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List of tributaries of the Lackawanna River facts for kids

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FAB's IMG 4251 Coxton Rd Bridge, view towards MuellerYard RR-Wye-bridges and Lackawanna Confluence
The Lackawanna River in its lower reaches

The Lackawanna River is a 40-mile (64 km) long river flowing into the Susquehanna River with 65 named tributaries, of which 33 are direct tributaries. The river flows through Susquehanna, Lackawanna, and Luzerne Counties in Pennsylvania. The shortest tributary is 0.4 miles (0.64 km) long, while the longest is 21 miles (34 km) long. The tributaries include 40 creeks, 14 brooks, 9 runs, and 2 rivers. By length, the five largest tributaries are Roaring Brook, Spring Brook, the East Branch Lackawanna River, Stafford Meadow Brook, and the West Branch Lackawanna River. By watershed area, the five largest tributaries are Spring Brook, Roaring Brook, the East Branch Lackawanna River, Leggetts Creek, and the West Branch Lackawanna River.

Of the 37 tributaries of the Lackawanna River that have their own Chapter 93.9 designations, most are designated as Coldwater Fisheries. However, two tributaries (Eddy Creek and part of Stafford Meadow Brook) are designated as Warmwater Fisheries instead. An additional two tributaries (Summit Lake Creek and part of Leggetts Creek) are designated as Trout-Stocked Fisheries. Parts of six are designated as High-Quality Coldwater Fisheries: the East Branch Lackawanna River, the West Branch Lackawanna River, and parts of Grassy Island Creek, Roaring Brook, Stafford Meadow Brook, and Spring Brook. One tributary, Clarks Creek, holds an Exceptional Value designation. Wild trout naturally reproduce in approximately 30 of the tributaries.

Many tributaries of the Lackawanna River are environmentally degraded. At least 16 tributaries experience some degree of flow loss and at least 11 of those experience total flow loss. At least five tributaries, including Red Spring Run; Meadow Brook; Eddy Creek; Callender Gap Creek; and Coal Brook, have had reaches partially or totally destroyed by mining or by post-mining development. Extensive deposits of culm and silts from mining operations occur in the watersheds of at least seven tributaries, including Saint Johns Creek, Mill Creek, Keyser Creek, Eddy Creek, Sterry Creek, Grassy Island Creek, and Coal Brook.

The watersheds of at least 16 tributaries of the Lackawanna River contain waterfalls or morphologic sites such as water gaps and escarpments. The watershed of the tributary Roaring Brook contains seven such sites, though two are in the sub-watersheds of Rock Bottom Creek and Little Roaring Brook. There are also dozens of named ponds and lakes—both natural and manmade— in the watersheds of more than 15 of the tributaries. Bogs and wetland complexes occur in the watersheds of about 12 tributaries.

