Meredith Brook facts for kids

Meredith Brook is a small stream, also called a tributary, that flows into the Lackawanna River. It is located in Pennsylvania, passing through parts of Susquehanna, Lackawanna, and Wayne counties.

This brook is about 2.1 miles (3.4 km) long. It flows through towns like Forest City and Vandling. Even a long time ago, in the early 1900s, the lower parts of the stream were clear.

Meredith Brook's area, called its watershed, has two shallow lakes. These are Lake Erie and Kennedy Pond. Many different kinds of fish live in these lakes.

Where Meredith Brook Flows

Meredith Brook starts in a lake located in Forest City. It flows southwest for a short distance, quickly entering Clifford Township. The stream then turns south, crossing Pennsylvania Route 247.

After this, it turns east and goes back into Forest City. In Forest City, it flows through another lake before re-entering Clifford Township. From the lake's end, it flows southwest, then south-southeast.

The brook then leaves Susquehanna County and enters Vandling in Lackawanna County. In Vandling, it turns east and then northeast. It soon re-enters Forest City and Susquehanna County.

Once back in Forest City, it flows east, then north-northeast. After a short distance, it crosses Pennsylvania Route 171. The stream then turns east-northeast. A little further downstream, Meredith Brook meets and joins the Lackawanna River. It joins the Lackawanna River about 35.1 miles (56.5 km) upstream from where the Lackawanna River ends.

Water Quality of the Brook

A long time ago, in the early 1900s, the lower parts of Meredith Brook had clear water. However, some water from old coal mining waste piles, called culm banks, would drain into the stream. Also, water from a deep hole, called a borehole, was sometimes pumped directly into the stream. Despite this, the stream was clean and free of pollution upstream from a specific mining shaft.

Geography and Land Around the Brook

The land around where Meredith Brook joins the Lackawanna River is about 1,414 feet (431 m) above sea level. Where the stream begins, its source, the land is higher, between 1,700 and 1,720 feet (520 and 520 m) above sea level.

In the early 1900s, some parts of Meredith Brook flowed under mining railroad tracks or piles of rock and coal waste. However, the stream's bottom, called its streambed, was in good condition and clear of trash. The sides of the stream, known as its streambanks, were strong and kept the soil from washing away. Meredith Brook is considered a small stream that feeds into a larger river.

Watershed and Animals

Meredith Brook is located entirely within the United States Geological Survey map area called Forest City. The stream flows through three different counties.

The area that drains into Meredith Brook, its watershed, includes two lakes: Kennedy Pond and Lake Erie. Both lakes are in the western part of Forest City. They are quite shallow, usually only about 3 to 4 feet (0.91 to 1.22 m) deep. However, Lake Erie is three times larger than Kennedy Pond.

Meredith Brook is a first-order stream, which means it's a small stream that doesn't have other streams flowing into it. A long time ago, a reservoir on the stream was used to provide drinking water for coal mines.

Many types of fish live in the lakes within Meredith Brook's watershed. For example, Panfish can be found in Kennedy Pond. In Lake Erie, you can find panfish, as well as pickerel and bass.

History of Meredith Brook

Meredith Brook was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on January 1, 1990. This system keeps track of names for places like rivers and mountains. Its special identification number in the system is 1202341.