Pine Creek (Mahantango Creek tributary) facts for kids

Pine Creek is a stream in Pennsylvania, USA. It flows through parts of Schuylkill and Dauphin counties. The creek is about 23.7 miles (38.1 kilometers) long. It eventually flows into Mahantango Creek.

The area of land that drains into Pine Creek is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 76.8 square miles (199 square kilometers). Smaller streams, like Rausch Creek and Deep Creek, flow into Pine Creek.

Even though Pine Creek is a "coldwater fishery" (meaning it's a good home for fish that like cold water), some parts of it are affected by pollution. This pollution comes from old, abandoned mines and other resource extraction activities.

Where Pine Creek Flows

Pine Creek starts in the southwestern part of Foster Township, Schuylkill County. It begins near a big highway called Interstate 81.

The creek then flows west-southwest into a valley. It enters Hegins Township and passes by a place called Dell Lake. Further downstream, the valley gets much wider, and the creek turns west.

Pine Creek continues flowing west for many miles, running alongside Good Spring Mountain. It goes past the community of Valley View and gets water from a smaller stream called Rausch Creek. The creek then enters Hubley Township.

In Hubley Township, Pine Creek flows near the community of Sacramento. A few miles later, it crosses Pennsylvania Route 25 and goes through Spring Glen. Here, the creek starts to curve and wind northwest, moving away from Good Spring Mountain. Another stream, Deep Creek, joins Pine Creek here. After this, Pine Creek leaves Schuylkill County.

Pine Creek's Journey Through Counties

When Pine Creek leaves Schuylkill County, it enters Lykens Township, Dauphin County. It flows west for a short distance before turning north. The creek then cuts through a ridge and goes back into Schuylkill County, this time into Upper Mahantango Township.

A short distance downstream, Pine Creek meets and joins Mahantango Creek. This meeting point is about 17.16 miles (27.62 kilometers) upstream from where Mahantango Creek ends.

Streams That Join Pine Creek

Two important streams that flow into Pine Creek are Rausch Creek and Deep Creek.

• Rausch Creek joins Pine Creek about 13.32 miles (21.44 kilometers) upstream from where Pine Creek ends. The area that drains into Rausch Creek is about 9.55 square miles (24.7 square kilometers).
• Deep Creek meets Pine Creek about 8.14 miles (13.10 kilometers) upstream from where Pine Creek ends. The area that drains into Deep Creek is much larger, about 31.80 square miles (82.4 square kilometers).

Water Quality and What's in It

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection says that Pine Creek is affected by pollution. This pollution mainly comes from abandoned mine drainage, which is water that flows out of old, unused mines and can carry harmful substances. Other activities that dig up resources also contribute to this.

Most of Pine Creek is affected by this pollution, and all of Rausch Creek is too. One small stream that flows into Deep Creek is also affected. However, other streams in the watershed are considered healthy by the Department of Environmental Protection.

How Acidic or Basic the Water Is

The pH level tells us how acidic or basic water is. A pH of 7 is neutral, lower numbers are acidic, and higher numbers are basic.

• In different parts of Pine Creek, the pH usually ranges from 6.2 to 7.1. This means the water is generally close to neutral, but can sometimes be slightly acidic.

How Much Water Flows

The discharge is how much water flows through the creek at a certain point. As Pine Creek flows downstream and more water joins it, the discharge increases.

• Near the start, south of Fountain, about 2,364.5 gallons (8,950 liters) of water flow per minute.
• Further downstream, at the Michaels Food Products Bridge in Klingerstown, the flow increases to about 48,122.62 gallons (182,168.9 liters) per minute.

The Land and Rocks Around Pine Creek

The land around Pine Creek changes in height.

• Near where Pine Creek joins Mahantango Creek, the elevation is about 440 feet (134 meters) above sea level.
• Where the creek starts, its elevation is much higher, between 1,560 and 1,580 feet (475 and 482 meters).
• The creek drops quickly at first, then more slowly as it gets closer to its mouth.

The area around Pine Creek is part of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians region, specifically the Anthracite Uplands. This means it has many ridges and valleys.

Valleys and Mountains

The beginning of Pine Creek is in Hegins Valley. This valley is located between Mahantango Mountain and Broad Mountain. Deep Creek, another stream, is also in Hegins Valley, separated from Pine Creek by a small ridge. Pine Creek also cuts through Mahantango Mountain near its end, forming a "water gap."

Types of Rocks and Soil

The main types of rocks in the Pine Creek watershed are sedimentary rock and sandstone that are layered together. The soil in the area lets water pass through easily and drains well.

A type of coal called the Lykens Valley coal seam is found in the southeastern part of the watershed. This is the only coal found in this area.

The creek's path is very winding and curvy, which is called tortuous. The bottom of the creek is made of rocks or sand. You can also find Riffles (shallow, fast-flowing areas) and pools (deeper, slower-moving areas) along the creek.

The Pine Creek Watershed

The watershed of Pine Creek covers an area of about 76.8 square miles (199 square kilometers). It includes parts of western Schuylkill County and northeastern Dauphin County.

In 1921, a book described the land in the Pine Creek watershed as "rough and hilly."

Several communities are located within the Pine Creek watershed, including Valley View, Hegins, Klingerstown, and Sacramento.

History of the Area

People started underground mining for coal in the Pine Creek watershed in the mid-1800s. Even today, there is one mining permit in the watershed, belonging to the Pine Creek Coal Company.

In the early 1900s, the main jobs in the Pine Creek watershed were coal mines and agriculture. The creek's water was also used to power several mills.

Wildlife and Nature Along the Creek

Pine Creek is important for aquatic life, meaning it supports plants and animals that live in water. It is also known as a coldwater fishery, which means it's a good place for fish that prefer cold water.

Even though it's called "Pine Creek," there are not many pine trees along its banks. Instead, you'll find groves of hemlock trees. Some of these hemlock trees are very old and have trunks that are over 3 feet (0.91 meters) wide!

Fun Activities on Pine Creek

If you enjoy canoeing, you can canoe on at least 13.5 miles (21.7 kilometers) of Pine Creek. The best times to go are in the winter, when snow is melting, or right after heavy rains.

Edward Gertler, in his book Keystone Canoeing, describes Pine Creek as an "easy run for beginners." He also says the scenery along the creek is "good." However, be aware that there might be electric fences and deadfalls (fallen trees) in the water.