Tributaries of the Lackawanna River

Tributaries of the main stem

Name Length Watershed area Distance from mouth Mouth elevation Source elevation Coordinates
Red Spring Run 1.5 miles (2.4 km) 1.25 square miles (3.2 km2) 1.84 miles (2.96 km) 551 feet (168 m) 1,020 to 1,040 feet (310 to 320 m) 41°21′20″N 75°45′56″W / 41.35556°N 75.76556°W / 41.35556; -75.76556
Saint Johns Creek 6.4 miles (10.3 km) 7.20 square miles (18.6 km2) 2.60 miles (4.18 km) 578 feet (176 m) 1,800 to 1,820 feet (550 to 550 m) 41°21′28″N 75°45′09″W / 41.35778°N 75.75250°W / 41.35778; -75.75250
Mill Creek 5.5 miles (8.9 km) 10.6 square miles (27 km2) 3.30 miles (5.31 km) 604 feet (184 m) 1,200 to 1,220 feet (370 to 370 m) 41°21′23″N 75°44′33″W / 41.35639°N 75.74250°W / 41.35639; -75.74250
Spring Brook 17 miles (27 km) 57.2 square miles (148 km2) 3.62 miles (5.83 km) 617 feet (188 m) 1,860 feet (570 m) 41°21′26″N 75°44′13″W / 41.35722°N 75.73694°W / 41.35722; -75.73694
Keyser Creek 6.1 miles (9.8 km) 8.59 square miles (22.2 km2) 7.20 miles (11.59 km) 643 feet (196 m) 1,760 to 1,780 feet (540 to 540 m) 41°23′04″N 75°42′11″W / 41.38444°N 75.70306°W / 41.38444; -75.70306
Stafford Meadow Brook 11.2 miles (18.0 km) 14.1 square miles (37 km2) 9.06 miles (14.58 km) 673 feet (205 m) 1,560 to 1,580 feet (480 to 480 m) 41°23′47″N 75°40′36″W / 41.39639°N 75.67667°W / 41.39639; -75.67667
Roaring Brook 21 miles (34 km) 56.3 square miles (146 km2) 9.52 miles (15.32 km) 659 feet (201 m) 1,940 to 1,960 feet (590 to 600 m) 41°24′07″N 75°40′24″W / 41.40194°N 75.67333°W / 41.40194; -75.67333
Meadow Brook 2.0 miles (3.2 km) 2.43 square miles (6.3 km2) 11.83 miles (19.04 km) 692 feet (211 m) 920 to 940 feet (280 to 290 m) 41°25′30″N 75°39′31″W / 41.42500°N 75.65861°W / 41.42500; -75.65861
Leggetts Creek 9.0 miles (14.5 km) 18.5 square miles (48 km2) 14.36 miles (23.11 km) 715 feet (218 m) 1,600 to 1,620 feet (490 to 490 m) 41°26′41″N 75°38′36″W / 41.44472°N 75.64333°W / 41.44472; -75.64333
Price Creek 2.0 miles (3.2 km) 732 feet (223 m) 1,360 to 1,380 feet (410 to 420 m) 41°27′28″N 75°37′14″W / 41.45778°N 75.62056°W / 41.45778; -75.62056
Eddy Creek 5.7 miles (9.2 km) 7.53 square miles (19.5 km2) 16.84 miles (27.10 km) 758 feet (231 m) 1,720 to 1,740 feet (520 to 530 m) 41°27′48″N 75°36′36″W / 41.46333°N 75.61000°W / 41.46333; -75.61000
Hull Creek 4.1 miles (6.6 km) 3.22 square miles (8.3 km2) 17.56 miles (28.26 km) 755 feet (230 m) 1,560 to 1,580 feet (480 to 480 m) 41°28′14″N 75°36′24″W / 41.47056°N 75.60667°W / 41.47056; -75.60667
Wildcat Creek 3.8 miles (6.1 km) 4.49 square miles (11.6 km2) 18.55 miles (29.85 km) 771 feet (235 m) 1,540 to 1,560 feet (470 to 480 m) 41°28′34″N 75°35′26″W / 41.47611°N 75.59056°W / 41.47611; -75.59056
Sterry Creek 4.7 miles (7.6 km) 4.92 square miles (12.7 km2) 18.98 miles (30.55 km) 784 feet (239 m) 1,820 to 1,840 feet (550 to 560 m) 41°28′33″N 75°34′58″W / 41.47583°N 75.58278°W / 41.47583; -75.58278
Grassy Island Creek 4.4 miles (7.1 km) 5.42 square miles (14.0 km2) 20.36 miles (32.77 km) 830 feet (250 m) 2,140 to 2,160 feet (650 to 660 m) 41°28′46″N 75°49′04″W / 41.47944°N 75.81778°W / 41.47944; -75.81778
Laurel Run 3.6 miles (5.8 km) 2.72 square miles (7.0 km2) 21.82 miles (35.12 km) 838 feet (255 m) 2,160 to 2,180 feet (660 to 660 m) 41°29′23″N 75°32′30″W / 41.48972°N 75.54167°W / 41.48972; -75.54167
