Sciota Brook facts for kids

Sciota Brook (also known as Scotch Run) is a small stream, or tributary, that flows into North Branch Mehoopany Creek. It runs through three counties in Pennsylvania: Bradford County, Sullivan County, and Wyoming County.

This brook is about 2.0 miles (3.2 km) long. It starts in Wilmot Township, Bradford County, and flows through Colley Township in Sullivan County, before ending in North Branch Township, Wyoming County. The area of land that drains water into Sciota Brook, called its watershed, covers about 3.23 square miles (8.4 km²). The stream flows at a moderate slope through areas that are mostly farms and forests.

Where Sciota Brook Flows

Sciota Brook begins in a small, unnamed pond in Wilmot Township, Bradford County. From there, it flows generally south-southeast. It moves through a valley located between two hills, Round Top and Tyler Mountain.

Journey Through Counties

As it continues, the brook enters Colley Township in Sullivan County. Along its path, another small stream joins it from the right side. Sciota Brook then keeps flowing south and southeast. It eventually leaves the valley and crosses under Pennsylvania Route 87, a state road. After this, it turns and flows east. A short distance later, the brook crosses into North Branch Township, Wyoming County. Just after crossing the county line, Sciota Brook meets and joins North Branch Mehoopany Creek near the town of Lovelton.

Sciota Brook joins North Branch Mehoopany Creek about 6.44 miles (10.36 km) before North Branch Mehoopany Creek itself flows into a larger river.

Water Quality of Sciota Brook

Sciota Brook is considered a healthy stream. It is not listed as a "polluted" or "impaired" waterbody. In a study done in August 2001, scientists noted that the stream had a low amount of water flowing through it at that time.

Measurements in the Water

During the 2001 study, several things were measured in the lower parts of Sciota Brook:

• The pH level was 7.2. This means the water is slightly basic, which is normal for many streams.
• The alkalinity was 42 milligrams per liter (0.042 oz/cu ft). Alkalinity shows how well the water can resist changes in its pH.
• The water hardness was 60 milligrams per liter (0.060 oz/cu ft). This measures the amount of minerals like calcium and magnesium in the water.
• The specific conductance was 84 umhos. This measures how well electricity can pass through the water, which tells us about the dissolved substances in it.
• When the air temperature was 25.0 °C (77.0 °F), the water temperature of the stream was 17.8 °C (64.0 °F).

Land and Landscape Around the Brook

The land around Sciota Brook is interesting because the stream flows through three different counties, even though it's only about 2.0 miles (3.2 km) long.

Elevation and Slope

The elevation of the land where Sciota Brook joins North Branch Mehoopany Creek is about 1,119 feet (341 m) above sea level. Where the stream begins, its source, the elevation is higher, around 1,322 feet (403 m) above sea level.

In its lower 2.2 kilometers (1.4 mi), Sciota Brook flows downhill at a steady rate. It drops about 37.1 meters per kilometer (196 ft/mi) for every kilometer it travels. The main hills near the stream are Tyler Mountain and Round Top.

Life and Land Use in the Watershed

The watershed of Sciota Brook, which is the entire area of land that drains water into the brook, covers about 3.23 square miles (8.4 km²). The stream is located entirely within a specific map area called the Jenningsville quadrangle by the United States Geological Survey.

What the Land is Used For

Most of the land in Sciota Brook's watershed is used for farming or is covered by woodlots, which are small areas of trees. In the lower 2.2 kilometers (1.4 mi) of the stream, a good portion of its length is quite close to roads. About 39 percent of the stream is within 100 meters (330 ft) of a road, and all of it (100 percent) is within 300 meters (980 ft) of a road. In the year 2000, there were about 4 people living in each square kilometer of the stream's watershed.

Fish and Wildlife

Sciota Brook is known as a Coldwater Fishery. This means its water is cold enough to support fish species that prefer cooler temperatures, like trout.

History of Sciota Brook

Sciota Brook was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system keeps track of names and locations of physical features in the United States. Its special ID number in the system is 1187147.

Other Names and Activities

The stream is also known by another name, Scotch Run. This name can be seen on some county highway maps published by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

In 2012, a company called Chesapeake Appalachia received permission to build and maintain two 16-inch (41 cm) water pipelines. They also built temporary mat bridges. These projects affected one or more of the small, unnamed streams that flow into Sciota Brook.