Summit Lake Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Summit Lake Creek |
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|---|---|
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | valley in Newton Townhship, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania between 1,260 and 1,280 feet (380 and 390 m) |
| River mouth | Leggetts Creek in South Abington Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania 1,063 ft (324 m) 41°28′30″N 75°40′59″W / 41.4751°N 75.6830°W |
| Length | 2.1 mi (3.4 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Leggetts Creek → Lackawanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 3.08 sq mi (8.0 km2) |
Summit Lake Creek is a small river, also called a tributary, that flows into Leggetts Creek in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. It's about 2.1 miles (3.4 km) long. The creek runs through Newton Township and South Abington Township.
The area of land that drains water into the creek, called its watershed, is about 3.08 square miles (8.0 km2). Summit Lake Creek is a special place for fishing, as it's a "Trout Stocked Fishery" and a "Migratory Fishery." This means fish like trout are put into the creek, and other fish travel through it. Some parts of the creek are not as healthy as they should be. The creek also has one unnamed smaller stream that flows into it.
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Where Summit Lake Creek Flows
Summit Lake Creek starts in a valley in Newton Township. It flows towards the east-northeast for a short distance. Along its path, it goes through Interlaken Lake.
The creek then enters South Abington Township. It crosses Pennsylvania Route 307 before turning southeast. After this, it crosses under Interstate 476.
The creek then turns east for a bit. It flows through Maple Lake before turning east-northeast again. Finally, Summit Lake Creek joins Leggetts Creek. This meeting point is about 3.90 miles (6.28 km) upstream from where Leggetts Creek ends.
Smaller Streams (Tributaries)
Summit Lake Creek doesn't have any named smaller streams that flow into it. However, it does have one unnamed tributary. This small stream is known as "Unt 28530."
Water Quality of the Creek
Some parts of Summit Lake Creek are not as clean or healthy as they should be. One section of the creek has problems with too much silt and mud, and its water temperature is not ideal. This part is about 1.66 miles (2.67 km) long. These issues are likely caused by nearby buildings and dams upstream.
Another section of the creek has problems with how much water flows through it. This part is about 1.30 miles (2.09 km) long. The main reason for this problem is water running off from cities and towns, often from storm sewers. The unnamed stream, "Unt 28530," also has some water quality issues.
Land and Features Around the Creek
The land around the end of Summit Lake Creek is about 1,063 feet (324 m) above sea level. Near the start of the creek, the land is higher, between 1,260 and 1,280 feet (380 and 390 m) above sea level.
Several lakes are found in the area that drains into Summit Lake Creek. These include Maple Lake and Summit Lake. Maple Lake is a man-made lake. It is about 2.4 acres big and can hold 4,000,000 gallons of water. Summit Lake was naturally formed. It is much larger, about 57 acres, and can hold 259,000,000 gallons of water.
The Creek's Watershed
The watershed of Summit Lake Creek covers an area of about 3.08 square miles (8.0 km2). This entire area is located within the Scranton map area, as defined by the United States Geological Survey.
The upper parts of Summit Lake Creek flow through natural, untouched land. However, the lower parts of the creek flow through areas where people have built homes and businesses. The town of Clarks Summit has permission to release stormwater (rainwater runoff from streets) into the creek.
The main purpose of Summit Lake Creek is to support aquatic life, meaning it's important for the plants and animals that live in and around the water.
History of Summit Lake Creek
Summit Lake Creek was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system helps keep track of names for places like rivers and mountains. Its special ID number there is 1199652.
Over the years, several bridges have been built over Summit Lake Creek. In 1904, a concrete bridge was built in South Abington Township to carry State Route 4032 over the creek. This bridge is 21.0 feet (6.4 m) long. Later, in 1936, another concrete bridge was built for US Route 11 over the creek. This one is 36.1 feet (11.0 m) long and is also in South Abington Township.
The Maple Lake Dam was built on Summit Lake Creek way back in the 1800s. However, it was taken down in December 2006. In 2011, a company called Pennsylvania American Water gave a grant of $2500 to a local group. This money was used to plant trees near where the creek meets Leggetts Creek. It was also used to clean up the creek's streambed to help prevent flash flooding.
Animals and Plants in the Creek
The entire area that drains into Summit Lake Creek is important for fish. It is known as a "Trout-Stocked Fishery," which means trout are regularly added to the creek for fishing. It is also a "Migratory Fishery," meaning different types of fish travel through the creek as part of their life cycle.