White Oak Run 3.4 miles (5.5 km) 5.11 square miles (13.2 km2) 22.42 miles (36.08 km) 892 feet (272 m) 2,180 to 2,200 feet (660 to 670 m) 41°29′49″N 75°32′24″W / 41.49694°N 75.54000°W / 41.49694; -75.54000
Aylesworth Creek 4.9 miles (7.9 km) 6.73 square miles (17.4 km2) 24.30 miles (39.11 km) 925 feet (282 m) 1,560 to 1,580 feet (480 to 480 m) 41°31′13″N 75°32′41″W / 41.52028°N 75.54472°W / 41.52028; -75.54472
Callender Gap Creek 0.8 miles (1.3 km) 0.76 square miles (2.0 km2) 928 feet (283 m) 1,040 to 1,060 feet (320 to 320 m) 41°13′37″N 75°32′47″W / 41.22694°N 75.54639°W / 41.22694; -75.54639
Rush Brook 5.1 miles (8.2 km) 6.01 square miles (15.6 km2) 25.24 miles (40.62 km) 942 feet (287 m) 1,640 to 1,660 feet (500 to 510 m) 41°31′54″N 75°32′33″W / 41.53167°N 75.54250°W / 41.53167; -75.54250
Powderly Creek 2.3 miles (3.7 km) 1.77 square miles (4.6 km2) 26.42 miles (42.52 km) 965 feet (294 m) 1,140 to 1,160 feet (350 to 350 m) 41°32′43″N 75°31′57″W / 41.54528°N 75.53250°W / 41.54528; -75.53250
Lees Creek 1.9 miles (3.1 km) 0.73 square miles (1.9 km2) 26.78 miles (43.10 km) 974 feet (297 m) 1,760 to 1,780 feet (540 to 540 m) 41°32′59″N 75°31′44″W / 41.54972°N 75.52889°W / 41.54972; -75.52889
Meredith Creek 0.4 miles (0.64 km) 1,001 feet (305 m) 1,100 to 1,120 feet (340 to 340 m) 41°33′20″N 75°31′28″W / 41.55556°N 75.52444°W / 41.55556; -75.52444
Fall Brook 7.9 miles (12.7 km) 12.4 square miles (32 km2) 28.30 miles (45.54 km) 1,024 feet (312 m) 1,720 to 1,740 feet (520 to 530 m) 41°34′05″N 75°30′36″W / 41.56806°N 75.51000°W / 41.56806; -75.51000
Racket Brook 3.6 miles (5.8 km) 5.29 square miles (13.7 km2) 29.44 miles (47.38 km) 1,056 feet (322 m) 1,940 to 1,960 feet (590 to 600 m) 41°34′34″N 73°30′05″W / 41.57611°N 73.50139°W / 41.57611; -73.50139
Coal Brook 2.2 miles (3.5 km) 1.93 square miles (5.0 km2) 29.76 miles (47.89 km) 1,083 feet (330 m) 1,700 to 1,720 feet (520 to 520 m) 41°35′06″N 75°29′52″W / 41.58500°N 75.49778°W / 41.58500; -75.49778
Wilson Creek 3.7 miles (6.0 km) 3.82 square miles (9.9 km2) 30.82 miles (49.60 km) 1,129 feet (344 m) 1,880 to 1,900 feet (570 to 580 m) 41°35′35″N 75°29′05″W / 41.59306°N 75.48472°W / 41.59306; -75.48472
Rogers Brook 1.8 miles (2.9 km) 1,404 feet (428 m) 2,000 to 2,020 feet (610 to 620 m) 41°38′19″N 75°27′27″W / 41.63861°N 75.45750°W / 41.63861; -75.45750
Clarks Creek 2.2 miles (3.5 km) 3.37 square miles (8.7 km2) 34.8 miles (56.0 km) 1,407 feet (429 m) 1,780 to 1,800 feet (540 to 550 m) 41°38′36″N 75°27′30″W / 41.64333°N 75.45833°W / 41.64333; -75.45833
Meredith Brook 2.1 miles (3.4 km) 35.1 miles (56.5 km) 1,414 feet (431 m) 1,700 to 1,720 feet (520 to 520 m) 41°38′42″N 75°27′41″W / 41.64500°N 75.46139°W / 41.64500; -75.46139
Brace Brook 2.9 miles (4.7 km) 2.99 square miles (7.7 km2) 36.96 miles (59.48 km) 1,473 feet (449 m) 2,040 to 2,060 feet (620 to 630 m) 41°39′43″N 75°27′50″W / 41.66194°N 75.46389°W / 41.66194; -75.46389
East Branch Lackawanna River 12.7 miles (20.4 km) 19.0 square miles (49 km2) 40.32 miles (64.89 km) 1,572 feet (479 m) 2,020 to 2,040 feet (620 to 620 m) 41°42′09″N 75°29′06″W / 41.70250°N 75.48500°W / 41.70250; -75.48500
West Branch Lackawanna River 9.5 miles (15.3 km) 16.8 square miles (44 km2) 40.32 miles (64.89 km) 1,572 feet (479 m) 2,000 to 2,020 feet (610 to 620 m) 41°42′41″N 75°29′06″W / 41.71139°N 75.48500°W / 41.71139; -75.48500

