Middle Branch Newport Creek facts for kids

Middle Branch Newport Creek is a small stream, also called a tributary, located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It flows into a larger stream called Newport Creek. This creek is about 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometers) long. It runs through an area known as Newport Township.

Sadly, the water in Middle Branch Newport Creek is affected by pollution from old, abandoned mines. This means the water quality is not as good as it should be for the entire 1.1 miles of the creek. Experts first noticed this problem in 2004.

Where Does the Creek Flow?

Middle Branch Newport Creek starts its journey in Newport Township. It begins right on the edge of a town called Glen Lyon.

First, the creek flows east for a short distance. Then, it turns and heads north-northeast, crossing a road called West Kirmar Avenue or East Main Street. After that, it turns northeast again. Along this path, it passes by several small ponds.

The creek then turns almost directly north for a few hundred feet. At this point, it leaves the border of Glen Lyon. It continues flowing northeast for a bit. Finally, it briefly turns northwest before joining Newport Creek. This meeting point is called its "confluence."

What is the Water Like?

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has found that all 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometers) of Middle Branch Newport Creek have water quality problems. The main issue is with the pH level of the water. This is caused by acid mine drainage, which comes from old, unused mines. Acid mine drainage makes the water too acidic, which can be harmful to plants and animals living in the creek.

How High is the Creek?

The land around the end of Middle Branch Newport Creek is about 594 feet (181 meters) above sea level. The place where the creek begins, its source, is higher up. It is between 720 and 740 feet (219 and 226 meters) above sea level.

Middle Branch Newport Creek is part of a larger area called the Newport Creek watershed. A watershed is all the land where water drains into a particular stream or river. This watershed is located in the southwestern part of the Wyoming Valley. The end of Middle Branch Newport Creek is near an old mining area known as Sheet II.

Historically, the mouth of the creek was in a different township, Conyngham Township. This was about 300 feet (91 meters) west of the line that separates Conyngham Township from Newport Township.

You can find Coal and slate rocks along both sides of Middle Branch Newport Creek near a place called the Shoemaker Drift.

What is the Creek's Environment Like?

Middle Branch Newport Creek is entirely within an area mapped by the United States Geological Survey called Nanticoke. The creek is important for aquatic life, which means it's a home for water-dwelling plants and animals.

This creek is one of several smaller streams that flow into Newport Creek. Other streams in the Newport Creek watershed include South Branch Newport Creek and Reservoir Creek.

In 1887, a report about the geological survey of Pennsylvania described Middle Branch Newport Creek. It mentioned that the creek flowed through a swamp and passed by the Miller and Uplinger farms.

History of the Creek

Middle Branch Newport Creek was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on January 1, 1990. This system keeps track of names and locations of places in the United States. The creek also appears on Patton's Philadelphia and Suburbs Street and Road Map, which was published in 1984.

As mentioned earlier, Middle Branch Newport Creek was identified as a stream with water quality problems in 2004. A plan to fix these problems, called a TMDL, was set for 2017.