Sechler Run facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sechler Run |
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Sechler Run in Danville
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Cooper Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania |
| River mouth | Mahoning Creek in Danville, Pennsylvania 459 ft (140 m) |
| Length | 4.6 mi (7.4 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Sechler Run --> Mahoning Creek --> Susquehanna River --> Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 7.6 sq mi (20 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Sechler Run (also known as Sechler's Run) is a small stream in Montour County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It flows into Mahoning Creek. The stream is about 4.6 miles (7.4 kilometers) long. It travels through Cooper Township, Mahoning Township, and the town of Danville. Its only named branch is Blizzards Run.
One expert, A. Joseph Armstrong, once described parts of Sechler Run in Danville as "uninviting."
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Journey of Sechler Run
Sechler Run starts in Cooper Township, close to a place called Ridgeville. It flows west and a little bit south, leaving Cooper Township pretty quickly.
After that, the stream enters Mahoning Township. It keeps flowing southwest, going under U.S. Route 11. Then, it turns northwest, crosses U.S. Route 11 again, and heads west. After a while, it enters Danville. In Danville, the stream crosses U.S. Route 11 one more time and then goes under Pennsylvania Route 54. Soon after, it joins Mahoning Creek.
Blizzards Run: Sechler's Branch
Blizzards Run is the only named stream that flows into Sechler Run. It is about 1.38 miles (2.22 kilometers) long. This smaller stream flows under two railroad tracks in Danville. It meets Sechler Run near where the Danville Structural Tubing Company's factory used to be in the early 1900s.
About the Stream's Land and Water
Where Sechler Run meets Mahoning Creek, its elevation is about 459 feet (140 meters) above sea level. In Danville, parts of the stream have been changed by humans, sometimes with concrete, to control its flow. This is called channelization.
The water in the lower parts of the stream is warm. However, as you go further upstream, the water becomes cooler.
The land around Sechler Run is mostly used for farming. But there are also forests in the southern part and developed areas (like towns) in the eastern part. The entire area that drains into Sechler Run, called its watershed, covers 7.6 square miles (19.7 square kilometers). There are about 18.16 miles (29.23 kilometers) of streams within this watershed.
Sechler Run is narrower in its upper sections than it is closer to its mouth. The stream's width is generally less than 30 feet (9 meters).
Sometimes, Sechler Run can cause flooding on Mulberry Street in Danville. The floodwaters can move very fast, up to 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 meters) per second. Also, water from the Susquehanna River can sometimes back up and flood the stream.
History of Sechler Run
Many years ago, the Danville Stove and Manufacturing Company was located near Sechler Run. Another company, the Hanover Brewing Company, was in the area where Blizzards Run flows. In the early 1900s, some homes on Church Street in Danville used to send their wastewater directly into the stream. Historically, Sechler Run even formed one of the borders of Danville.
Sometimes, the water from Sechler Run is moved to a pumping station and then sent into Mahoning Creek. This pumping station was built in 1988. The state of Pennsylvania also has a special project to protect the area around Sechler Run from floods.
Plants and Animals of Sechler Run
Sechler Run has a good variety of plants and animals, which is surprising because it flows through a town. This is called high biodiversity.
You can find Dragonfly larvae (baby dragonflies) and crayfish in Sechler Run. Finding these creatures usually means the water quality is pretty good. However, the lower parts of the stream don't have many places for fish to live, so you won't find many fish there.
In the upper parts of Sechler Run, there are many chubs (a type of fish) and a smaller number of smallmouth bass. In 1916, 300 rainbow trout were released into Sechler Run.
Eight different kinds of birds live near Sechler Run. These include the broad-winged hawk, northern flicker, red-winged blackbird, American goldfinch, eastern phoebe, song sparrow, gray catbird, and house wren.
In the lower parts of Sechler Run in Danville, you can find Elodea plants, which grow in water. There's also a small shrub swamp along the stream. Some areas near the stream have mesic woods, which are forests with a good amount of moisture.
There are 14 different kinds of trees in the stream's watershed. These include boxelder, hemlock, black gum, and three types of maples. You can also find five kinds of shrubs, such as Japanese barberry, witch-hazel, staghorn sumac, multiflora rose, and common blackberry. Plus, there are 15 different types of smaller plants called herbs.
Some invasive plants, which are not native to the area and can harm local plants, are found in the Sechler Run watershed. These include multiflora rose, Japanese barberry, Japanese knotweed, and garlic mustard.
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