Tributaries of Mill Creek

Name Length Watershed area Distance from mouth Mouth elevation Source elevation Coordinates
Lidy Creek 1.9 miles (3.1 km) 1.50 square miles (3.9 km2) 2.46 miles (3.96 km) 709 feet (216 m) 1,020 to 1,040 feet (310 to 320 m) 41°18′38″N 75°44′55″W / 41.31056°N 75.74861°W / 41.31056; -75.74861
Collins Creek 2.8 miles (4.5 km) 1.39 square miles (3.6 km2) 3.66 miles (5.89 km) 873 feet (266 m) 1,260 to 1,280 feet (380 to 390 m) 41°19′35″N 75°44′49″W / 41.32639°N 75.74694°W / 41.32639; -75.74694

Tributaries of Spring Brook

Name Length Watershed area Distance from mouth Mouth elevation Source elevation Coordinates
Covey Swamp Creek 2.2 miles (3.5 km) 709 feet (216 m) 1,080 to 1,100 feet (330 to 340 m) 41°21′07″N 75°42′50″W / 41.35194°N 75.71389°W / 41.35194; -75.71389
Monument Creek 2.8 miles (4.5 km) 869 feet (265 m) 1,620 to 1,640 feet (490 to 500 m) 41°19′41″N 75°41′24″W / 41.32806°N 75.69000°W / 41.32806; -75.69000
Green Run 4.7 miles (7.6 km) 4.32 square miles (11.2 km2) 6.48 miles (10.43 km) 1,152 feet (351 m) 1,640 to 1,660 feet (500 to 510 m) 41°19′47″N 75°39′24″W / 41.32972°N 75.65667°W / 41.32972; -75.65667
Rattlesnake Creek 5.0 miles (8.0 km) 9.18 square miles (23.8 km2) 7.96 miles (12.81 km) 1,171 feet (357 m) 1,680 to 1,700 feet (510 to 520 m) 41°18′51″N 75°38′17″W / 41.31417°N 75.63806°W / 41.31417; -75.63806
Plank Bridge Creek 2.4 miles (3.9 km) 1.26 square miles (3.3 km2) 8.65 miles (13.92 km) 1,188 feet (362 m) 1,880 to 1,900 feet (570 to 580 m) 41°18′20″N 75°38′37″W / 41.30556°N 75.64361°W / 41.30556; -75.64361
Panther Creek 2.7 miles (4.3 km) 7.18 square miles (18.6 km2) 10.40 miles (16.74 km) 1,309 feet (399 m) 1,900 to 1,920 feet (580 to 590 m) 41°17′30″N 75°37′14″W / 41.29167°N 75.62056°W / 41.29167; -75.62056

