Lindy Creek facts for kids

Lindy Creek is a small stream, also called a tributary, in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. It flows into Keyser Creek. The creek is about 2.3 miles (3.7 km) long. It runs through Ransom Township and the city of Scranton.

The area of land that drains into the creek, known as its watershed, covers about 1.53 square miles (4.0 km²). Lindy Creek is considered a "Coldwater Fishery." This means its water is cold enough for certain types of fish to live there. Parts of the creek have been changed to help control floods. It also flows through several underground pipes. The creek flows much faster and steeper at its beginning than closer to where it joins Keyser Creek. The land around the creek's watershed is mostly forests, with some homes and buildings.

Where Lindy Creek Flows

Lindy Creek starts in a pond on Bald Mountain. This mountain is in Ransom Township, close to Newton Township. The creek flows south down the mountain for a short distance. Then, it turns southeast and keeps flowing downhill.

After another short distance, the creek enters the city of Scranton. It then flows under Interstate 476. A bit further downstream, Lindy Creek meets Keyser Creek. Lindy Creek joins Keyser Creek about 2.86 miles (4.60 km) before Keyser Creek reaches its own end.

Water Flow and Quality

The amount of water flowing in Lindy Creek can change a lot. For example, during a big storm, the water flow at its mouth has a 10 percent chance of reaching 310 cubic feet per second. This means there's a 1 in 10 chance it could flow that fast in any given year.

In 2006, a group called the Turnpike Commission got permission to let stormwater (rainwater runoff) flow into Lindy Creek. This was done during a construction project.

In the mid-1900s, experts estimated that about 2.60 gallons of water per minute would seep into the ground around Lindy Creek for every inch of rainfall.

Land, Rocks, and Weather Around the Creek

The land around Lindy Creek changes a lot from its start to its end. The creek's mouth (where it joins Keyser Creek) is about 814 feet (248 m) above sea level. But its source (where it begins) is much higher, between 1,840 and 1,860 feet (560 and 570 m) above sea level.

This means the creek drops a lot in height. At its start on West Mountain/Bald Mountain, it drops about 400 feet per mile (76 m/km). But closer to Keyser Creek, it's much flatter, dropping only about 40 feet per mile (7.6 m/km).

You can find old structures along Lindy Creek, like an ice pond dam site. The creek's headwaters (where it starts) are in springs and wetlands on Bald Mountain/West Mountain. This mountain is part of the Allegheny Front and is very tall, between 2,000 to 2,300 feet (610 to 700 m) high.

About 1,500 feet (460 m) of the creek has been reinforced with concrete channels. This helps control the water flow. However, some parts, like near Frink Street, still have natural banks. The creek often has steep banks, about 8 feet (2.4 m) high. Two special basins in the creek's watershed help collect debris and reduce flooding.

Lindy Creek has been affected by old coal mining areas. Upstream from the flood control areas near Frink Street, the creek has been moderately impacted by mining. Sadly, some residential trash also ends up in the creek. The creek flows through three pipes that are between 3 to 12 inches (7.6 to 30.5 cm) wide. You can also find broken dams and old water system remains near the creek.

In early May 2013, the temperature near Lindy Creek was measured at 68 °F (20 °C).

Lindy Creek's Watershed

The watershed of Lindy Creek covers an area of 1.53 square miles (4.0 km²). Most of this area is in Scranton and Ransom Township. A very small part is also in Newton Township. This watershed is in the southwestern part of the larger Lackawanna River watershed. The entire creek is located within the United States Geological Survey map area called Scranton.

Lindy Creek is a "first-order tributary" of Keyser Creek. This means it's one of the smallest streams that flows directly into Keyser Creek. The part of the watershed on West Mountain/Bald Mountain is mostly undeveloped and covered in thick forests. However, there are some homes in the watershed, and more development might happen in Ransom Township in the future. Important roads and bridges in the watershed include South Keyser Avenue, Frink Street, and the Dewey Avenue Bridge.

History of Lindy Creek

Lindy Creek 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.

On March 12, 1936, during a big flood of the Lackawanna River, Lindy Creek had a lot of water but didn't overflow its banks. Other creeks in the area were similar that day. However, in June 1936, a different flood caused Lindy Creek and two ice ponds in the Keyser Valley to flood several blocks on Frink Street. This area was the most affected during that flood.

A section of Lindy Creek in Scranton was changed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in 1999 and 2000. This was done to help control floods. In 1996, a large flood control project for Lindy Creek and other streams was approved, costing $17,400,000. Smaller projects, like repairing a wall on the creek for $16,000 and a culvert project for $36,000, were also approved. The city of Scranton once received a grant of $13,975 to help remove trash and debris from the creek's watershed.

Animals and Plants

Lindy Creek is known as a Coldwater Fishery. This means its cool water is a good home for certain fish species. The area along the creek's banks, called the riparian area, is mostly covered with forests.