Peters Creek (Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Peters Creek is a small river, about 16.8 miles (27 kilometers) long. It flows through southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. This creek is a tributary, which means it's a smaller stream that flows into a larger one. Peters Creek joins the Monongahela River. The water from Peters Creek eventually travels to the Ohio River and then the mighty Mississippi River.
Quick facts for kids Peters Creek |
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Location of Peters Creek mouth
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| Other name(s) | Tributary to Monongahela River |
| Country | United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Allegheny Washington |
| Borough | Clairton |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Little Chartiers Creek divide Thomas, Pennsylvania 1,200 ft (370 m) 40°14′08″N 080°05′52″W / 40.23556°N 80.09778°W |
| River mouth | Monongahela River Clairton, Pennsylvania 719 ft (219 m) 40°18′34″N 079°52′52″W / 40.30944°N 79.88111°W |
| Length | 16.16 mi (26.01 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | northeast |
| River system | Monongahela River |
| Basin size | 51.44 square miles (133.2 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Contents
Other Names for Peters Creek
Sometimes, rivers and streams have different names over time. According to a system that tracks geographic names, Peters Creek was also known as:
- Peter's Creek
Where Peters Creek Flows
Peters Creek begins its journey in Nottingham Township. This area is in Washington County. The creek generally flows north. It continues until it reaches the Monongahela River. This meeting point is near Clairton in Allegheny County.
Understanding the Peters Creek Watershed
A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a common point. For Peters Creek, this area covers about 50 square miles. It includes parts of southwestern Allegheny County and northeastern Washington County.
The land in this watershed is very diverse. In the east, where Peters Creek meets the Monongahela River, there's a lot of heavy industry. The northeast has more businesses. Further north, you'll find suburban communities. The southern parts are still mostly rural and used for farming.
This mix also includes a county park, a turnpike (a major road), a landfill, and areas with a history of coal mining. Some towns in the watershed are quite settled, while others are growing quickly. Peters Creek and its smaller streams are important to all these different areas in many ways.
Streams Joining Peters Creek
Several smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into Peters Creek. These include:
- Lewis Run, found in Jefferson Hills
- Beam's Run, also in Jefferson Hills
- Lick Run, located in South Park Township
- Piney Fork Run, which is also in South Park Township
Peters Creek also collects water from many other small streams that don't have official names.
Water Quality and Fun Activities
For a long time, Peters Creek had problems with its water quality. People didn't think it was good for recreation. It used to be filled with trash and polluted by something called acid mine drainage. This is dirty water from old coal mines.
However, since the 1990s, the water quality has gotten much better! It's now clean enough to support its own fish population. You can find different types of fish here, including trout, bass, catfish, carp, and bluegill.
Because of these improvements, you can now enjoy the creek again. People go fishing, swimming, and even kayaking when the water is high enough. There's also a new bike trail that runs along the creek's bank. This trail used to be part of the Montour Railroad.