Tributaries of Keyser Creek

Name Length Watershed area Distance from mouth Mouth elevation Source elevation Coordinates
Lucky Run 2.4 miles (3.9 km) 1.66 square miles (4.3 km2) 2.32 miles (3.73 km) 778 feet (237 m) 1,700 to 1,720 feet (520 to 520 m) 41°24′45″N 75°42′00″W / 41.41250°N 75.70000°W / 41.41250; -75.70000
Lindy Creek 2.3 miles (3.7 km) 1.53 square miles (4.0 km2) 2.86 miles (4.60 km) 814 feet (248 m) 1,840 to 1,860 feet (560 to 570 m) 41°25′05″N 75°41′47″W / 41.41806°N 75.69639°W / 41.41806; -75.69639

Tributaries of Roaring Brook

Name Length Watershed area Distance from mouth Mouth elevation Source elevation Coordinates
Little Roaring Brook 3.4 miles (5.5 km) 3.06 square miles (7.9 km2) 4.70 miles (7.56 km) 1,010 feet (310 m) 1,520 to 1,540 feet (460 to 470 m) 41°24′52″N 75°36′35″W / 41.41444°N 75.60972°W / 41.41444; -75.60972
Rock Bottom Creek 3.2 miles (5.1 km) 3.06 square miles (7.9 km2) 9.84 miles (15.84 km) 1,306 feet (398 m) 1,720 to 1,740 feet (520 to 530 m) 41°23′23″N 75°33′15″W / 41.38972°N 75.55417°W / 41.38972; -75.55417
White Oak Run 2.3 miles (3.7 km) 3.22 square miles (8.3 km2) 11.78 miles (18.96 km) 1,417 feet (432 m) 1,680 to 1,700 feet (510 to 520 m) 41°22′27″N 75°31′16″W / 41.37417°N 75.52111°W / 41.37417; -75.52111
Kellum Creek 2.9 miles (4.7 km) 2.56 square miles (6.6 km2) 12.80 miles (20.60 km) 1,424 feet (434 m) 1,660 to 1,680 feet (510 to 510 m) 41°21′25″N 75°31′25″W / 41.35694°N 75.52361°W / 41.35694; -75.52361
Van Brunt Creek 3.3 miles (5.3 km) 1,476 feet (450 m) 1,720 to 1,740 feet (520 to 530 m) 41°20′21″N 75°03′51″W / 41.33917°N 75.06417°W / 41.33917; -75.06417
Bear Brook 3.0 miles (4.8 km) 2.26 square miles (5.9 km2) 14.48 miles (23.30 km) 1,473 feet (449 m) 1,800 to 1,820 feet (550 to 550 m) 41°20′22″N 75°30′51″W / 41.33944°N 75.51417°W / 41.33944; -75.51417
East Branch Roaring Brook 3.7 miles (6.0 km) 5.90 square miles (15.3 km2) 17.14 miles (27.58 km) 1,654 feet (504 m) 1,940 to 1,960 feet (590 to 600 m) 41°18′28″N 75°29′19″W / 41.30778°N 75.48861°W / 41.30778; -75.48861
Lake Run 1.6 miles (2.6 km) 3.44 square miles (8.9 km2) 17.50 miles (28.16 km) 1,654 feet (504 m) 1,900 feet (580 m) 41°18′12″N 75°29′14″W / 41.30333°N 75.48722°W / 41.30333; -75.48722

Tributaries of Leggetts Creek

Name Length Watershed area Distance from mouth Mouth elevation Source elevation Coordinates
Leach Creek 1.9 miles (3.1 km) 2.55 square miles (6.6 km2) 1.00 mile (1.61 km) 781 feet (238 m) 1,320 to 1,340 feet (400 to 410 m) 41°26′34″N 75°39′39″W / 41.44278°N 75.66083°W / 41.44278; -75.66083
Clover Hill Creek 1.6 miles (2.6 km) 2 square miles (5.2 km2) 2 miles (3.2 km) 906 feet (276 m) 1,760 to 1,780 feet (540 to 540 m) 41°27′18″N 75°39′44″W / 41.45500°N 75.66222°W / 41.45500; -75.66222
Summit Lake Creek 2.1 miles (3.4 km) 3.08 square miles (8.0 km2) 3.90 miles (6.28 km) 1,063 feet (324 m) 1,260 to 1,280 feet (380 to 390 m) 41°28′31″N 75°40′59″W / 41.47528°N 75.68306°W / 41.47528; -75.68306

