Millard Creek facts for kids

Millard Creek is a tributary (a smaller stream that flows into a larger one) of Tunkhannock Creek. You can find it in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. This creek is about 6.2 miles (10.0 km) long. It flows through two areas: Harford Township and Lenox Township.

The area of land that drains into Millard Creek, called its watershed, is about 5.66 square miles (14.7 km²). Good news: the creek is considered healthy and is not listed as an "impaired waterbody." This means its water quality is good! The land around the creek has different types of ground, like till (a mix of clay, sand, and rocks), alluvium (soil deposited by water), wetlands, and bedrock (solid rock). Most of the land in the creek's watershed is covered by forests and farms. Several bridges have been built over the creek. The area the creek drains is a special place for "Coldwater Fishery" and "Migratory Fishery," which means it's important for certain types of fish.

The Creek's Journey: Where Millard Creek Flows

Millard Creek starts in a small pond that doesn't have a name. This pond is located south of a wetland in Harford Township. From there, the creek flows generally south, changing direction several times as it makes its way.

As it continues, the creek enters Lenox Township. It passes through another wetland and a small lake. The creek then flows alongside a place called Jeffers Hill and goes through Jeffers Pond. It also receives water from one small, unnamed stream that joins it from the left side.

Further downstream, Millard Creek flows next to Pennsylvania Route 167 on one side and Hickory Ridge on the other. It then crosses under Pennsylvania Route 92. A short distance after that, it reaches its end point, where it flows into Tunkhannock Creek. Millard Creek is about 6.2 miles (10.0 km) long in total.

Water Health: Understanding Millard Creek's Hydrology

Millard Creek is considered a healthy stream. It is not listed as an "impaired waterbody," which means its water quality is good and it supports healthy aquatic life.

Sediment Levels in the Creek

Sediment is like tiny bits of soil, sand, and rock that get carried by water. Too much sediment can make the water cloudy and harm fish habitats. About 2,822,343 pounds (1,280,193 kg) of sediment flows into Millard Creek each year.

• The biggest source of this sediment comes from cropland (farms), which contributes about 2,600,926 pounds (1,179,760 kg) per year.
• Deciduous forests (trees that lose their leaves) and hay/pastures also add some sediment.
• Other sources include coniferous forests (evergreen trees), mixed forests, and developed areas.

Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Water

Nitrogen and phosphorus are nutrients. While plants need them to grow, too much can cause problems like too much algae in the water.

• About 14,604 pounds (6,624 kg) of nitrogen enters Millard Creek each year. Most of this comes from cropland (about 10,509 pounds (4,767 kg)). Other sources include groundwater, septic systems, and hay/pastures. Forests also contribute a small amount.
• The total phosphorus load in the creek is about 1,861 pounds (844 kg) per year. Again, cropland is the main source, contributing about 1,585 pounds (719 kg). Groundwater, hay/pastures, and forests also add phosphorus.

It's good to know that Point-source pollution (pollution from a specific, identifiable source like a pipe) does not add any nitrogen, phosphorus, or sediment to Millard Creek.

Land and Rocks: Geography and Geology of the Area

The land around Millard Creek has interesting features and different types of rocks.

Elevation Changes Along the Creek

The elevation (how high a place is above sea level) changes quite a bit along Millard Creek:

• Near where the creek flows into Tunkhannock Creek (its mouth), the elevation is about 778 feet (237 m) above sea level.
• Near where the creek starts (its source), the elevation is much higher, around 1,458 feet (444 m) above sea level.

Types of Rocks and Soil

The rocks under the entire area that drains into Millard Creek are made of sedimentary rock from the Catksill Formation. This means they were formed from layers of sediment over millions of years.

The soil and loose materials on the surface, called surficial geology, mostly consist of a type of till called Wisconsinan Till. This was left behind by glaciers long ago. However, along the creek itself, you can find patches of alluvium (soil deposited by flowing water), wetlands, and lakes. On some nearby hills, the solid bedrock is made of sandstone and shale. There's also a patch of alluvial fan (a fan-shaped deposit of sediment) near the creek's mouth.

The Creek's Home: Millard Creek Watershed

The watershed of Millard Creek is the entire area of land where all the rain and snowmelt eventually drain into the creek. This watershed covers about 5.66 square miles (14.7 km²). The creek is located entirely within the Lenoxville quadrangle, which is a specific map area used by the United States Geological Survey. The mouth of the creek is less than 1 mile (1.6 km) from a place called Glenwood.

How Land is Used in the Watershed

The main land use in the Millard Creek watershed is forested land. Forests cover almost 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) of the area. Agricultural land, used for crops or pastures, covers a bit over 1,000 acres (400 ha). Only a very small part of the watershed is used for urban development (towns or cities).

The shape of the Millard Creek watershed is quite long from north to south, but it's relatively narrow from east to west.

A Look Back: History of Millard Creek

Millard Creek has been officially recognized for a while. It was added to the Geographic Names Information System (a database of place names) on August 2, 1979. Its special ID number in that system is 1181198.

Over the years, bridges have been built to cross Millard Creek:

• A bridge carrying State Route 2039 over the creek in Lenox Township was built in 1951. It's about 24.0 feet (7.3 m) long and was repaired in 2010.
• Another bridge, made of concrete, carries Pennsylvania Route 92 over the creek in Lenox Township. It was built in 1959 and is about 34.1 feet (10.4 m) long.

In 2001, Millard Creek was used as a "reference watershed" for a study related to South Branch Wyalusing Creek. This means it was used as a healthy example to compare with other creeks.

Life in the Water: Biology of Millard Creek

The area that Millard Creek drains is special for fish. It's called a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery.

Fish and Aquatic Life

• A Coldwater Fishery means the creek's water is cold enough and clean enough to support fish that need cool temperatures, like trout.
• A Migratory Fishery means it's a place where fish travel through, often to lay their eggs.

Wild trout naturally reproduce in Millard Creek! They lay their eggs and new trout hatch right in the creek, from its mouth upstream for about 2.67 miles (4.30 km). The main purpose or "designated use" of Millard Creek is to support aquatic life (all the plants and animals that live in the water).