Ithan Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ithan Creek |
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A waterfall on Ithan Creek in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania
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| Other name(s) | Ithan Run |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Radnor Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania 399 ft (122 m) |
| River mouth | Darby Creek in Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania 184 ft (56 m) 39°59′49″N 75°21′00″W / 39.99698°N 75.35010°W |
| Length | 4.2 mi (6.8 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Darby Creek → Delaware River → Delaware Bay |
| Basin size | 7.39 sq mi (19.1 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Ithan Creek (also known as Ithan Run) is a small stream in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It flows into Darby Creek. The creek is about 4.2 miles (6.8 km) long. It flows through Radnor Township and Haverford Township.
The area of land that drains into Ithan Creek is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 7.39 square miles (19.1 km2). It is a very developed area with many homes and businesses. Ithan Creek has three smaller streams that flow into it: Browns Run, Kirks Run, and Meadowbrook Run.
Ithan Creek is located in a region called the Piedmont Uplands. This area has old, hard rocks. The creek has been used for mills in the past. It has also experienced many floods over the years. Today, Ithan Creek is a place where you can find trout. It is also home to Ithan Valley Park, a small park where people can hike and fish. The Radnor Valley Country Club is also located along the creek.
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Where Ithan Creek Flows
Ithan Creek starts in a small valley. This valley is just south of U.S. Route 30 in the town of Wayne, Pennsylvania. The creek flows west for a short distance. Then, it meets its first smaller stream, Browns Run, from the right. After that, it turns south.
The creek goes under Pennsylvania Route 320. It also gets water from two small streams that don't have names. These streams join from the left side. Ithan Creek then flows next to Interstate 476 and crosses it once. Soon after, it meets Kirks Run from the right. This is near the town of Rosemont, Pennsylvania.
The creek flows alongside the interstate again for a bit. Then, it goes under the interstate one more time. After this, Ithan Creek enters Haverford Township. Here, it receives its largest smaller stream, Meadowbrook Run. Finally, it passes under Darby Road. This is where Ithan Creek joins Darby Creek. Ithan Creek joins Darby Creek about 17.9 miles (28.8 km) upstream from Darby Creek's mouth.
Land and Rocks Around the Creek
The land where Ithan Creek meets Darby Creek is about 184 feet (56 m) above sea level. The place where the creek starts is higher, about 399 feet (122 m) above sea level.
Ithan Creek is in the Piedmont Uplands region. This area has very old, hard rocks. These rocks were formed a long, long time ago. They are from the Precambrian Era and Lower Paleozoic Era. The main types of rocks you find here are gneiss. You can also see shiny mica schist rocks along the creek.
The soil around Ithan Creek is mostly silty. It drains water well. Some areas have gravelly soil. Other areas have shallow soil with small, broken rocks. Most of the soil in the watershed does not erode easily.
Ithan Creek's Watershed
The watershed of Ithan Creek covers about 7.39 square miles (19.1 km2). This is the entire area of land where all the rain and snowmelt eventually drain into Ithan Creek. The watershed has many different uses. These include homes, roads, offices, college campuses, and historic places.
Some of the water pipes under roads, called culverts, are not big enough. This means they can't handle moderate floods very well. There are also old brick structures along the creek that are in poor condition. Major roads like Interstate 476, U.S. Route 30, and Pennsylvania Route 320 cross through the watershed. Luckily, Ithan Creek is considered healthy and not polluted.
History of Ithan Creek
Ithan Creek was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System in 1979. The village of Ithan, located along the creek, was one of the first European settlements in the area. This happened in the 1600s.
In the 1800s, there were several mills along Ithan Creek. These mills used the creek's water power. They were used for grinding grain and sawing wood.
In 1843, very heavy rains caused a huge flood on Ithan Creek. This flood caused a lot of damage. Bridges over the creek were also damaged.
In the early 1900s, a company started dumping dirty water into the creek. This was stopped in 1905 after a lawsuit. A new system was built to clean the water properly.
Many bridges have been built over Ithan Creek over the years. These bridges help roads like Sproul Road, Conestoga Road, Darby Road, Clyde Road, and Bryn Mawr Avenue cross the creek safely. Some of these bridges were built in the 1920s and 1930s. Others were built later, in the 1960s.
The creek flooded again in 2010 after Tropical Storm Nicole. Many homes had water in their basements. In 2018, heavy rains damaged a pipe along a smaller stream that flows into Ithan Creek. This caused flooding in several houses. The damaged pipes were repaired in 2019.
Animals and Plants of Ithan Creek
Ithan Creek is a special place for fish. It is approved for trout fishing. Brown trout even reproduce naturally in the creek. On the banks of the stream, you can find many white-tailed deer.
The area where Ithan Creek meets Darby Creek is called the Ithan-Darby Creek Wetlands. This area is very important for nature. It is listed on the Delaware County Natural Areas Inventory. In the floodplain near where the creeks meet, you can find trees like silver maple, black willow, boxelder, and red maple.
In the wetlands, you might see scattered black willow and silver maple trees. There are also patches of silky dogwood and wild rose. Many other wetland plants grow here, like herbs, grasses, sedges, and rushes. Sometimes, you can spot monkeyflower, ironweed, joe-pye weed, and mountain mint. However, some plants that don't belong there, called invasive species, are a concern. Most of the original forests in the area were cut down for farms and homes.
Fun Things to Do at Ithan Creek
Ithan Valley Park is a 19-acre park right next to Ithan Creek. It has a hiking trail where you can explore. You can also go fishing in the creek here. A new trail called the “Willowstreams corridor” is being built. This trail will connect Haverford Reserve to Ithan Valley Park.
The Radnor Valley Country Club is a golf course that is next to the creek. The golf course was changed in 1968. This was because of the construction of Interstate 476. Now, the course runs north-south along the creek.
