Stafford Meadow Brook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stafford Meadow Brook |
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Satellite map of Stafford Meadow Brook
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| Other name(s) | Stafford Meadow Creek |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | near Birchwood Estates in Roaring Brook Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania between 1,560 and 1,580 feet (480 and 480 m) |
| River mouth | Lackawanna River in Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania 673 ft (205 m) 41°23′47″N 75°40′36″W / 41.3963°N 75.6768°W |
| Length | 11.2 mi (18.0 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Lackawanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 14.1 sq mi (37 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Stafford Meadow Brook (also known as Stafford Meadow Creek) is a stream in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. It flows into the Lackawanna River. The brook is about 11.2 miles (18.0 km) long. It runs through Roaring Brook Township, Scranton, and Moosic.
The area of land that drains into the brook is 14.1 square miles (37 km2). Much of Stafford Meadow Brook has very clean water. Some parts are even considered "Exceptional Value" for their high quality. The stream starts in the Pocono Mountains and flows through the Moosic Mountains. Its path has been changed a lot in its lower parts.
Many wetlands and reservoirs are found along the brook. Large reservoirs like Lake Scranton are used to supply drinking water. Important roads like Interstate 81 and Pennsylvania Route 307 are also in the area. Long ago, coal mining and farming were big industries here. There was also an iron mine and a sawmill. Today, the Montage Mountain Ski Resort is in the brook's watershed.
Contents
Journey of the Stafford Meadow Brook
Stafford Meadow Brook starts near Birchwood Estates in Roaring Brook Township. It flows generally west and then northwest. The brook follows Pennsylvania Route 307, crossing it three times. Along the way, it picks up water from several smaller streams.
The brook then flows through the Williams Bridge Reservoir. After that, it enters Lake Scranton. Both of these are important water sources. From Lake Scranton, the brook flows southwest, picking up more small streams. It then goes through the District Number Fifty-Nine Reservoir.
Later, the brook enters Moosic and then turns northeast, flowing next to Interstate 81. It meets its only named branch, Mountain Lake Run. Finally, Stafford Meadow Brook flows northwest, crosses US Route 11, and joins the Lackawanna River. It meets the Lackawanna River about 9.06 miles (14.58 km) upstream from the Lackawanna's mouth.
Branches of the Brook
Stafford Meadow Brook has one named branch called Mountain Lake Run. It also has many unnamed smaller streams that flow into it. These smaller streams are between 0.6 and 1.4 miles (0.97 and 2.25 km) long.
Water Quality and Flow
Stafford Meadow Brook has very good water quality for most of its length. Areas upstream from the Williams Bridge Reservoir are especially clean. This is because there isn't much building or development there.
However, in some lower parts, you might see urban debris like yard waste along the banks. Sometimes, city sewers can overflow into the stream during heavy rain. The town of Moosic has a permit to let stormwater drain into the brook.
The amount of water flowing in the brook changes. For example, at its mouth, there's a 10 percent chance that the water flow could reach 2640 cubic feet per second in a year.
Land, Rocks, and Weather
The land around Stafford Meadow Brook is quite varied. Near where it joins the Lackawanna River, the elevation is 673 feet (205 m) above sea level. Near its start, the elevation is much higher, between 1,560 and 1,580 feet (480 and 480 m). This means the brook flows downhill quite steeply.
Stafford Meadow Brook is a perennial stream, meaning it flows all year round. It begins on the Pocono Plateau. It's a mountain stream that flows through the Moosic Mountains. In some places, it flows through narrow valleys or deep gorges. Mountains like Coon Hill and Scrub Oak Mountain are in its watershed. The area has steep hills that were shaped by glaciers long ago.
The brook's channel twists and turns. It flows over different kinds of rocks, like sandstone and shale. There's also some coal in its lower parts. Iron ore has been found along the stream, mixed with fireclay and soft clay-shale.