Other tributaries

Name Tributary to Length Watershed area Distance from mouth Mouth elevation Source elevation Coordinates
Trout Creek Monument Creek 3.4 miles (5.5 km) 935 feet (285 m) 1,760 to 1,780 feet (540 to 540 m) 41°19′31″N 75°41′17″W / 41.32528°N 75.68806°W / 41.32528; -75.68806
Six Springs Creek Rattlesnake Creek 2.1 miles (3.4 km) 2.95 square miles (7.6 km2) 3.40 miles (5.47 km) 1,450 feet (440 m) 1,700 to 1,720 feet (520 to 520 m) 41°18′53″N 75°35′01″W / 41.31472°N 75.58361°W / 41.31472; -75.58361
Painter Creek Panther Creek 3.4 miles (5.5 km) 4.51 square miles (11.7 km2) 0.90 miles (1.45 km) 1,411 feet (430 m) 2,000 to 2,020 feet (610 to 620 m) 41°16′58″N 75°37′50″W / 41.28278°N 75.63056°W / 41.28278; -75.63056
Mountain Lake Run Stafford Meadow Brook 2 square miles (5.2 km2) 801 feet (244 m) 41°23′24″N 75°39′49″W / 41.39000°N 75.66361°W / 41.39000; -75.66361
Langan Creek Van Brunt Creek 2.5 miles (4.0 km) 1,535 feet (468 m) 1,760 to 1,780 feet (540 to 540 m) 41°20′06″N 75°31′06″W / 41.33500°N 75.51833°W / 41.33500; -75.51833
Emerson Run Lake Run 1.8 miles (2.9 km) 1.58 square miles (4.1 km2) 0.84 miles (1.35 km) 1,709 feet (521 m) 1,840 to 1,860 feet (560 to 570 m) 41°17′37″N 75°59′23″W / 41.29361°N 75.98972°W / 41.29361; -75.98972
South Branch Leach Creek Leach Creek 0.8 miles (1.3 km) 0.463 square miles (1.20 km2) 1,066 feet (325 m) 1,780 to 1,800 feet (540 to 550 m) 41°27′00″N 75°40′38″W / 41.45000°N 75.67722°W / 41.45000; -75.67722
Pancoast Creek Price Creek 2.0 miles (3.2 km) 0.880 square miles (2.28 km2) 751 feet (229 m) 1,580 to 1,600 feet (480 to 490 m) 41°27′35″N 75°37′16″W / 41.45972°N 75.62111°W / 41.45972; -75.62111
West Branch Tinklepaugh Creek Wildcat Creek 2.2 miles (3.5 km) 1.490 square miles (3.86 km2) 843 feet (257 m) 1,920 to 1,940 feet (590 to 590 m) 41°29′12″N 75°35′12″W / 41.48667°N 75.58667°W / 41.48667; -75.58667
Indian Cave Creek White Oak Run (Lackawanna River) 1.9 miles (3.1 km) 1.59 square miles (4.1 km2) 1.27 miles (2.04 km) 1,319 feet (402 m) 1,960 to 1,980 feet (600 to 600 m) 41°29′51″N 75°31′00″W / 41.49750°N 75.51667°W / 41.49750; -75.51667
Fiddle Lake Creek West Branch Lackawanna River 6.0 miles (9.7 km) 6.47 square miles (16.8 km2) 1.20 miles (1.93 km) 1,591 feet (485 m) 2,000 to 2,020 feet (610 to 620 m) 41°42′59″N 75°29′20″W / 41.71639°N 75.48889°W / 41.71639; -75.48889
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List of tributaries of the Lackawanna River Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.