List of tributaries of Catawissa Creek Facts for Kids

Catawissa Creek in southern Beaver Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, between its smaller streams, Cranberry Run and Klingermans Run.

Catawissa Creek is a stream in Pennsylvania that is about 41.8 miles (67.3 kilometers) long. It flows into the Susquehanna River. Many smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into Catawissa Creek. There are 26 named tributaries, and 19 of them flow directly into the main creek.

Catawissa Creek flows through three counties in Pennsylvania: Luzerne, Schuylkill, and Columbia. The shortest tributaries are about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) long. The longest one is about 10.8 miles (17.4 kilometers) long.

These smaller streams have different names. Seventeen are called "runs," six are called "creeks," and three are called "hollows." A "hollow" is a stream named after the valley it flows through. The five longest tributaries are Little Catawissa Creek, Tomhicken Creek, Scotch Run, Beaver Run, and Messers Run.

Many kinds of fish live in most of these tributaries. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has named many of them "Coldwater Fisheries." This means the water is cold enough for certain fish to thrive. Some are even called "High-Quality Coldwater Fisheries," which means they are very healthy places for fish. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission also says that eleven tributaries are "Class A Wild Trout Waters." This means they are excellent places for wild trout.

Some tributaries have no fish, but most have between one and fourteen different types of fish.

The tributaries of Catawissa Creek are usually between 4.6 and 25.6 feet (1.4 to 7.8 meters) wide. Most of them are less than 13 feet (4 meters) wide. The land they flow over can be very steep, which means the water flows quickly. Some areas are flatter, so the water moves slower.

Scientists also study the water in these streams. They measure the pH of the water, which tells them how acidic or basic it is. The pH levels range from 4.4 to 7.4. They also measure how much alkalinity and water hardness are in the water. These measurements help them understand the water's quality.

Main Tributaries of Catawissa Creek

Catawissa Creek has many tributaries that join it along its path. Here are some of the most important ones, listed by how far they are from where Catawissa Creek meets the Susquehanna River:

Furnace Run: This stream is about 2.5 miles (4.0 kilometers) long. It joins Catawissa Creek about 7.37 miles (11.86 kilometers) from the mouth.
Scotch Run: Scotch Run is about 7.8 miles (12.6 kilometers) long. It flows into Catawissa Creek about 8.30 miles (13.36 kilometers) from the mouth.
Fisher Run: This stream is about 2.9 miles (4.7 kilometers) long. It meets Catawissa Creek about 8.98 miles (14.45 kilometers) from the mouth.
Mine Gap Run: Mine Gap Run is one of the shorter tributaries, at about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) long. It joins the creek about 9.12 miles (14.68 kilometers) from the mouth.
Beaver Run: This tributary is about 6.2 miles (10.0 kilometers) long. It flows into Catawissa Creek about 13.02 miles (20.95 kilometers) from the mouth.
Long Hollow: Long Hollow is about 2.5 miles (4.0 kilometers) long. It joins Catawissa Creek about 13.82 miles (22.24 kilometers) from the mouth.
Stranger Hollow: This is a very short tributary, about 1.0 mile (1.6 kilometers) long. It meets the creek about 15.42 miles (24.82 kilometers) from the mouth.
Klingermans Run: Klingermans Run is about 2.4 miles (3.9 kilometers) long. It flows into Catawissa Creek about 17.08 miles (27.49 kilometers) from the mouth.
Cranberry Run: This stream is about 2.0 miles (3.2 kilometers) long. It joins the creek about 18.57 miles (29.89 kilometers) from the mouth.
Crooked Run: Crooked Run is about 4.4 miles (7.1 kilometers) long. It meets Catawissa Creek about 20.20 miles (32.51 kilometers) from the mouth.
Tomhicken Creek: This is a major tributary, about 10.1 miles (16.3 kilometers) long. It flows into Catawissa Creek about 22.38 miles (36.02 kilometers) from the mouth.
Little Catawissa Creek: This is the longest tributary, about 10.8 miles (17.4 kilometers) long. It joins Catawissa Creek about 24.24 miles (39.01 kilometers) from the mouth.
Dark Run: Dark Run is about 4.3 miles (6.9 kilometers) long. It meets the creek about 24.83 miles (39.96 kilometers) from the mouth.
Rattling Run: This stream is about 2.4 miles (3.9 kilometers) long. It flows into Catawissa Creek about 26.32 miles (42.36 kilometers) from the mouth.
Davis Run: Davis Run is about 1.2 miles (1.9 kilometers) long. It joins the creek about 30.56 miles (49.18 kilometers) from the mouth.
Messers Run: Messers Run is about 5.2 miles (8.4 kilometers) long. It meets Catawissa Creek about 33.90 miles (54.56 kilometers) from the mouth.
Spies Run: This tributary is about 1.0 mile (1.6 kilometers) long. It flows into the creek about 36.86 miles (59.32 kilometers) from the mouth.
Cross Run: Cross Run is about 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometers) long.
Hunkydory Creek: Hunkydory Creek is about 1.4 miles (2.3 kilometers) long. It joins Catawissa Creek about 40.86 miles (65.76 kilometers) from the mouth.