Towanda Creek facts for kids
Towanda Creek is a stream in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It flows into the Susquehanna River. The creek is about 32.9 miles (53.0 kilometers) long. It flows through several areas, including Canton Township, Canton, Leroy Township, Franklin Township, and Monroe Township.
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Where Towanda Creek Flows
Towanda Creek starts on a hill in the southwestern part of Canton Township. This is close to the border between Bradford County and Lycoming County. The creek first flows northwest off the hill, then turns north. It runs alongside Pennsylvania Route 14.
After flowing for some miles, the creek turns east. It passes through the town of Canton and keeps going east. Along its path, other smaller streams join it, like Mill Creek, Alba Creek, and Beech Flats Creek.
The creek then enters Leroy Township. Here, it continues flowing east and a little north, next to Pennsylvania Route 50. In this area, Wallace Brook and Gulf Brook join the creek.
Eventually, Towanda Creek reaches Franklin Township. Here, a stream called North Branch Towanda Creek adds its water to Towanda Creek. A few miles further downstream, the creek flows north of Naglee Mountain and enters Monroe Township.
In Monroe Township, another important stream, South Branch Towanda Creek, joins it. The creek then turns north, and a short distance later, it turns northeast. It enters an area known as the Towanda Flats. Finally, after a few more miles, Towanda Creek meets the Susquehanna River.
Towanda Creek joins the Susquehanna River about 271.72 miles (437.30 kilometers) upstream from where the Susquehanna River flows into the ocean.
Main Streams Joining Towanda Creek
The most important streams that flow into Towanda Creek are Schrader Creek and South Branch Towanda Creek.
Water Quality of Towanda Creek
The water in Towanda Creek changes throughout the year. Near Monroeton, the amount of water flowing in the creek is highest in March and April. It is lowest in July and August.
The water's pH (how acidic or basic it is) near Monroeton usually ranges from 7.4 to 8.2. This means the water is slightly basic. The water's temperature can vary a lot, from about 0.7°C (33.3°F) in colder times to 24.5°C (76.1°F) in warmer times.
The water also contains different minerals. For example, it has calcium and magnesium. The amount of tiny particles floating in the water, called total suspended solids, can change a lot, especially after heavy rains.
Land, Rocks, and Weather Around the Creek
The land around Towanda Creek is "rough and hilly." Most of the area has narrow valleys and steep hills. These hills were shaped by glaciation, which means they were smoothed by ancient ice sheets.
The elevation of the land near where Towanda Creek joins the Susquehanna River is about 692 feet (211 meters) above sea level. Where the creek starts, it's much higher, around 1760 feet (536 meters) above sea level.
In the upper parts of the creek, you might see fallen trees and other obstacles in the water. The creek often has high mud banks and flows between mountains covered in trees. Further downstream, past Schrader Creek, the valley becomes flatter and wider. There are some shallow, fast-flowing parts called riffles and a few rocky areas near Franklindale.
The rocks in the area are mostly shale and sandstone. You can also find deposits of bituminous coal in these rock formations. Gravel and large boulders are also common near the creek.
The path of Towanda Creek is winding, or sinuous. When Schrader Creek joins it, the amount of water in Towanda Creek roughly doubles.
The area around Towanda Creek usually gets between 30 and 40 inches (76 and 102 centimeters) of precipitation (rain and snow) each year.
Towanda Creek's Watershed
The watershed of Towanda Creek covers an area of about 278 square miles (720 square kilometers). A watershed is all the land where water drains into a particular river or stream. This watershed is mainly in Bradford County, but it also includes small parts of Lycoming County, Sullivan County, and Tioga County. All the water from this area eventually flows into the Upper North Branch Susquehanna River.
One important lake in the Towanda Creek watershed is Lake Nephawin, which has a surface area of 36.5 acres.
Towanda Creek flows mostly through private property along its entire length.
History and Name of Towanda Creek
The name "Towanda Creek" comes from a word in the Nanticoke language. This word means "burial ground."
A special station was set up on Towanda Creek near Monroeton in January 1914. This station helps measure how much water is flowing in the creek.
In the early 1900s, the biggest towns in the Towanda Creek watershed were Canton, Monroeton, New Albany, and Monroe.
Back then, the main jobs and businesses in the area included working with wood, using clay from the ground, machine shops, and agriculture (farming). Railroads like the Susquehanna, New York, and Lehigh Valley Railroad, and the Northern Central Railroad, also passed through the watershed. The creek itself was even used to power a small mill in Canton.
Fish and Wildlife in Towanda Creek
Towanda Creek is home to different types of fish. Some wild trout live there naturally. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission also adds more trout to the creek for people to catch. In the lower parts of the creek, you'll find more fish that prefer warmer water.
In a survey done in 2007, scientists found 33 different kinds of fish in Towanda Creek. These include Brown trout, brook trout, and rainbow trout. Other fish you might find are Smallmouth bass, rock bass, and several types of shiners, dace, and darters. There are also different kinds of minnows and chubs.
Other fish species living in the creek include pumpkinseed, bluegill, green sunfish, brown bullhead, walleye, white sucker, northern hog sucker, fallfish, central stoneroller, and sculpin.
Fun Things to Do on Towanda Creek
You can go canoeing on about 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers) of Towanda Creek. The best times to canoe are when snow is melting or within seven days after a lot of rain. The creek is considered easy for beginners, with a difficulty rating of 1. Edward Gertler, in his book Keystone Canoeing, says the scenery along the creek is "good." You can also canoe on two of the smaller streams that flow into Towanda Creek.
Besides canoeing, many people enjoy angling (fishing) in the creek.
