Oxbow Inlet facts for kids

Oxbow Inlet is a small stream, also called a tributary, that flows into Oxbow Creek in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. It's about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and runs through Lemon Township. The area of land that drains into it (called a watershed) is about 1.79 square miles (4.6 km²). This stream is a special place for fish that like cold water, and it's also a path for fish that travel (migrate). The ground around its lower parts is mostly made of alluvium (river deposits) and a type of till (rocky soil left by glaciers) called Wisconsinan Till.

Where Oxbow Inlet Flows

Oxbow Inlet starts in a wetland in Lemon Township. It flows south for a short distance, and its valley (the low land around it) gets a bit deeper. Then, it turns southeast and then south-southeast for another short distance as its valley becomes shallower. The stream then reaches its end point (its mouth) at Oxbow Lake. Oxbow Creek then flows out from Oxbow Lake.

Oxbow Inlet joins Oxbow Creek about 2.79 miles (4.49 km) before Oxbow Creek reaches its own end.

Water Quality and Flow

In 1966, scientists studied the water in Oxbow Inlet. They found that the amount of silica (a mineral found in sand) in the water was more than 50 milligrams per liter (0.050 oz/cu ft). The amount of iron in the stream was 0.20 milligrams per liter (0.00020 oz/cu ft). The levels of magnesium and calcium were 2.02 and 24.64 milligrams per liter (0.00202 and 0.02461 oz/cu ft), respectively. The sulfate (a type of salt) concentration was 11.08 milligrams per liter (0.01107 oz/cu ft).

Compared to other water sources in the Wilkes-Barre area that were tested in 1966, the iron, calcium, and sulfate levels in Oxbow Inlet were lower than average. However, the silica and magnesium levels were higher than average.

During a dry period in the summer of 1966, Oxbow Inlet only carried vadose water. This means the water was only from rain or melted snow that had seeped through the ground, not from underground springs.

Land and Rocks Around the Stream

The land near the mouth of Oxbow Inlet is about 1,027 feet (313 m) above sea level. The place where the stream starts (its source) is higher, between 1,120 and 1,140 feet (341 and 347 m) above sea level.

Oxbow Inlet is the main stream that flows into Oxbow Lake. It doesn't seem like there are any springs (places where underground water flows out) directly near Oxbow Lake.

The ground and rocks (called surficial geology) right around the lower parts of Oxbow Inlet are mostly made of alluvium. A bit further upstream, and also a little further away in the lower parts, you can find a type of rocky soil left by glaciers called Wisconsinan Till. There are also smaller areas with alluvial fans (fan-shaped deposits of sediment) and solid bedrock made of sandstone and shale.

Wildlife and History

The watershed (the total land area that drains water into the stream) of Oxbow Inlet covers about 1.79 square miles (4.6 km²). The mouth of the stream is on the United States Geological Survey map called Tunkhannock, while its source is on the Springville map. The stream's mouth is less than 1 mile (1.6 km) from St. Andrews Camp.

Oxbow Inlet is important for fish. It is known as a Coldwater Fishery, meaning it's a good home for fish that need cold water. It's also a Migratory Fishery, which means it's a path for fish that travel between different bodies of water.

Oxbow Inlet 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 1193074.