Nancy Run facts for kids

Nancy Run, also known as Nancys Run, is a small stream in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. It flows into the Lehigh River. This stream is about 4.1 miles (6.6 km) long. It runs through Bethlehem Township and Freemansburg. The land area that drains into Nancy Run is about 6.14 square miles (15.9 km2). This stream is special because it's a "Coldwater Fishery." This means its cool water is perfect for fish like trout. It also has many different tiny creatures called macroinvertebrates.

Where Nancy Run Flows

Nancy Run starts near the Green Pond Golf Course in Bethlehem Township. It flows southwest for a short distance. Then it turns south-southwest, crossing Easton Avenue. The stream then gets water from a small, unnamed stream on its left side. After that, it turns west and enters the area called Middletown. It then flows south for a while. Finally, it turns south-southwest and enters Freemansburg. Here, it flows south for a short distance. It then joins the Lehigh River.

Land and Rocks Around the Stream

The land near where Nancy Run joins the Lehigh River is about 220 feet (67 meters) above sea level. The land near where the stream begins is about 382 feet (116 meters) above sea level. The Lehigh Canal also crosses Nancy Run. Near the stream, you can find special rock formations called stromatolites. These are some of the best examples in eastern Pennsylvania.

Water and Its Path

The total area of land that drains into Nancy Run is about 6.14 square miles (15.9 km2). The part of this area above its unnamed tributary is smaller, about 1.40 square miles (3.6 km2). Nancy Run is completely within the Nazareth United States Geological Survey map area.

The amount of water flowing in Nancy Run can change a lot. At its mouth, there is a 10% chance that the water flow will reach 3,605 cubic feet per second (102.1 m3/s) in any given year. There is a 1% chance it could reach 4,291 cubic feet per second (121.5 m3/s).

The Story of Nancy Run

Nancy Run was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System in 1990. This was because it appeared on a 1975 map. The stream is also known as Nancys Run. This other name was used in a geological study from 1939.

The stream is named after an old woman named Nancy. She used to live in a log cabin near the creek. People knew her as a fortune teller. In the early 1800s, there was a large tavern located by the stream. The town of Freemansburg, where the stream ends, became a town in 1856.

Several bridges have been built over Nancy Run over the years. Two steel bridges were built in 1930 for Washington Street and Keystone Street. In 1938, a concrete bridge was built for State Route 3007. More bridges followed in 1958 and 1960. In 2000, three concrete bridges were built. These helped connect different parts of the area.

In 2014, a group called the Northampton County Conservation District received a $5,000 grant. This money was used to create a plan to protect the cold water in Nancy Run.

Animals and Plants in Nancy Run

Nancy Run is a great home for wild trout. These fish naturally reproduce in the stream from its start to its end. The upper part of the stream is known as a Coldwater Fishery. This means it's a good place for fish that like cold water. The lower part is a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery. This means it's an even better place for cold-water fish. The lower 1.6 miles (2.6 km) of the stream are special for brown trout.

In the 1990s, scientists found that Nancy Run had many different kinds of tiny creatures living on the bottom. This showed that the stream had high biodiversity. This means many different types of life. The stream also had various fish species.

Some of the tiny creatures found in Nancy Run in the 1970s include worms (Oligochaeta), sowbugs, scuds, mayflies, caddisflies, beetles, flies (Diptera), blackflies, and snails.