Rush Brook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rush Brook |
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Physical characteristics | |
Main source | wetland in Greenfield Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania between 1,640 and 1,660 feet (500 and 510 m) |
River mouth | Lackawanna River in Jermyn, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania 942 ft (287 m) 41°31′54″N 75°32′32″W / 41.5317°N 75.5423°W |
Length | 5.1 mi (8.2 km) |
Basin features | |
Progression | Lackawanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
Basin size | 6.01 sq mi (15.6 km2) |
Rush Brook is a small stream, also called a tributary, that flows into the Lackawanna River in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. It is about 5.1 miles (8.2 kilometers) long. The brook flows through several towns and townships. These include Greenfield Township, Scott Township, Carbondale Township, Mayfield, and Jermyn.
The area of land that drains water into Rush Brook, called its watershed, covers about 6.01 square miles (15.6 square kilometers). Most of the stream is natural and undisturbed. However, a road called Pennsylvania Route 107 runs nearby. Rush Brook starts on a high area called the Allegheny Plateau. It then flows through a narrow valley, known as a water gap. This brook flows all year round, meaning it is a perennial stream.
Two important lakes in the Rush Brook watershed are Heart Lake and the Rush Brook Reservoir. The stream can cause some flooding in the town of Jermyn. Many bridges have been built over the stream. The area around the stream is a good place for fish. It is known as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. Wild trout naturally live and reproduce in part of the stream.
Contents
Where Does Rush Brook Flow?
Rush Brook starts in a wetland area in Greenfield Township. It flows south for a short distance. Then, it turns southwest for a bit. After that, it flows south-southwest, entering Scott Township. Here, it crosses Pennsylvania Route 107 and starts flowing next to it.
The stream then turns southeast for a few miles. It enters Carbondale Township. In this area, the stream goes through a water gap in Cary Mountain. It also passes through the Rush Brook Reservoir. It continues to flow next to Pennsylvania Route 107.
Near the end of the water gap, Rush Brook flows through Mayfield. It then enters Jermyn. It continues southeast for a short distance. Here, it crosses Pennsylvania Route 107 again, along with another highway. Finally, it turns east-southeast. It flows through the streets of Jermyn, still alongside Pennsylvania Route 107. A little further downstream, it joins the Lackawanna River. Rush Brook meets the Lackawanna River about 25.24 miles (40.62 kilometers) upstream from the Lackawanna River's mouth.
Smaller Streams Joining Rush Brook
Rush Brook does not have any named smaller streams, called tributaries, that flow into it. However, it does have several unnamed tributaries. These are simply known as "Unnamed trib 1," "Unnamed trib 2," and "Unnamed trib 3."
How Much Water Flows in Rush Brook?
Rush Brook is considered a healthy stream. It flows all year long, so it is a perennial stream. The amount of water flowing in the stream can vary. For example, there is a 10 percent chance that the highest water flow, called peak annual discharge, will reach 840 cubic feet per second. There is a 2 percent chance it will reach 1780 cubic feet per second. There is also a 1 percent chance it will reach 2360 cubic feet per second. The chance of it reaching a very high flow of 4600 cubic feet per second is only 0.2 percent.
The Land Around Rush Brook
The land around the mouth of Rush Brook is about 942 feet (287 meters) above sea level. The land where the stream begins, its source, is higher. It is between 1640 and 1660 feet (500 and 506 meters) above sea level.
Rush Brook starts on the Allegheny Plateau, a high, flat area. It flows through a special narrow valley called the Rushbrook Gap. This gap cuts through the Lackawanna Range of mountains. The very beginning of the stream is in several wetlands in Greenfield Township. It also drains water from small ponds and bogs.
Most of the area along Rush Brook is natural and untouched. The only part that is more developed is its lower section in Jermyn. The stream flows next to Pennsylvania Route 107 for a long way. There are some homes and businesses along this road. However, they do not affect the stream much. Any impact usually happens where the stream crosses the road or where its stream banks have been made stronger.
