South Branch Leach Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Branch Leach Creek |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | West Mountain near the border between Ransom Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania and Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania between 1,780 and 1,800 feet (540 and 550 m) |
| River mouth | Leach Creek in Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania 1,066 ft (325 m) 41°27′00″N 75°40′38″W / 41.4501°N 75.6773°W |
| Length | 0.8 mi (1.3 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Leach Creek → Leggetts Creek → Lackawanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 0.463 sq mi (1.20 km2) |
South Branch Leach Creek is a small stream, also called a tributary, that flows into Leach Creek in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. It is about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) long. This creek flows through the city of Scranton. The area of land that drains water into the creek, called its watershed, covers about 0.463 square miles (1.20 km2). A big part of this watershed is located in areas where coal used to be mined. Water from the creek can sometimes seep into old mine tunnels, both from the surface and from the creek bed itself.
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Where South Branch Leach Creek Flows
South Branch Leach Creek starts high up on West Mountain. It begins near the edge of Scranton and Ransom Township. The creek flows down the mountain, heading mostly towards the east-southeast.
After a short distance, it crosses over Interstate 476. It then keeps flowing down the mountain for several more tenths of a mile. Finally, it joins Leach Creek near Terrace Lane and Pennsylvania Route 307. When it meets Leach Creek, it flows into the right side of the main creek.
Creek's Height and Water Flow
The land where South Branch Leach Creek joins Leach Creek is about 1,066 feet (325 m) above sea level. Where the creek begins, its source, the land is much higher, between 1,780 and 1,800 feet (540 and 550 m) above sea level.
There is a lot of coal in the area around South Branch Leach Creek. In the past, studies showed that water from the creek could seep into old coal mines. For every inch of rainfall, about 4.22 US gallons (16.0 L) of water per minute would seep from the surface into the mines. Also, about 2.57 US gallons (9.7 L) of water per minute would seep directly from the creek bed into the mines for every inch of rainfall.
The Creek's Watershed Area
The watershed of South Branch Leach Creek covers an area of about 0.463 square miles (1.20 km2). This means all the rain and snow that falls in this area eventually flows into South Branch Leach Creek. The entire creek is located within the Scranton area, as mapped by the United States Geological Survey.
About 0.345 square miles (0.89 km2) of the creek's watershed is in areas known for their coal deposits. These coal areas are common in a band that stretches across Lackawanna County. In the mid-1900s, this creek was part of a larger area called the North 3 Watershed, which included several other streams.
Interstate 476 crosses over the upper part of South Branch Leach Creek.
Good news for fishing fans! South Branch Leach Creek is a special "Trout Stocked Fishery" along its entire length. This means that trout are added to the creek so people can enjoy fishing there.
History of the Creek's Name
South Branch Leach Creek was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on January 1, 1990. This system keeps track of all the names of places in the United States. The creek was added because it appeared on a map called Patton's Philadelphia and Suburbs Street and Road Map, which was published in 1984.
A report from the mid-1900s mentioned that about 6,000 feet (1,800 m) of the creek's bed flows through areas where coal was mined.