In southern Scranton, Stafford Meadow Brook flows through many culverts (tunnels for water). Some old stone walls and culverts here are over 100 years old. Parts of the stream flow through a ravine that is 25 to 30 feet (7.6 to 9.1 m) deep. From Pittston Avenue downstream to its mouth, the brook flows through an open concrete channel. This channel was built in 1960 to help control flooding. In some areas, the stream even flows completely underground.
The amount of rain in the brook's watershed is usually between 35 and 40 inches (89 and 102 cm) each year.
The Brook's Watershed
The watershed of Stafford Meadow Brook covers an area of 14.1 square miles (37 km2). This area is mostly in Scranton and Roaring Brook Township. Smaller parts are in Moosic and Dunmore.
Upstream from where it crosses Interstate 81, the watershed is mostly covered by forests and mountains. There's not much development there. The upper parts are completely forested, with beaver swamps and wetlands. However, downstream from Interstate 81, the area becomes more developed. You'll find businesses, factories, and homes there.
Many wetlands are in the watershed, including Bear Swamp and Simerson Marsh. Lakes like Lake Scranton, the District Number Fifty-Nine Reservoir, and the Williams Bridge Reservoir are also present. Lake Scranton and the Williams Bridge Reservoir are used for water supply. Lake Scranton alone provides 22 million gallons of water every day! These reservoirs, along with Roaring Brook and Spring Brook, provide a lot of the drinking water for the Lackawanna Valley. Downstream from Lake Scranton, there's a lake used by the Montage Mountain Ski Resort to make snow.
Old iron ore quarries can be found along the brook downstream from Lake Scranton. Major roads like Interstate 380, Interstate 81, and Pennsylvania Route 307 are also in the watershed.
History and Name
Stafford Meadow Brook was officially named on August 2, 1979. It is named after Captain John Stafford. He started a sawmill on the brook's banks way back in 1790.
The Abbott family also built a sawmill on the brook near Scranton. The Lackawanna Coal and Iron Company had many operations in the brook's watershed in the 1840s. In the 1880s, they opened several iron ore quarries along the stream.
In the early 1900s, the main jobs in the area were agriculture (farming) and coal mining. Stafford Meadow Brook became a major water supply in the early 1900s. It is still used for drinking water today.
Historic places near the brook include the Pennsylvania Gravity Railroad and Ore Mine Road. The brook also flows past St. Mary's Cemetery. Several old railroad lines used to run through the watershed.
Many bridges were built over Stafford Meadow Brook in the 20th century. For example, a stone arch bridge for Webster Avenue was built in 1885. A concrete bridge for Pennsylvania Route 307 was built in 1934.
Animals and Plants
The water quality of Stafford Meadow Brook helps different kinds of fish and insects live there. From its start down to the Scranton/Moosic line, the brook is a "High-Quality Coldwater Fishery." This means it's a great place for fish that like cold water. It's also a "Migratory Fishery," meaning fish travel through it. Further downstream, it's a "Warmwater Fishery."
Wild trout naturally live and reproduce in the stream. In 1894–1895, 500 rainbow trout were put into the stream. In 1984, people thought that native brook trout might also live in parts of the stream.
Many tiny water creatures, called macroinvertebrates, have been found in Stafford Meadow Brook. These include different kinds of mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies. These creatures are important because they show how healthy the water is.
Many trees have been planted in the watershed over the years. Between 1912 and 1928, over 600,000 trees were planted! There are large hemlock tree stands along the stream above Lake Scranton. The wetlands along the brook provide important homes for wildlife and plants. Beavers have even built ponds along some parts of the stream. Bears have also been seen in the area.
Fun and Recreation
One part of Stafford Meadow Brook is close to the Montage Mountain Ski Resort. This area also has a multi-sport stadium.
There are plans to protect Stafford Meadow Brook. Experts have suggested building a trail along the stream. This trail could connect to the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. There is already a walking trail around Lake Scranton, which is 4 miles (6.4 km) long.