In the residential part of Jermyn, the stream banks have been made stronger. They use large rocks called riprap in one section. As the stream enters Jermyn's neighborhoods, it flows through wire cages filled with rocks, called gabbion baskets, and concrete floodwalls. However, the bottom of the stream, called the streambed, is natural. It is made of small, rounded stones called cobbles and larger rocks called boulders. Backyards, parking lots, and streets are right next to the stream in this area. People are thinking about ways to make the stream banks even stronger in Jermyn.
In the late 1800s, Rush Brook was described as a "small brook." A dam on the stream is on a special list of "dams of special concern" by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. This was noted in 2008.
Rush Brook's Watershed
The watershed of Rush Brook covers an area of 6.01 square miles (15.6 square kilometers). The entire stream is located within the Carbondale United States Geological Survey quadrangle, which is a map section.
Rush Brook is a second-order stream. This means it is formed by two smaller streams joining together. It is one of the main streams that flows into the Lackawanna River.
Lakes in the Rush Brook watershed include Heart Lake and the Rush Brook Reservoir. The reservoir used to be a place where people got their water supply. There is a beaver dam where water flows into the Rush Brook Reservoir. This dam has created a wetland area.
Rush Brook is the main reason for flooding in the town of Jermyn. However, town officials say there are no major flooding problems. Still, erosion (when soil washes away) and sedimentation (when dirt settles) can happen during long or heavy rains. The only flood damage caused by Rush Brook in Jermyn has been to nearby empty lots and yards. No buildings have been damaged.
History and Fun Activities
Rush Brook was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its special identification number is 1185636.
The town of Jermyn used to be called Rushdale. This name came from Rush Brook.
Many bridges have been built over Rush Brook:
- A concrete bridge on Lincoln Avenue was built in 1930 in Jermyn. It is 26.9 feet (8.2 meters) long.
- A bridge for Pennsylvania Route 107 was built in 1931 in Scott Township. It was repaired in 1984 and is 29.9 feet (9.1 meters) long.
- A steel bridge carrying US Route 6 over Pennsylvania Route 107 and Rush Brook was built in Mayfield in 1938. It was repaired in 1986 and is 107.9 feet (32.9 meters) long.
- Another bridge for Pennsylvania Route 107 was built in Mayfield in 1988. This bridge is 37.1 feet (11.3 meters) long.
In the early 2000s, a plan called the Lackawanna River Watershed Conservation Plan suggested that the towns and townships along Rush Brook should protect the stream in their future plans. The Department of General Services once asked for permission to do a flood protection project in Jermyn. This project involved removing pipes and coverings over the stream for 2600 feet (790 meters). It also included building concrete walls and creating a new stream channel.
An old train line, the New York, Ontario and Western rail line, crosses Rush Brook. In the early 2000s, the conservation plan suggested building a walking bridge along this old rail line over the stream. The original supports for the bridge, called abutments, are still there. The plan also recommended setting aside land at the stream's mouth for a greenway. This greenway would connect to the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail.
Rush Brook flows through Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 307. The area along the stream is the lowest point in these game lands.
Animals and Plants in Rush Brook
The area around Rush Brook is special for fish. It is called a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. This means it is good for fish that like cold water and for fish that travel to lay their eggs. Wild trout naturally live and reproduce in the creek. They are found from the Rush Brook Reservoir all the way to its mouth, a distance of about 1.79 miles (2.88 kilometers).
In its upper parts, Rush Brook has a stable riparian buffer. This is a healthy area of plants along the stream. It has native trees and smaller plants growing underneath. However, there are a few places where this plant buffer has been disturbed. In its lower parts, the stream has invasive plants growing along its sides. Some of these plants even grow in the stream itself. In its very last section, the area around the stream is overgrown with plants that have grown back after being disturbed.