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|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Gardner's Creek, Gardiners Creek |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Harlow Pond in Pittston Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania between 1,620 and 1,640 feet (490 and 500 m) |
| River mouth | Mill Creek in Plains Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania 640 ft (200 m) 41°16′35″N 75°49′04″W / 41.27626°N 75.81772°W |
| Length | 8.5 mi (13.7 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Mill Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 9.24 sq mi (23.9 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Gardner Creek (also known as Gardiners Creek or Gardner's Creek) is a small river, or tributary, that flows into Mill Creek in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. It is about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) long. The creek flows through several areas, including Pittston Township, Jenkins Township, Laflin, and Plains Township. The land area that drains into Gardner Creek, called its watershed, is about 9.24 square miles (23.9 km2). A special lake called the Gardner Creek Reservoir is also located on the creek. The creek is known as a Coldwater Fishery, which means its waters are cool enough for certain types of fish.
Contents
Where Gardner Creek Flows
Gardner Creek starts in a place called Harlow Pond in Pittston Township. It flows west for a short distance and then enters a valley. After that, it turns southwest for more than a mile. Along its journey, the creek enters Jenkins Township. Here, it is joined by a smaller stream called Three Spring Brook.
The creek then turns west, then southwest, and then west again. Next, it turns south and then west-southwest, flowing right through the Gardner Creek Reservoir. After the reservoir, the creek turns northwest and leaves its valley. It continues flowing northwest for a long way, passing under Interstate 476. Another small stream, Lampblack Creek, joins it from the right.
Gardner Creek then enters Laflin and flows under Interstate 81 and Pennsylvania Route 315. It turns southwest for a bit, then northwest, and finally south-southwest. The creek then enters Plains Township. A short distance later, it meets and joins Mill Creek. Gardner Creek joins Mill Creek about 3.46 miles (5.57 km) before Mill Creek reaches its own end.
Land and Rocks Around the Creek
The land around where Gardner Creek meets Mill Creek is about 640 feet (200 m) above sea level. Where the creek begins, its source, the elevation is higher, between 1,620 and 1,640 feet (490 and 500 m) above sea level.
Near the Gardner Creek Reservoir, you can find a large rock outcrop, which is a place where rocks stick out of the ground.
Gardner Creek's Watershed
The watershed of Gardner Creek is the entire area of land where all the rain and snow eventually drain into the creek. This watershed covers about 9.24 square miles (23.9 km2). It is located in the northern part of the Mill Creek watershed. This area includes parts of Jenkins Township, Pittston Township, and Laflin. The end of the creek is in the Pittston area, while its beginning is in the Avoca area.
The Gardner Creek Reservoir is an important part of the watershed. This reservoir can hold up to 54 acre feet of water and is held back by a dam. The reservoir is recognized on the Luzerne County Natural Areas Inventory.
Gardner Creek can sometimes cause floods in Laflin. For example, in August 1955, a flood from the creek covered Market Street and Main Street with about one foot (0.30 m) of water. A flood of this size has a two percent chance of happening in any given year. Gardner Creek is a main contributor to Mill Creek.
History of Gardner Creek
Gardner Creek was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. It is also known by the names Gardiners Creek or Gardner's Creek. The name Gardiners Creek can be seen on maps from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
The first gristmill (a mill for grinding grain) in Jenkins Township was built on Gardner Creek in 1794 by Joseph Garner and Isaac Gould. Later, in 1881, Elias Smith built the first sawmill (a mill for cutting wood) on the creek.
The Laflin Powder Mills used to operate along Gardner Creek. These mills, built mostly in 1872, were used to make gunpowder. They included seven mills and other buildings spread out over 2,000 feet (610 m) in a forested valley. A dam was being built on the creek in the late 1800s. By 1915, there was already an intake dam on Gardner Creek, which helps control water flow.
Several bridges have been built over Gardner Creek over the years:
- A concrete bridge was built in Laflin in 1930 and fixed in 1977. It is 29.9 feet (9.1 m) long and carries State Route 2015.
- A steel bridge was built in Plains Township in 1937. It is 56.1 feet (17.1 m) long and carries State Route 2011.
- A prestressed box beam bridge was built in Jenkins Township in 1941 and repaired in 1985. It is 38.1 feet (11.6 m) long and carries State Route 2039.
- Another steel bridge was built in Laflin in 1946 and repaired in 1992. It is 47.9 feet (14.6 m) long and carries State Route 2016.
- A prestressed box beam bridge was built in Laflin in 1963. It is 28.9 feet (8.8 m) long and carries Pennsylvania Route 315.
Creek Life: Plants and Animals
Gardner Creek is officially called a Coldwater Fishery. This means its water is cool and clean, making it a good home for fish that prefer colder temperatures.
The forests near the Gardner Creek Reservoir are fairly young, less than 50 years old. These forests are mostly made up of oak trees. Below the taller trees, in the understory, you can find smaller plants like huckleberry and blueberry bushes.
