Tower Branch facts for kids

Tower Branch is a small stream, also called a tributary, located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. It flows into a larger stream called Tunkhannock Creek. Tower Branch is about 4.8 miles (7.7 km) long. It flows through two areas: Harford Township and Lenox Township.

The area of land that drains into Tower Branch, called its watershed, covers about 3.69 square miles (9.6 km²). This stream is considered healthy and clean. It does not have any smaller streams that are officially named. The land around the stream is mostly made of a type of soil called till, along with some alluvium (river deposits), lakes, and wetlands. The water in Tower Branch is cold, which is great for certain fish. It's also a place where fish travel during their migrations.

Journey of Tower Branch

Tower Branch starts in a wetland in Harford Township. A wetland is a marshy area where the land is often wet.

Flowing South

The stream first flows south-southeast for a short distance. It goes through a small pond and then enters another wetland area. After that, it turns and flows south, entering Lenox Township. Here, it passes through another pond and another wetland.

Meeting Other Streams

Tower Branch then flows south-southwest for a while. It then turns south-southeast. Along this path, a small, unnamed stream joins it from the right side. The stream later turns southeast for a short distance. Then, it suddenly turns south-southwest and flows for more than a mile. Another unnamed stream joins it from the right side during this part of its journey.

Reaching Tunkhannock Creek

Finally, Tower Branch turns south for a bit before turning southeast. It then flows under Pennsylvania Route 92, a local road. A short distance after crossing the road, Tower Branch meets and joins Tunkhannock Creek. Tower Branch joins Tunkhannock Creek about 22.70 miles (36.53 km) before Tunkhannock Creek reaches its own end.

Water, Land, and Rocks

The land around Tower Branch is interesting! The lowest point of the stream, where it joins Tunkhannock Creek, is about 807 feet (246 m) above sea level. The highest point, where the stream begins, is about 1,381 feet (421 m) above sea level.

What the Ground is Made Of

Near where Tower Branch meets Tunkhannock Creek, the ground is mostly made of something called an alluvial fan. This is a fan-shaped deposit of soil and rocks left by flowing water. Most of the area around the stream has a type of soil called Wisconsinan Till. This till was left behind by glaciers long ago. There are also areas with alluvium, which are deposits from rivers, and smaller areas with lakes and wetlands. Some hills near the stream have bedrock at the surface. This bedrock is made of sandstone and shale.

Stream Health

It's good to know that Tower Branch is not considered a "polluted" or "impaired" waterbody. This means it's a healthy stream!

Tower Branch's History

Tower Branch 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.

In 1957, a concrete bridge was built over Tower Branch in Lenox Township. This bridge carries Pennsylvania Route 92 and is about 27.9 feet (8.5 m) long.

Wildlife and Nature

The area where Tower Branch flows is very important for wildlife. It is known as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. This means the water is cold enough for certain fish, and it's a place where fish travel during their life cycles.

Fish and Aquatic Life

Wild trout naturally live and reproduce in Tower Branch. They can be found from the upper parts of the stream all the way down to its mouth, a distance of about 4.10 miles (6.60 km). The stream is officially used to support aquatic life, which means it's protected for the plants and animals that live in and around the water.

Special Natural Areas

A special piece of land called the Cecil/Wagner Property is located in the areas that drain into Tower Branch and Tunkhannock Creek. This property is part of the North Branch Land Trust, an organization that helps protect natural lands. The property covers about 84 acres (34 ha). It includes different types of habitats like farm fields, coniferous forests (trees with needles, like pines), deciduous forests (trees that lose their leaves, like oaks), meadows, a pond, a stream, and wetlands.

This property is home to a wide variety of high-quality plants and animals. Some of these species are rare in Pennsylvania. In fact, nine species found here are considered "Species of Special Concern" in Pennsylvania, meaning they need extra protection.