Little Mehoopany Creek facts for kids

Little Mehoopany Creek is a small river, or tributary, that flows into the Susquehanna River in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. It is about 8.4 miles (13.5 kilometers) long. The creek flows through Windham Township and Mehoopany Township.

The area of land that drains into the creek, called its watershed, covers about 11.3 square miles (29.3 square kilometers). Most of this land is covered by forests and farms. The water in Little Mehoopany Creek is considered clean and healthy.

There are four man-made lakes along the creek: Sharpe Pond, Negro Pond, Chamberlain Pond, and Jennings Pond. Many wet areas, called palustrine wetlands, are also found in the creek's watershed. Several bridges cross the creek, and companies that get natural gas are active in the area. The creek's watershed is a special place for fish, known as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery.

Where Does Little Mehoopany Creek Flow?

Little Mehoopany Creek starts in Sharpe Pond in Windham Township. From there, it flows generally east and southeast. Along its path, it flows into and out of several ponds, including Nergo Pond and Chamberlain Pond.

The creek then passes near Jenningsville before entering Jennings Pond. After leaving Jennings Pond, the creek continues to wind its way east and southeast. As it flows, its valley gets deeper.

The creek then enters Mehoopany Township. It eventually turns north, then east, and finally southeast. It passes through a smaller, unnamed pond. The creek then flows east through North Mehoopany, crossing Pennsylvania Route 87. Finally, it joins the Susquehanna River.

Little Mehoopany Creek meets the Susquehanna River about 231.76 miles (373 kilometers) upstream from the Susquehanna's mouth.

How Clean is the Water in Little Mehoopany Creek?

Little Mehoopany Creek is known for its clean water. No parts of the creek are listed as having water quality problems. This means it's a healthy environment for plants and animals.

The amount of water flowing in the creek, called its discharge, is about 13.9 cubic feet per second (0.39 cubic meters per second) near its mouth. It takes about 8 hours and 50 minutes for water to travel from the very start of the creek to where it meets the Susquehanna River.

Studies have shown that the water temperature in the creek changes with the seasons. It can range from about 33°F (0.5°C) in colder months to 76°F (24.4°C) in warmer months.

The pH of the water, which tells us how acidic or basic it is, usually ranges from 6.2 to 9.6. A pH of 7 is neutral. The alkalinity, which measures the water's ability to resist changes in pH, also varies. These measurements help scientists understand the creek's water quality.

Exploring the Land and Rocks Around the Creek

The land around the mouth of Little Mehoopany Creek is about 610 feet (186 meters) above sea level. Near where the creek starts, the elevation is higher, around 1139 feet (347 meters) above sea level.

As mentioned, there are four man-made lakes on the creek: Sharpe Pond, Chamberlain Pond, Negro Pond, and Jennings Pond. The creek's width and depth change as it flows through these ponds and different sections. For example, at the outlet of Sharpe Pond, it was about 6 feet (1.8 meters) wide and 0.5 feet (0.15 meters) deep. At the outlet of Jennings Pond, it was about 20 feet (6.1 meters) wide and 2 feet (0.6 meters) deep.

The rocks under the ground in the creek's watershed are mostly sedimentary rock and sandstone. The main rock layer is called the Catskill Formation. There is also a small area with a different rock type called the Huntley Mountain Formation.

The main type of soil in the watershed is called Wellsboro-Oquaga-Morris. Other soil types are found in smaller areas. A study in 2003 found that there were no major problems with soil washing away (erosion) in the creek's watershed.

Life and Land Use in the Creek's Watershed

The watershed of Little Mehoopany Creek covers about 11.3 square miles (29.3 square kilometers). It includes parts of Windham Township, Mehoopany Township, and North Branch Township. The watershed has about 11 miles (18 kilometers) of streams.

In 2006, most of the land in the watershed was covered by forests (67.5 percent) and farms (26.1 percent). A small amount of land was water, grassland, wetlands, or developed areas. The wet areas (wetlands) are found all over the watershed.

About 330 people live in the Little Mehoopany Creek watershed. This means there are about 29 people per square mile (11 people per square kilometer). One of the main places where people live is Jenningsville.

Little Mehoopany Creek can sometimes flood a lot. During Hurricane Irene, the creek's flooding caused many people to leave their homes nearby.

The creek's watershed is a special area for fish. It is called a Coldwater Fishery because it supports fish that like cold water. It is also a Migratory Fishery, meaning fish travel through it during their life cycles.

History and Activities Around the Creek

Little Mehoopany 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.

In 1806, a gristmill was built on Little Mehoopany Creek by William, Joseph, and John Carney. A log schoolhouse was also built along the creek. This schoolhouse was used as a meeting place for the Mehoopany Baptist Church until 1834. In the past, canal boats would even come into the creek to deliver goods to a local store.

Several bridges have been built over Little Mehoopany Creek over the years. A concrete slab bridge for State Route 3001 was built in 1955. Other bridges, including a prestressed box beam bridge for State Route 4002, were built in 1969 and 1996. The State Route 3001 bridge was planned to be replaced around 2017.

In the 2000s, there were ideas to build a boat launch where Little Mehoopany Creek meets the Susquehanna River. Other projects included building a shed for anti-skid material near the creek.

As of 2006, there are eight drilling pads in the watershed for getting natural gas. The Mehoopany Creek Watershed Association works on conservation and education projects in the Little Mehoopany Creek watershed. In 2010, a remote water quality monitor was placed on the creek to keep an eye on its health.