Tinker Creek (East Branch Tunkhannock Creek tributary) facts for kids

Tinker Creek is a small stream in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. It flows into the East Branch Tunkhannock Creek. This creek is about 4.3 miles (6.9 km) long and runs through Clifford Township.

The area that drains into the creek, called its watershed, is about 5.02 square miles (13.0 km²). Tinker Creek is considered clean and healthy, and it doesn't have any named smaller streams flowing into it. It's a special place because wild trout live and reproduce here naturally.

Where Tinker Creek Flows

Tinker Creek starts in a small lake near Lackawanna Mountain in Clifford Township. It flows generally south, then turns west and goes through a wetland area.

After that, the creek turns north for a while. It then gets water from a small, unnamed stream on its right side. The creek continues flowing west and then north again. It receives another unnamed stream from its left side. Finally, after flowing west for more than a mile, it turns northwest and soon joins the East Branch Tunkhannock Creek.

Tinker Creek is about 4.3 miles (6.9 km) long. It meets the East Branch Tunkhannock Creek about 11.80 miles (18.99 km) before that creek reaches its own end.

Water Quality

Tinker Creek is known for its good water quality. It is not listed as a polluted or "impaired" waterbody. The water has an alkalinity concentration of 28 milligrams per liter (0.028 oz/cu ft), which helps keep the water stable for aquatic life.

Land and Rocks Around the Creek

The land around Tinker Creek changes as you move along its path. Near where the creek ends, the ground is mostly made of a type of till called Wisconsnain Till. This is material left behind by glaciers.

Further upstream, the land along the creek is mostly alluvium, which is soil deposited by flowing water. However, there are also patches of Wisconsinan Till, and other glacial deposits. You can also find wetlands, lakes, and solid rock made of sandstone and shale. In the highest parts of the creek, the land is mostly Wisconsinan Till, with some alluvium and wetlands.

The Creek's Watershed

The watershed of Tinker Creek covers an area of 5.02 square miles (13.0 km²). This is the entire area where rain and snowmelt drain into the creek. The mouth of the creek is located in the Clifford area, while its source is in the Forest City area. The creek's mouth is less than 1 mile (1.6 km) from a place called Elkdale.

Tinker Creek is important for aquatic life, meaning it's a home for fish and other water creatures.

History of Tinker Creek

Tinker Creek was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. It is sometimes also called Tinker Brook. This other name appeared on a map of Susquehanna County made in 1981.

Around the year 1800, a person named David Burns settled near Tinker Creek. A few years later, around 1802, three brothers named Abner, Daniel, and Lemuel Norton also settled near a road that crossed the creek.

A bridge was built over Tinker Creek in Clifford Township in 1941. This bridge carries State Route 2012 and is 37.1 feet (11.3 m) long. In 2013, there were plans to limit the weight of vehicles that could cross this bridge.

Biology and Wild Trout

Tinker Creek is a special place for fish. Wild trout naturally reproduce in the creek, from its upper parts all the way down to its mouth. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has even classified Tinker Creek as "Class A Wild Trout Waters" for brook trout. This means it's one of the best places for wild trout to live and grow.

The entire area that drains into Tinker Creek is considered a "Coldwater Fishery." This means the water is cold enough for fish like trout to thrive. It's even called a "High-Quality Coldwater Fishery," showing how healthy and important it is for these fish.