Rocky Run (Susquehanna River tributary) facts for kids

Rocky Run (also known as Rocky Run Creek) is a small stream that flows into the Susquehanna River in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. It is about 2.3 miles (3.7 km) long and runs through Salem Township. The area of land that drains into Rocky Run is 1.83 square miles (4.7 km²). Long ago, in the early 1900s, the water in Rocky Run was very clean. People even thought about using it as a source of drinking water. There were also old coal mines in the area, but they have been closed for a long time.

Where Does Rocky Run Flow?

Rocky Run starts in a deep valley. This valley is located between Lee Mountain and another mountain in Salem Township.

Journey to the River

The stream first flows east, then turns a bit northeast. After a while, its water might go underground, but the stream bed continues eastward. It follows Rocky Run Road for a short distance. Then, it crosses a main road called US Route 11. Finally, Rocky Run meets the Susquehanna River in a community called Dogtown.

Meeting the Susquehanna

Rocky Run joins the Susquehanna River about 171.48 miles (275.97 km) before the Susquehanna reaches its own mouth.

How Clean is the Water?

In 1909, experts from the Pennsylvania Department of Health measured how much water flowed in Rocky Run. They found that about 170,000 gallons of water flowed each day. Even at its lowest, it still flowed about 90,000 gallons daily.

Water Quality in the Past

In the early 1900s, scientists also checked the water's quality. They found it had some minerals, but a report from 1911 said the water was "excellent in every respect." This means it was very clean and healthy.

What's the Land Like?

The land around Rocky Run has interesting features. The stream's mouth is between 480 and 500 feet (150 and 150 m) above sea level. Where the stream starts, its source, is much higher, between 920 and 940 feet (280 and 290 m) above sea level.

Mountains and Valleys

The valley where Rocky Run flows is just north of Lee Mountain. This area was shaped by ancient glaciers. There's even a deep channel, about 100 feet (30 m) deep, that was carved by melting ice between Rocky Run's valley and Little Shickshinny Creek.

Rocks and Soil

The ground around Rocky Run is mostly made of a type of soil left behind by glaciers, called Wisconsinan Till. You can also find sand, gravel, and large rocks. Some areas have piles of coal waste from old mines. In the northern and southern parts of the area, the ground is made of solid bedrock like sandstone and shale.

The Rocky Run Area

The entire area that drains into Rocky Run is called its watershed. This watershed covers 1.83 square miles (4.7 km²). Rocky Run is located within the United States Geological Survey map area called Shickshinny. It's also about 1 mile (1.6 km) downstream from the town of Shickshinny.

Forests and Nature

A report from 1911 said that the Rocky Run watershed was heavily covered in trees. In 1978, it was described as flowing "virtually unseen" through a forest. Part of the stream is even inside Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 260, which is a protected area for wildlife. The watershed is also part of the larger Wyoming Valley region.

History of Rocky Run

Rocky Run was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system keeps track of place names in the United States.

Water Supply Ideas

In the early 1900s, people thought about using Rocky Run as a water supply for a hospital in Retreat, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Health said this would be safe for public health. There was a plan to build a dam on the stream, about 1 mile (1.6 km) from its mouth. This dam would have been 300 feet (91 m) wide and held about 5,000,000 gallons of water. However, these plans were never fully carried out.

Old Coal Mines

In the 1800s, there were coal mines in the Rocky Run area. These were known as the Rocky Run Mines or Shickshinny Mines. They were first opened by Nathan Beach and later owned by Nathan Beach Crary. The mines were closed down by the 1890s. Rocky Run, along with another stream called Paddy Run, was also used by a coal company for its industrial water needs.

Plants and Animals

The entire watershed of Rocky Run is special because it's a designated Coldwater Fishery. This means its waters are cold enough for certain types of fish to live there. It's also a Migratory Fishery, which means it's important for fish that travel to different places.

Forest Life

Rocky Run is surrounded by Hemlock forests. Some very old trees have been found growing along the stream's banks.