Racket Brook facts for kids

Racket Brook is a small river, also called a tributary, that flows into the Lackawanna River. It runs through parts of Wayne County and Lackawanna County in Pennsylvania. The brook is about 3.6 miles (5.8 kilometers) long.

It starts in the Moosic Mountains and flows through different areas. These include Canaan Township, Carbondale Township, and the city of Carbondale. The area of land that drains into Racket Brook is about 5.29 square miles (13.7 square kilometers).

Racket Brook does not have any named smaller streams joining it. However, it does have two unnamed streams that flow into it. The brook is considered healthy and is not listed as "impaired." It is also an important home for fish.

Journey of Racket Brook

Racket Brook begins high up in the Moosic Mountains. Its source is in Canaan Township, Wayne County. It starts just east of the border between Wayne and Lackawanna Counties.

The brook first flows west-northwest for a short distance. It quickly leaves Wayne County and enters Carbondale Township in Lackawanna County. Then, it turns north and flows into the Brownell Reservoir.

After leaving the Brownell Reservoir, the brook continues north. It crosses US Route 6, a major road. Then it turns west-northwest. A bit further downstream, it turns southwest and enters the city of Carbondale. The brook then gradually turns northwest. It crosses another highway before finally joining the Lackawanna River.

Racket Brook meets the Lackawanna River about 29.44 miles (47.38 kilometers) upstream from where the Lackawanna River ends.

Smaller Streams Joining Racket Brook

Racket Brook does not have any officially named smaller streams that flow into it. However, it does have two unnamed streams. These are known as "trib. to Brownwell Res." and "trib from Carbondale Res. No. 4." One of these streams is about 1.6 miles (2.6 kilometers) long. The other is about 0.9 miles (1.4 kilometers) long.

Water Health and Flow

Racket Brook is considered a healthy stream. It is not listed as "impaired," which means its water quality is good. However, in its lower parts, some water can disappear into old mine tunnels underground. This is called "flow loss."

Racket Brook is a perennial stream. This means it flows all year round and does not dry up.

A long time ago, in the early 1900s, Racket Brook was mostly clear. But its banks were covered with culm, which is waste from coal mining. This culm came from the Racket Brook Colliery, a coal mine. There were also culm deposits in the streambed itself. Also, some trash from the city was dumped into the lower parts of the stream. Today, the city of Carbondale has a permit to let stormwater flow into the brook.

Land and Rocks Around the Brook

The land around the mouth of Racket Brook is about 1,056 feet (322 meters) above sea level. Where the stream begins, its elevation is much higher. It is between 1,940 and 1,960 feet (591 and 597 meters) above sea level.

The water that feeds Racket Brook mainly comes from springs and seeps. The brook also drains water from small bogs, ponds, and wetlands. It flows through the western part of Salem Hill, which is the highest part of the Moosic Mountains.

Downstream from the Brownell Reservoir, Racket Brook flows through a steep valley. This valley is called the Brownell Ravine. Part of this ravine has been filled in so that US Route 6 can cross it. There is also a coal bed about 3.5 feet (1.1 meters) thick near Racket Brook.

Racket Brook's Watershed

The watershed of Racket Brook covers an area of 5.29 square miles (13.7 square kilometers). A watershed is all the land where water drains into a particular stream or river. The mouth of the stream is in the Carbondale area. Its source is in the Waymart area.

Racket Brook is a "second-order" stream. This means it is formed when two smaller "first-order" streams join together. It is one of the larger streams that flow into the Lackawanna River.

Most of the watershed is in Canaan Township and Carbondale Township. Smaller parts are in the city of Carbondale and Fell Township. This watershed is in the northeastern part of the Lackawanna River's larger drainage area.

In the early 2000s, some land in the upper parts of the watershed was owned by the Theta Land Company. Other parts were Pennsylvania State Game Lands, which are protected areas for wildlife. Some land was also owned by the state for correctional facilities, and some was private property. The lower parts of the watershed are in city areas. These areas have businesses, homes, and urban development.

There are several Reservoirs in the Racket Brook watershed. These include the Brownell Reservoir, Carbondale Reservoir Number 4, and Carbondale Reservoir Number 7. These reservoirs are managed by the Pennsylvania-American Water Company. They provide drinking water for the city of Carbondale.

History of Racket Brook

Racket Brook was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system keeps track of names and locations of places in the United States.

Anthracite coal mining began near the mouth of Racket Brook as early as 1820. William and Maurice Wurts, who started the Delaware and Hudson Enterprise, were key to developing the coal industry here. The Racket Brook Colliery, a coal mine, was once in the area. It was owned by the Delaware and Hudson Coal Company. By the early 1900s, this mine was closed, and most of its buildings were gone.

Important historical sites in the Racket Brook watershed include old D&H (Delaware and Hudson) sites and the Racket Brook Vault. The first D&H gravity railroad inclined plane started operating at the stream's mouth in 1829. This was a special railway that used gravity to move coal.

On June 18, 1922, a very bad flood happened. Racket Brook overflowed its banks. This made the flooding worse, which was already caused by overflowing water reservoirs. The flood was due to a sudden, heavy rainstorm. It caused about $2,000,000 in damage in the area, with Carbondale being hit the hardest.

By the 1880s, railroad lines were built along Racket Brook. The Delaware and Hudson railyard was built at the stream's mouth. Later, bridges were built over the stream. A concrete bridge was built in 1950. Another bridge for a spur of U.S. Route 6 was built in Carbondale in 1963.

In the early 2000s, there was a plan to create a greenway or connecting trail along Racket Brook. This trail could link to the D&H Transportation Heritage corridor. It might be called the D&H Gravity/Racket Brook Trail. The plan also suggested that Carbondale Township and Carbondale should protect Racket Brook in their future development plans.

Animals and Plants of Racket Brook

The area around Racket Brook is a special place for fish. It is called a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. This means it is a good habitat for fish that prefer cold water, and also for fish that travel to different areas to lay their eggs.

Wild trout naturally live and reproduce in the stream. You can find them from the Brownell Reservoir all the way downstream to the mouth of the brook, which is about 1.60 miles (2.57 kilometers).

In the higher parts of the watershed, you can find special areas called ridgetop scrub oak/pitch pine barrens. These are dry, rocky areas with specific types of trees. In the Brownell Ravine, where the stream flows, you can see hemlock trees and rhododendron bushes. Closer to the lower parts of the stream, you might find knotweed plants.