Rattlesnake Creek (Spring Brook tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rattlesnake Creek |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | near Tooley Corners in Spring Brook Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania between 1,680 and 1,700 feet (510 and 520 m) |
| River mouth | Spring Brook at the Nesbitt Reservoir in Spring Brook Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania 1,171 ft (357 m) 41°18′49″N 75°38′18″W / 41.3137°N 75.6384°W |
| Length | 5.0 mi (8.0 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Spring Brook → Lackawanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 9.18 sq mi (23.8 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Rattlesnake Creek is a small stream, or tributary, located in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. It flows into Spring Brook. The creek is about 5.0 miles (8.0 km) long. It winds its way through Spring Brook Township.
The area of land that drains into Rattlesnake Creek, called its watershed, covers about 9.18 square miles (23.8 km2). The creek has one main smaller stream joining it, named Six Springs Creek. Rattlesnake Creek is home to wild trout. Some parts of it are even special "Class A Wild Trout Waters." Near where the creek starts, there's a lake called Maple Lake, which was created by a dam.
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Where Rattlesnake Creek Flows
Rattlesnake Creek begins its journey near a place called Tooley Corners. This is in Spring Brook Township. It flows south for a short distance. Then it enters Maple Lake.
After leaving the southern side of Maple Lake, the creek continues flowing south. It crosses a road called Pennsylvania Route 690. Here, it also meets its tributary, Six Springs Creek, which joins from the left side. The creek then turns west for over a mile. After that, it changes direction again, flowing northwest and then north-northwest. Finally, it turns southwest and meets Spring Brook. This meeting point is inside the Nesbitt Reservoir.
Rattlesnake Creek joins Spring Brook about 7.96 miles (12.81 km) before Spring Brook reaches its own end.
Six Springs Creek: A Tributary
Rattlesnake Creek has one important tributary. This smaller stream is called Six Springs Creek. Six Springs Creek flows into Rattlesnake Creek about 3.40 miles (5.47 km) upstream from where Rattlesnake Creek ends. The land area that drains into Six Springs Creek is about 2.95 square miles (7.6 km2).
Water Quality of the Creek
The water in Rattlesnake Creek has a certain level of alkalinity. This means it can help balance out acids. The concentration of alkalinity in the creek is 17 milligrams per liter.
Land and Rocks Around the Creek
The land around the mouth of Rattlesnake Creek is about 1,171 feet (357 m) above sea level. Where the creek starts, its elevation is higher. It is between 1,680 and 1,700 feet (510 and 520 m) above sea level.
The ground near the mouth of Rattlesnake Creek is mostly made of alluvium. This is soil and rock left behind by flowing water. There are also some areas with glacial till. This is rock and sediment left by glaciers. You can also find solid bedrock made of conglomerate, sandstone, and shale. Further upstream, the land right next to the creek is also alluvium. But then it changes to glacial till. This till makes up most of the land in the creek's watershed.
There are also some larger areas of bedrock. You can find smaller patches of glacial deposits. Near where the creek begins, there are many wetlands and peat bogs. These are wet, spongy areas of land.
The Creek's Watershed
The entire area of land that collects water for Rattlesnake Creek is its watershed. This watershed covers about 9.18 square miles (23.8 km2). The mouth of the creek is in a map area called Avoca. The source of the creek is in a different map area, called Moscow.
Maple Lake is a lake located on the upper part of Rattlesnake Creek. It covers about 80 acres (32 ha). The lake is held back by the Maple Lake Dam. This dam is made of earth. It is 490 feet (150 m) wide and up to 23 feet (7.0 m) high.
Below the second crossing of Pennsylvania Route 690, Rattlesnake Creek flows through private land. This means people cannot access this part of the creek.
History of Rattlesnake Creek
Rattlesnake Creek was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system keeps track of place names.
In the past, there were many lumber woods near Rattlesnake Creek. A concrete bridge was built over Rattlesnake Creek in 1957. This bridge carries Pennsylvania Route 690. It is 36.1 feet (11.0 m) long and is in Spring Brook Township.
Wildlife in the Creek
Wild trout naturally reproduce in Rattlesnake Creek. They live there from where the creek starts all the way to its mouth. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission considers part of the creek to be "Class A Wild Trout Waters." This means it's a very good place for brook trout and brown trout. This special section runs from the second crossing of Pennsylvania Route 690 downstream to the creek's mouth. This distance is about 2.2 miles (3.5 km). Trout have been living in this creek since at least the 1970s.
