North Mahanoy Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North Mahanoy Creek |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Bear Head in Delano Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania 1,889 ft (576 m) |
| River mouth | Mahanoy Creek in Mahanoy City, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania 1,224 ft (373 m) 40°48′50″N 76°08′29″W / 40.8140°N 76.1415°W |
| Length | 4.4 mi (7.1 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Mahanoy Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 5.99 sq mi (15.5 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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North Mahanoy Creek is a small stream that flows into Mahanoy Creek in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. It's like a smaller branch joining a bigger river. The creek is about 4.4 miles (7.1 km) long. It flows through three areas: Delano Township, Mahanoy Township, and Mahanoy City.
The land area that drains into North Mahanoy Creek, called its watershed, covers about 5.99 square miles (15.5 km2). This creek is considered "impaired," which means its water quality isn't as good as it should be. This is mainly because of too much dirt and mud (sedimentation/siltation) and changes in how much water flows, often due to water from old, unused mines. The creek is quite small, and some parts of it even dry up at times. It's located in an area known for coal mining.
The North Mahanoy Creek watershed is in the upper part of the larger Mahanoy Creek area. It's one of the main streams that feeds into Mahanoy Creek. Many bridges have been built over North Mahanoy Creek. The creek's watershed is a special area for "Coldwater Fishery" and "Migratory Fishery," meaning it's important for fish that like cold water and for fish that travel. Even though no fish live directly in the creek, wild trout (a type of fish) naturally reproduce in two of its smaller, unnamed branches.
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Where the Creek Flows
North Mahanoy Creek starts on a place called Bear Head in Delano Township. It flows southwest for a short distance. Then, it turns south and runs along the edge of Delano.
The creek then enters a valley and turns west-southwest. It quickly flows into Mahanoy Township. As it goes downstream, three small, unnamed streams join it from the right side. After that, the creek turns southwest again, and another unnamed stream joins it from the right. Finally, it turns south, then southeast, and then southwest again. It enters Mahanoy City and joins the larger Mahanoy Creek.
North Mahanoy Creek meets Mahanoy Creek about 49.27 miles (79.29 km) before Mahanoy Creek reaches its own end.
Smaller Streams Joining the Creek
North Mahanoy Creek doesn't have any officially named smaller streams that join it. However, it does have several unnamed ones. Two of these are unofficially called "Pole Run" and "Cold Run." Pole Run is about 1.20 miles (1.93 km) long, and Cold Run is about 1.04 miles (1.67 km) long.
Water Quality and Flow
As mentioned, North Mahanoy Creek is an "impaired" waterbody. This means its water quality is affected. The main problems are too much dirt and mud (sedimentation/siltation) and changes in how much water flows. These issues are often caused by water coming from abandoned mines.
The creek often loses most or all of its water because it flows into underground mines. Because of this, the lower parts of the creek can dry up completely at certain times.
Scientists have measured the water in North Mahanoy Creek. For example, in March 2001, the creek's flow was 8.70 cubic feet per second (0.246 m3/s). But in August 2001, it was 0 cubic feet per second (0 m3/s), meaning it was dry. The water's acidity (pH) was 5.6, which is a bit acidic. They also measured things like dissolved oxygen, which is important for aquatic life.
Land and Rocks Around the Creek
The area where North Mahanoy Creek joins Mahanoy Creek is about 1,224 feet (373 m) above sea level. The creek's starting point is higher, at about 1,889 feet (576 m) above sea level. The creek itself is quite small, only a few feet wide in the late 1800s.
North Mahanoy Creek is entirely within the Western Middle Anthracite Field. This is an area where a lot of coal was mined between 1840 and 1950. You can still see large piles of dirt and mud (silt) near the creek from these old mining days. The land around the creek shows scars from past mining. Even though there aren't huge amounts of polluted water flowing from abandoned mines directly into the creek, there are still mining operations and old mine lands in the area.
The very beginning of North Mahanoy Creek gets its water from clean springs and rainwater runoff near Locust Mountain. However, strip mining (a type of mining where the ground is dug up from the surface) has greatly changed the land around the creek. There's also a coal area nearby called the North Mahanoy Basin.
The Creek's Drainage Area
The watershed (the land area that drains water into the creek) of North Mahanoy Creek covers about 5.99 square miles (15.5 km2). The end of the creek is in a map area called Shenandoah. But its source, where it begins, is in the Delano map area. North Mahanoy Creek is one of the main streams that flows into Mahanoy Creek.
The creek is important for aquatic life, meaning the plants and animals that live in the water. The creek's watershed is at the very top part of the larger Mahanoy Creek drainage area.
There are also some lakes or ponds within the North Mahanoy Creek watershed.
History of the Creek
North Mahanoy Creek was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System (a database of place names) on August 2, 1979. Its special ID number in that system is 1193047.
In the late 1800s, tall walls, about 8 or 9 feet (2.4 or 2.7 m) high, were built along both sides of North Mahanoy Creek. These walls were meant to keep the water within its banks. At one point in the late 1800s, people claimed that waste from a nearby gas factory was being dumped into the creek. In the early 1900s, many private sewers (pipes carrying waste water) also flowed into North Mahanoy Creek.
A steel bridge that carries Park Place Road over North Mahanoy Creek was built in 1960. It is 36.1 feet (11.0 m) long. Another similar bridge on the same road was built in 1961 and is 30.8 feet (9.4 m) long.
As of 2015, a company called the Gilberton Coal Company has a permit to continue surface mining, reprocess coal waste, and dispose of waste on 25.9 acres (10.5 ha) in Mahanoy Township. North Mahanoy Creek is the stream that receives water from this operation.
Creek Life: Plants and Animals
The area that drains into North Mahanoy Creek is special for "Coldwater Fishery" and "Migratory Fishery." This means it's a good place for fish that like cold water and for fish that travel between different water bodies. In 2001, scientists didn't see any fish at the mouth of the creek. However, they did find macroinvertebrates there. Macroinvertebrates are small creatures without backbones, like insects and worms, that live in the water.
Even though no fish were found in the main creek, wild trout naturally reproduce in two of its unnamed smaller streams. This is a good sign for the health of those smaller areas.
In 2001, scientists found five different types of macroinvertebrates in North Mahanoy Creek. Two types, Chironomidae (non-biting midges) and Simuliidae (black flies), were "common," meaning 10 to 24 individuals were seen. Two other types, Limnephilidae (caddisflies) and Rhyacophilidae (another type of caddisfly), were "present," with 3 to 9 individuals found. Only one or two Oligochaeta (aquatic worms) were seen, so they were classified as "rare."
Scientists use something called the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index to measure water quality based on the types of macroinvertebrates found. In 2001, the value for North Mahanoy Creek at its mouth was 5.24. This number helps scientists understand how healthy the creek's ecosystem is.
