Tomhicken Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tomhicken Creek |
|
|---|---|
Tomhicken Creek a little over a mile from its mouth
|
|
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Deep mine in Hazle Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania |
| River mouth | Catawissa Creek in North Union Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania |
| Length | 11 mi (18 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 20.6 sq mi (53 km2) |
| Tributaries |
|
Tomhicken Creek, sometimes called Tomhickon Creek, is a stream in Pennsylvania. It flows through Luzerne County and Schuylkill County. This creek is about 11 miles (18 km) long. It is the largest stream that flows into Catawissa Creek.
Smaller streams that join Tomhicken Creek include Little Crooked Run, Little Tomhicken Creek, Raccoon Creek, and Sugarloaf Creek. The land area that drains water into the creek is about 20.6 square miles (53.4 km2). Some old mine tunnels also release water into the creek and its smaller streams.
Contents
Where Tomhicken Creek Flows
Tomhicken Creek starts deep inside a deep mine. Its journey begins in southwestern Hazle Township, Luzerne County. This area is just west of strip mines and north of Pismire Ridge.
The creek flows west-southwest, generally following Pennsylvania Route 924. It soon leaves Hazle Township and Luzerne County. After leaving Luzerne County, the creek enters East Union Township in Schuylkill County.
It crosses Pennsylvania Route 924 again. The creek then flows north of more strip mines. It turns northwest to flow down Green Mountain. Then it enters North Union Township.
Tomhicken Creek receives Sugarloaf Creek in the eastern part of the township. Soon after, it passes the community of Miller's Corner. At Miller's Corner, the creek turns southwest and then north. Here, it is joined by Raccoon Creek. The creek then turns southwest again. It winds and turns several times south of Red Ridge. Finally, it meets Catawissa Creek near the community of Zion Grove.
Streams That Join Tomhicken Creek
Tomhicken Creek has several important smaller streams, called tributaries. These include Sugarloaf Creek, Little Tomhicken Creek, and Raccoon Creek.
Raccoon Creek is about 3 miles (4.8 km) long. It flows west from Black Creek Township, Luzerne County. It joins Tomhicken Creek in North Union Township, Schuylkill County.
Little Tomhicken Creek is about 1 mile (1.6 km) long. It flows southwest to join Tomhicken Creek in East Union Township. Sugarloaf Creek is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long. It flows from Hazle Township, Luzerne County to North Union Township, where it joins the main creek.
Other small streams include Little Crooked Run.
Water Quality of Tomhicken Creek
The water in Tomhicken Creek is affected by several things. Little Tomhicken Creek brings acid mine drainage into Tomhicken Creek. This is water that has become acidic from flowing through old mines. The creek also has higher levels of nutrients.
The pH of the creek changes along its path. Upstream, the pH averages around 6.52, which is slightly acidic to neutral. At the mouth, the pH averages around 6.0, which is slightly more acidic. Before 1997, much of the lower part of the creek was quite acidic, with a pH from 4.0 to 4.9.
The amount of water flowing in Tomhicken Creek is also measured. Near its start, the flow is about 10,681 gallons per minute. Near Zion Grove, the flow is slightly more, at 10,687.5 gallons per minute.
Geology Around the Creek
The Oneida No. 3 Tunnel releases water into Tomhicken Creek. This happens downstream from where Little Tomhicken Creek joins. Another tunnel, the Oneida No. 1 Tunnel, discharges into Sugarloaf Creek.
Little Sugarloaf Mountain is located between Tomhicken Creek and Little Tomhicken Creek. There is a small area of coal in the land that drains into Tomhicken Creek.
The Mauch Chunk Formation is a type of rock found near where the creek meets Catawissa Creek. Most of the Tomhicken Creek area has this rock. However, some upper parts of the area have the Hamilton Group rock formation. The soils in the area include Leck Kill soil in the lower parts and Hazleton Soil in the upper parts.
Deep valleys are found north and south of the Tomhicken Creek basin. These valleys were formed by erosion, which is when water or wind wears away the land.
Tomhicken Creek Watershed
The watershed of Tomhicken Creek covers an area of 20.6 square miles (53.4 km2). A watershed is all the land where water drains into a particular creek or river. Tomhicken Creek is the largest stream that flows into Catawissa Creek.
The Tomhicken Creek watershed is close to the start of Black Creek at Little Sugarloaf Mountain. The Tomhicken Creek watershed does not share borders with other large watersheds of Catawissa Creek.
The Eagle Rock Resort is located in the upper parts of the Tomhicken Creek area. This resort mainly has vacation homes or retirement homes.
History and Fun Activities
In the past, before 1901, gristmills and other types of mills were built along Tomhicken Creek. These mills used the creek's water power.
The Red Ridge Road bridge crosses Tomhicken Creek. It was built in 1937. In 2010, a weight limit of nine tons was put on this bridge. Many large private campgrounds have been set up along the creek. These are places where people can go camping and enjoy nature.
Animals in Tomhicken Creek
Tomhicken Creek is known as a coldwater fishery. This means its waters are cold enough for certain types of fish to live there.
In 1997, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission studied Little Tomhicken Creek. At first, they thought there were no fish there. However, later studies showed this was not true. Tomhicken Creek is full of life! You can find fish like the Bluntnose minnow, Brook trout, and Brown Trout. Other creatures include digger crayfish and many kinds of turtles.
The smaller stream, Raccoon Creek, is also a high-quality coldwater fishery. This means it has very good water quality for coldwater fish.
The upper parts of Tomhicken Creek have four different kinds of fish. The lower parts have five different kinds of fish. Raccoon Creek has a large number of brook trout and other fish species. Little Crooked Run also has a good population of brook trout.
In 1905, 700 rainbow trout were seen in Tomhicken Creek and Little Tomhicken Creek.
In 2003, scientists observed many Allocapnia and Taeniopteryx near Zion Grove in Tomhicken Creek. Sweltsa have also been seen in the creek. These are types of insects that live in the water.
