Sterry Creek facts for kids

Sterry Creek (also known as Storrs Creek) is a small stream in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It flows into the Lackawanna River. The creek is about 4.7 miles (7.6 km) long. It runs through the towns of Jessup and Olyphant. The area of land that drains into the creek, called its watershed, is about 4.92 square miles (12.7 km²).

Sterry Creek faces some challenges. Its natural flow and living spaces for animals have changed. Sometimes, the creek even loses its water. There is a dam on the creek called the O'Conner Dam. It creates a six-acre lake. Sterry Creek can also cause big floods in Jessup. Even so, it is named a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. This means it's a place where cold-water fish and migrating fish could live.

Where Sterry Creek Flows

Sterry Creek starts on a mountain in Jessup. It flows west for a short distance. Then it turns northwest. After that, the creek turns southwest and flows into the O'Conner Reservoir.

From the reservoir, it turns west-northwest. The creek then turns west-southwest. It crosses Pennsylvania Route 247. A smaller stream joins it from the left side. Then Sterry Creek enters Olyphant.

In Olyphant, the creek turns north-northwest. It crosses US Route 6. Then it turns northeast and goes back into Jessup. The creek turns north-northwest again. It reenters Olyphant, then turns north-northwest again. Finally, it goes back into Jessup. In Jessup, it flows west for a short distance. It then turns north-northwest for a few hundred feet. Here, it joins the Lackawanna River. Sterry Creek meets the Lackawanna River about 18.98 miles (30.55 km) before the Lackawanna River reaches its own end.

Water Conditions in Sterry Creek

Sterry Creek sometimes loses all its water. This starts happening when it reaches the Mid Valley Industrial Park. You can also find piles of waste coal and silt along the creek. These come from old mining areas.

Sterry Creek is considered an "impaired" stream. This means its water quality or natural state is not good. The main reasons for this are changes to its water flow and its natural habitat. These problems likely come from abandoned mine drainage. This is water that flows out of old, unused mines.

Sterry Creek can have very strong water flows. For example, there is a 10 percent chance that the water flow at its mouth will reach 320 cubic feet per second in a year. This means it's a powerful stream during floods.

Land and Rocks Around the Creek

The land near where Sterry Creek joins the Lackawanna River is about 784 feet (239 m) above sea level. Where the creek begins, its elevation is between 1,820 and 1,840 feet (550 and 560 m) above sea level.

The very start of Sterry Creek is near the Valley View Business Park. It is also close to the Moosic Mountain ridgetop barrens. The creek is affected by old mines. This impact starts by the time it flows under Pennsylvania Route 247. Most of the creek, from about 3.5 miles downstream to its mouth, is affected by these old mines.

One part of the creek flows through a concrete U-shaped channel. The creek does not have many natural riffles or pools. It has been greatly disturbed by fine coal particles and silt. Water from hills to the east flows into Sterry Creek. Water from waste coal piles also drains into the creek. This water carries sediment with it. Part of the Moosic Mountains is in the eastern area that drains into the creek.

The O'Conner Dam is located in Jessup. This dam is in the upper part of the creek. It creates a water supply lake that is about 6 acres (2.4 ha) in size. Many coal mines were in this area in the early 1900s.

Sterry Creek's Watershed

The watershed of Sterry Creek covers an area of 4.92 square miles (12.7 km²). This entire area is shown on the United States Geological Survey map called Olyphant. The watershed is in the eastern part of the larger Lackawanna River watershed. It includes parts of three towns: Jessup, Olyphant, and Jefferson Township.

Sterry Creek is a main source of flooding in Jessup. When trash builds up at the culverts (tunnels for water) under roads, it can block the creek. This causes water to back up and flood nearby homes and basements. Usually, the creek is "mostly quiet" and "little more than a trickle." However, about once every ten years, it overflows its banks. This causes damage to properties nearby. New buildings in the upper part of the watershed might also affect the creek.

In the late 1900s, about 10 percent of the land in the Sterry Creek watershed was used for homes. Much of this was close to the Lackawanna River. More than half of the watershed was covered by forests.

History and Fun Facts

Sterry Creek was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. It is also known as Storrs Creek. This name appeared on a map published in 1984.

In 1990, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources worked on a project. They changed the channel of about 1 mile (1.6 km) of Sterry Creek in Jessup.

In the early 2000s, there was a plan for a greenway. This would be a conservation and recreation area along Sterry Creek. It was part of the Lackawanna River Watershed Conservation Plan. This plan also suggested that Olyphant and Jessup should protect the creek in their town plans. The creek was also on a list of streams needing restoration. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is studying the creek. They want to understand and fix the flooding problems.

Animals and Plants

The area that drains into Sterry Creek is named a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. This means it is suitable for cold-water fish and fish that travel to different places. However, in the early 1990s, there were no macroinvertebrates (small water bugs) or fish found in the creek.

In 1992, Sterry Creek was described as a "low-quality" place for water animals.