Long Hollow (Catawissa Creek tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long Hollow |
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The valley of Long Hollow
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Catawissa Mountain in Roaring Creek Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania 1,380 to 1,400 feet (420 to 430 m) |
| River mouth | Catawissa Creek in Beaver Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania 705 ft (215 m) 40°56′31″N 76°18′24″W / 40.94187°N 76.30670°W |
| Length | 2.5 mi (4.0 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Catawissa Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 2.84 sq mi (7.4 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Long Hollow is a small stream, or "run," located in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It used to be known as Long Hollow Run. This stream is a tributary of Catawissa Creek, meaning it flows into Catawissa Creek.
Long Hollow is about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long. It flows through two areas: Roaring Creek Township and Beaver Township. The area of land that drains into the stream, called its watershed, covers about 2.84 square miles (7.4 km2). The water in Long Hollow is usually neutral, which means it's not too acidic or too basic. It's also known as a coldwater fishery, which is a good sign for certain types of fish.
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The Stream's Path
Long Hollow starts high up on Catawissa Mountain in Roaring Creek Township. From its source, it flows towards the east for a short distance.
After a little while, the stream enters Beaver Township. It keeps flowing east and soon gets water from a small, unnamed stream that joins it.
Long Hollow then continues to flow generally east for more than a mile. It travels through a deep valley, which makes for a scenic journey. At the end of this valley, Long Hollow meets and joins Catawissa Creek. This meeting point is about 13.82 miles (22.24 km) upstream from where Catawissa Creek itself ends.
What Streams Join Long Hollow?
Long Hollow has only one known tributary. This is a small stream that doesn't have a specific name, but it's identified as "Trib 27555 to Long Hollow."
Water Quality of Long Hollow
The water in Long Hollow is generally healthy. The pH level of the stream, which tells us how acidic or basic the water is, is usually between 7.0 and 7.5. A pH of 7 is considered neutral, so Long Hollow's water is very close to neutral.
The water also has a small amount of alkalinity, which helps to balance its pH. The stream is considered "infertile," meaning it doesn't have a lot of nutrients. This can make it more sensitive to things like acid precipitation.
The "specific conductance" of the water is 22 umhos. This measures how well the water conducts electricity, which gives clues about what's dissolved in it.
On a summer day in June 1997, the air temperature near the stream was 25 °C (77 °F). The water temperature in Long Hollow at that time was 13 °C (55 °F), showing it stays quite cool.
Land and Rocks Around the Stream
The land around Long Hollow changes in height. Near where the stream joins Catawissa Creek, the elevation is about 705 feet (215 m) above sea level. Up at the stream's source, the elevation is much higher, between 1,380 feet (420 m) and 1,400 feet (430 m).
The types of rocks found along Long Hollow vary. The lower parts of the stream flow over rocks from the Mauch Chunk Formation. The upper parts are on rocks from the Pocono Formation. The unnamed stream that joins Long Hollow flows over rocks from the Spechty Kopf Formation and the Buddys Run Member of the Catskill Formation. The main types of soil in the area are called Leck Kill soil and Hazleton soil.
Long Hollow is a narrow stream, about 3.2 metres (10 ft) wide. It has a "high gradient," meaning it drops quite a bit in elevation over a short distance. This makes the water flow quickly.
The Stream's Surroundings and History
The watershed of Long Hollow covers an area of 2.84 square miles (7.4 km2). Most of this area is in Beaver Township, but a good part is also in Roaring Creek Township.
Most of the land in the watershed is covered by forests. However, there are some areas of farmland closer to where the stream ends. The upper and middle parts of the stream are located within the Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 58, which are protected areas. The entire watershed is part of the Shumans area on the United States Geological Survey maps.
A small part of Long Hollow, about eight percent of its length, is very close to a road (within 100 metres (330 ft)). About 20 percent of the stream is within 500 metres (1,600 ft) of a road. In 1990, only about eight people lived in each square kilometer of the watershed, meaning it's a very quiet area.
A report from 1997 described the watershed of Long Hollow as "unspoiled," which means it's still very natural and untouched by human development.
In the early 1900s, a railway company called the Philadelphia and Reading Railway wanted to build a concrete arch culvert (a tunnel for water under a road or railway) across Long Hollow. A large bridge, 1,050 feet (320 m) long and 136 feet (41 m) high, was also once built over the stream. Sadly, a bridge over Long Hollow was washed away during the big 1904 Susquehanna River Floods.
Fish and Wildlife
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection considers Long Hollow to be a coldwater fishery. This means the water is cold enough for certain types of fish to live there. A report from 1997 even suggested that the stream should be called a "high-quality coldwater fishery" because it's so healthy. It's also known as a Class B wild trout fishery, which is a special designation for streams where trout reproduce naturally.
Two types of fish have been found living in Long Hollow: brook trout and brown trout. While only one brown trout has been seen, there are many brook trout. The total weight of wild brook trout in the stream is about 23.67 kilograms (52.2 lb) per hectare. These trout range in size from tiny 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) long fish to larger ones up to 19.9 centimetres (7.8 in) long.
It's great news that trout naturally reproduce in Long Hollow, from its very beginning all the way to where it joins Catawissa Creek. However, the stream is not considered a very good place for people to go angling (fishing with a rod and line).
