Huntsville Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Huntsville Creek |
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Huntsville Creek looking upstream
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | base of a hill in Dallas Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania between 1,280 and 1,300 feet (390 and 400 m) |
| River mouth | Toby Creek in Kingston Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania 804 ft (245 m) 41°17′56″N 75°55′36″W / 41.2989°N 75.9267°W |
| Length | 7.5 mi (12.1 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Toby Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 14.7 sq mi (38 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Huntsville Creek is a small tributary (a smaller stream that flows into a larger one) of Toby Creek. It is located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The creek is about 7.5 miles (12.1 km) long. It flows through several towns and townships like Dallas Township and Kingston Township.
The area of land that drains into Huntsville Creek is 14.7 square miles (38 km2). This area is called its watershed. The creek is special because it's known as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. This means its waters are cold enough for certain fish, and it's a path for fish that travel to different places. A large lake, the Huntsville Reservoir, is on the creek. This reservoir holds 2 billion gallons of water and provides drinking water for 30,000 people. Huntsville Creek has only one named smaller stream flowing into it, called Browns Creek.
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Where Huntsville Creek Flows
Huntsville Creek starts in a small pond at the bottom of a hill in Dallas Township. It flows south for a bit, then turns southwest. It passes through a larger pond. The creek then flows south again, going in and out of the town of Dallas.
After a while, it turns southeast near the border of Dallas and Lehman Township. Soon, it flows into an arm of the Huntsville Reservoir. The creek then enters the main part of the reservoir. It flows south out of the reservoir after about a mile.
Huntsville Creek continues south into Jackson Township. Here, it flows east-southeast for a few miles. It then meets Browns Creek, which flows into it from the right side. The creek then turns east-northeast and flows next to Larksville Mountain. Finally, it flows east-southeast until it joins Toby Creek. Huntsville Creek meets Toby Creek about 5.04 miles (8.11 km) before Toby Creek reaches its own end.
Smaller Streams Joining Huntsville Creek
Huntsville Creek has one main named tributary, which is called Browns Creek. Browns Creek joins Huntsville Creek about 1.20 miles (1.93 km) before Huntsville Creek ends. The area of land that drains into Browns Creek is 3.86 square miles (10.0 km2).
How Water Flows in Huntsville Creek
The amount of water flowing in Huntsville Creek can change a lot. At the border of Jackson Township and Kingston Township, there's a 10% chance that the highest water flow (called peak annual discharge) will reach 1050 cubic feet per second in a year. There's a 1% chance it could reach 2300 cubic feet per second.
Near where Browns Creek joins Huntsville Creek, the peak water flow is usually lower. There's a 10% chance it will reach 475 cubic feet per second. There's a 1% chance it could reach 1100 cubic feet per second.
In 1974, the water quality of Huntsville Creek was described as "depressed" in some parts. This means the water wasn't as clean as it should be. However, today it is not considered to be seriously polluted.
Land and Rocks Around the Creek
The land around the mouth of Huntsville Creek is about 804 feet (245 m) above sea level. The creek's source (where it begins) is higher, between 1,280 and 1,300 feet (390 and 400 m) above sea level.
Huntsville Creek has a dam called the Huntsville Dam. This dam helps control the water flow and creates the Huntsville Reservoir. In the late 1970s, the dam was owned by the Pennsylvania Gas and Water Company. An inspection in 1978 found the dam to be in good condition.
Most of the ground around Huntsville Creek is made of a type of glacial soil called Wisconsinan Till. There are also areas with solid bedrock made of sandstone and shale. In some places, you can find alluvium, which is soil deposited by flowing water. There are also some areas where sandstone and shale were dug out.
Huntsville Creek's Watershed
The watershed of Huntsville Creek covers an area of 14.7 square miles (38 km2). This is all the land where rain and snow melt eventually flow into the creek. The creek is located in the Kingston area, according to the United States Geological Survey. The part of the watershed upstream of Browns Creek is about 10.21 square miles (26.4 km2).
Huntsville Creek is the main cause of flooding in Jackson Township. There are several areas of wetlands and a few lakes within the watershed.
The Pennsylvania American Water Company owns land along Huntsville Creek. The Huntsville Reservoir, which is part of the watershed, holds about 1.9 billion gallons of water. It provides water to about 30,000 people in towns like Dallas, Kingston Township, and Swoyersville.
The land around Huntsville Creek is not as developed with buildings as areas along Toby Creek. However, more buildings are starting to appear in the watershed. There are also plans for a natural gas well site nearby.
History of Huntsville Creek
Huntsville Creek was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system keeps track of place names.
Bridges have been built over Huntsville Creek to help people cross it. A concrete bridge was built in 1927. It is 55.1 feet (16.8 m) long and carries Hillside Road. Another bridge, made of prestressed box beams, was built in 1975. It is 34.1 feet (10.4 m) long and carries Gross Road. A bridge on Chase Road in Jackson Township was very old (over 90 years) and was planned to be replaced in 2013.
The biggest flood in Jackson Township happened in 1972. During this flood, the water flow in Huntsville Creek was 1650 cubic feet per second. Floodwaters were about 1 foot (0.30 m) deep on Chase Road. Huntsville Creek also overflowed its banks on February 15, 2013. It was one of the few creeks in Luzerne County to flood during that time.
In 2000, about 5500 gallons of gasoline leaked from a broken pipeline near the creek's watershed. Three streams were affected by the leak: Browns Creek, a smaller stream that flows into Browns Creek, and Huntsville Creek itself. Huntsville Creek was the least affected of the three.
Plants and Animals Around the Creek
The entire area that drains into Huntsville Creek is special. It is called a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. This means it's an important place for fish that need cold water and for fish that travel.
An invasive species called Japanese knotweed has been seen growing along the banks of Huntsville Creek. Invasive species are plants or animals that are not native to an area and can cause harm to the environment. This plant was causing the streambanks to erode (wear away). However, in 2010, a group called the Pennsylvania Environmental Council received money to remove the Japanese Knotweed. They planned to replace it with native trees and shrubs to help protect the streambanks.
