Green Run (Spring Brook tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Green Run |
|
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Green Run Creek |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | pond near Tooley Corners in Spring Brook Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania between 1,640 and 1,660 feet (500 and 510 m) |
| River mouth | Spring Brook in Spring Brook Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania 1,152 ft (351 m) 41°19′45″N 75°39′22″W / 41.3293°N 75.6562°W |
| Length | 4.7 mi (7.6 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Spring Brook → Lackawanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 4.32 sq mi (11.2 km2) |
Green Run, also known as Green Run Creek, is a small river in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. It flows into Spring Brook. The stream is about 4.7 miles (7.6 km) long. It travels through Spring Brook Township, Roaring Brook Township, and Scranton.
The area that collects water for Green Run is about 4.32 square miles (11.2 km2). This stream is a special place where wild trout live and reproduce naturally. It is known as "Class A Wild Trout Waters" along its entire length. Many tiny water bugs, called macroinvertebrates, also live in the stream.
Contents
The Journey of Green Run
Green Run starts in a pond near a place called Tooley Corners. This is in Spring Brook Township. It flows northwest for a short distance. Soon, it enters Roaring Brook Township.
The stream then turns west and goes under Pennsylvania Route 307. After that, it turns southwest. A bit further downstream, it goes back into Spring Brook Township. It then turns west-northwest and re-enters Roaring Brook Township.
Next, the stream turns west and flows into the city of Scranton. After a short distance, it turns southwest. It then goes back into Spring Brook Township. Green Run flows mostly west for a few miles. It runs through a deep valley near the border of Spring Brook Township and Scranton. Finally, the stream turns south-southwest and meets Spring Brook.
Green Run joins Spring Brook about 6.48 miles (10.43 km) before Spring Brook reaches its own end.
Water Quality and Flow
The water in Green Run has an alkalinity concentration of 17 milligrams per liter. Alkalinity helps to balance the water's acidity. Green Run is a perennial stream. This means it flows all year round and does not dry up.
Land and Rocks Around the Stream
The land around the mouth of Green Run is about 1,152 feet (351 m) above sea level. Where the stream begins, its elevation is higher. It is between 1,640 and 1,660 feet (500 and 506 m) above sea level.
The ground along the valley floor near the lower parts of Green Run is mostly made of a type of glacial soil. This soil is called Wisconsinan Till. The sides of the valley have solid bedrock. This bedrock is made of conglomerate, sandstone, and shale. You can also find some patches of Boulder Colluvium, which are loose rocks and soil.
Green Run's Watershed
The watershed of Green Run covers an area of 4.32 square miles (11.2 km2). A watershed is the entire area of land where all the water drains into a particular stream or river.
The end of the stream is in the Avoca area on maps from the United States Geological Survey. However, its beginning is in the Moscow area on these maps.
About 74 percent of Green Run's length is on public land. This means people can visit and enjoy it. The other 26 percent is on private land. Long ago, in the early 1900s, people saw a swampy meadow near the stream.
History and Fun Activities
Green Run was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system helps keep track of names for places like rivers.
In the past, the Spring Brook Railroad used to travel up the valley where Green Run flows.
A bridge that carries Pennsylvania Route 307 over Green Run was once replaced. This project cost about $600,000. In the early 2000s, a plan called the Lackawanna River Watershed Conservation Plan suggested protecting Green Run. It recommended that Spring Brook Township include this protection in their plans for land use.
In 2015, a piece of land that included Green Run was bought by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This land was then made public for everyone to enjoy.
You are allowed to go fishing in Green Run.
Amazing Animals of Green Run
Wild trout naturally reproduce in Green Run. They live from the very beginning of the stream all the way to its end. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission considers Green Run to be "Class A Wild Trout Waters." This means it's a very important stream for trout. It also meets the rules for an "Exceptional Value" designation. This special title gives the stream strong protection. It means nothing should harm its water quality.
Many different kinds of butterfly species were seen near Green Run in the early 1900s. These included Polygonia faunus, Argynnis atlantis, and Harris's checkerspot.
A large number of macroinvertebrate species have been found in Green Run. These are tiny creatures without backbones that live in the water. Scientists found 16 different types of macroinvertebrates. These included mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies.
In one study of 210 individual macroinvertebrates, the most common types were:
- Ephemerella (57 individuals)
- Chironomidae (39 individuals)
- Cheumatopsyche (19 individuals)
- Pteronarcys (17 individuals)
- Baetis (10 individuals)
Other types found included Epeorus, Dolophilodes, Acroneuria, Leuctra, and Hexatoma. Some rarer types were Isoperfa, Optioservus, Lanthus, Drunella, Pycnopsyche, Polycentropus, Rhycophi, Agapetus, and Nigronia. The very rarest types found were Lepidostoma, Boyeria, and Cambaridae.
Scientists use a special score called the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index to check water quality. For Green Run, this score is 2.83. A lower number usually means better water quality. The stream also has a high "total taxa richness" of 23. This means there are many different kinds of living things in the stream.
