Spruce Run (Little Fishing Creek tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spruce Run |
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Spruce Run at Pennsylvania Route 254, looking upstream
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | valley in northern Madison Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania 1,220 ft (370 m) |
| River mouth | Little Fishing Creek in Madison Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania 564 ft (172 m) 41°04′57″N 76°31′07″W / 41.0826°N 76.5186°W |
| Length | 6.9 mi (11.1 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Little Fishing Creek → Fishing Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 9.80 sq mi (25.4 km2) |
Spruce Run is a small stream located in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It flows into Little Fishing Creek. The stream is about 6.9 miles (11.1 km) long. It runs through a place called Madison Township.
The area around Spruce Run is very special. It is known as a "Locally Significant Area." This means it's important for nature. Many different plants and animals live here. You can find over 80 types of woodland plants. There are also many trees, mammals, and birds. Part of the Pennsylvania State Game Lands is also in this area.
Contents
Where Does Spruce Run Flow?
Spruce Run starts in a valley. This valley is in the northern part of Madison Township. It's about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the Columbia and Lycoming county line.
First, the stream flows southeast for about a mile. Then, it turns east for a shorter distance. It runs next to Spruce Run Road for a while. After that, the stream turns east-southeast. Its valley starts to get much wider.
Over the next few miles, the valley becomes even wider and less deep. Eventually, it stops flowing parallel to Spruce Run Road. The stream then crosses Pennsylvania Route 254. It turns southeast for a few more miles. Near its end, the stream's valley becomes narrower again. Spruce Run then meets Little Fishing Creek. This meeting point is close to the community of Eyers Grove.
Spruce Run joins Little Fishing Creek about 5.87 miles (9.45 km) before Little Fishing Creek reaches its own end.
Geography and Landscape
The land around Spruce Run changes as the stream flows. Near where it joins Little Fishing Creek, the stream is about 564 feet (172 m) above sea level. At its very beginning, the stream is much higher. It starts at about 1,220 feet (370 m) above sea level.
People have described Spruce Run as a "small stream." This description comes from a book about Columbia County's history.
Spruce Run's Watershed
The area of land that drains into Spruce Run is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 9.80 square miles (25.4 km2). The upper parts of the stream are within the Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 226. This is a protected area.
There are no trails for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) along the stream. The Columbia County Natural Areas Inventory does not want any ATV trails added here. This helps protect the natural environment.
History and Early Life Along the Stream
People started to settle along Spruce Run a long time ago. This was in the late 1700s. For example, Peter Brugler moved to the western side of the stream around 1779 or 1780. James Masters, another early settler, arrived in 1786. George Runyon also came to the stream in 1796.
In 1791, James Masters built some important buildings. He built a sawmill, a chopmill, and a fulling mill on the stream. These were some of the first businesses in Madison Township. They helped the early settlers.
Two bridges cross Spruce Run today. Both are more than 20 feet (6.1 m) long. One bridge was built in 1932. It was repaired in 2011 and is 37.1 feet (11.3 m) long. The other bridge is made of concrete. It was built in 1970 and is 35.1 feet (10.7 m) long.
The Columbia County Natural Areas Inventory suggests that people should not cut down trees (logging) near Spruce Run. This helps keep the natural area healthy.
Wildlife and Plants of Spruce Run
The area around Spruce Run is full of life. You can find forests with eastern hemlock trees. There are also mixed hardwood forests. These are forests with many different types of trees.
There is a high diversity of birds near the stream. This means many different kinds of birds live there. You might even see Red salamanders. Black-throthroated green warblers might also live in the areas near the stream.
Trees and Plants
Besides eastern hemlock, many other tree species grow near Spruce Run. These include:
More than 80 types of woodland herbs grow here. Herbs are small, non-woody plants. This includes 15 different fern species. There are also 12 different sedge species. Sedges are grass-like plants.
However, some invasive plants have also moved into the area. These are plants that are not native and can harm the local ecosystem. Examples include the multiflora rose and the autumn olive.
Animals and Birds
Many game animals live near Spruce Run. These are animals that people sometimes hunt. They include:
A large number of other bird species also live here. This includes five different warbler species. There are also two thrush species and one flycatcher species. Many other bird types are present too. Ruffed grouse are also found in large numbers along Spruce Run.
Spruce Run is recognized as a "Locally Significant Area." This listing is in the Columbia County Natural Areas Inventory. It highlights how important this natural place is.
