Tributaries of the Allegheny River facts for kids

The Allegheny River is a big river that flows through western Pennsylvania and parts of New York. Many smaller streams and rivers, called tributaries, flow into it, adding to its water. These tributaries are like the river's helpers, bringing water from different areas.

The Allegheny River is very important for the environment and the communities along its banks. It helps drain water from a large area, which is called a watershed. This article will tell you about some of the main streams that join the Allegheny River.

Main Streams Joining the Allegheny River

The Allegheny River has many direct tributaries. These are streams that flow straight into the main river. Here are some of them, listed in order from where the Allegheny River starts (its source) to where it joins another river:

• Woodcock Creek: This creek joins the Allegheny River in Allegany Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania.
• Dwight Creek: Another creek that flows into the river in Allegany Township, Potter County.
• Mill Creek: This creek meets the Allegheny River near Coudersport, Pennsylvania.
• Fishing Creek: It joins the river in Roulette Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania.
• Lillibridge Creek: This creek connects to the river near Port Allegany, Pennsylvania.
• Potato Creek: A larger tributary that flows into the Allegheny River in Eldred Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania.
• Knapp Creek: This creek joins the river near Eldred, Pennsylvania.
• Oswayo Creek: It meets the Allegheny River in Portville, New York.
• Olean Creek: A significant tributary that flows into the river in Olean, New York.
• Ninemile Creek: This creek joins the river within the Allegany Indian Reservation in New York.
• Tunungwant Creek: Another important tributary that flows into the river in the Allegany Indian Reservation.
• Great Valley Creek: This creek meets the Allegheny River in Salamanca, New York.
• Little Valley Creek: It joins the river in Salamanca, New York.
• Cold Spring Creek: This creek flows into the river within the Allegany Indian Reservation.
• Quaker Run: Another stream that joins the river in the Allegany Indian Reservation.
• Kinzua Creek: This creek meets the Allegheny River in Mead Township, Warren County, Pennsylvania.
• Conewango Creek: A large tributary that flows into the river in Warren, Pennsylvania.
• Brokenstraw Creek: This creek joins the river in Brokenstraw Township, Warren County, Pennsylvania.
• Tionesta Creek: A major tributary that meets the Allegheny River in Tionesta Township, Forest County, Pennsylvania.
• Oil Creek: This important creek flows into the river in Oil City, Pennsylvania.
• French Creek: A very large tributary that joins the river in Sandycreek Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.
• East Sandy Creek: This creek flows into the river in Sandycreek Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.
• Sandy Creek: Another large tributary that meets the Allegheny River in Sandycreek Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.
• Clarion River: A major river that joins the Allegheny River in Perry Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania.
• Redbank Creek: This creek flows into the Allegheny River in Madison Township, Clarion County, Pennsylvania.
• Mahoning Creek: A significant tributary that joins the river in Pine Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.
• Cowanshannock Creek: This creek meets the Allegheny River in Rayburn Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.
• Crooked Creek: Another important creek that flows into the river in Bethel Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.
• Kiskiminetas River: A large river that joins the Allegheny River in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
• Buffalo Creek: This creek flows into the river in Freeport, Pennsylvania.
• Deer Creek: It joins the Allegheny River in Harmar Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
• Pine Creek: This creek meets the river in Etna, Pennsylvania.

Important Tributaries and Their Branches

Some of the Allegheny River's tributaries are quite large and have their own smaller streams flowing into them. Let's explore a few of these.

Red House Brook

Red House Brook is a tributary that flows into the Allegheny River in New York. It has several smaller streams that feed into it, including:

• Bay State Brook
• Stoddard Creek
• McIntosh Creek
• Beehunter Creek
• Bova Creek
• France Brook

It also has a lake called Red House Lake.

East Sandy Creek

East Sandy Creek is a tributary of the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania. It has several smaller streams that contribute to its flow, such as:

• Richland Run
• Prairie Run
• Cogley Run
• Little East Sandy Creek
• Tarkiln Run
• Pine Run
• Shaw Run
• Shannon Run
• Pryor Run
• Halls Run
• Browns Run
• Porcupine Run
• Burford Run

Clarion River

The Clarion River is a major tributary of the Allegheny River. It starts where two branches meet:

• West Branch Clarion River
• East Branch Clarion River

Other streams that flow into the Clarion River include:

• Johnson Run
• Powers Run
• Elk Creek
• Big Mill Creek
• Little Toby Creek
• Spring Creek
• Clear Creek
• Maple Creek
• Toms Run
• Piney Creek
• Deer Creek
• Canoe Creek
• Beaver Creek
• Licking Creek

The Clarion River also has a large reservoir called Piney Reservoir created by the Piney Dam.

Redbank Creek

Redbank Creek is another important tributary. It is formed by the joining of:

• Sandy Lick Creek
• North Fork Creek

Other streams that flow into Redbank Creek are:

• Clement Run
• Rattlesnake Run
• Thompson Run
• Beaver Run
• Little Sandy Creek
• Pine Creek
• Town Run
• Leatherwood Creek

Redbank Creek also has a dam called Citizens Water Company Dam.

North Fork Creek

North Fork Creek itself is formed by two streams coming together:

• Muddy Run
• Williams Run

It also has other smaller streams like:

• Bearpen Run
• Manners Dam Run
• Hetrick Run
• Lucas Run
• Seneca Run
• Windfall Run
• Clear Run
• Tarkiln Run
• Shippen Run
• Craft Run
• Red Lick Run
• Yeomans Run
• Sugarcamp Run
• Sugar Camp Run
• Horm Run
• Fivemile Run
• Little Mill Creek

North Fork Creek also has the Brookville Reservoir and Brookville Waterworks Dam.

Sandy Lick Creek

Sandy Lick Creek is another part of the Redbank Creek system. It has its own smaller streams:

• Coal Run
• Muddy Run
• Narrows Creek
• Gravel Lick Run
• Laborde Branch
• Reisinger Run
• Beaver Run
• Clear Run
• Slab Run
• Wolf Run
• Panther Run
• Pitchpine Run
• Soldier Run
• Trout Run
• Schoolhouse Run
• O'Donnell Run
• Camp Run
• Fuller Run
• Cable Run
• Mill Creek
• Fivemile Run

It also includes Lake Sabula.

Little Sandy Creek

Little Sandy Creek is a tributary of Redbank Creek. Its branches include:

• Middle Branch Little Sandy Creek
• Hickok Run
• Clutch Run
• Indiancamp Run
• Lick Run
• Big Run
• Ferguson Run
• Cherry Run
• Brocious Run
• Nolf Run

Mahoning Creek

Mahoning Creek is a large tributary of the Allegheny River. It starts where the East Branch Mahoning Creek and Stump Creek meet.

Other streams that flow into Mahoning Creek are:

• Big Run
• Rock Run
• Graffius Run
• Jackson Run
• Canoe Creek
• Elk Run
• Sawmill Run
• Rose Run
• Nicely Run
• Dutch Run
• Perryville Run
• Foundry Run
• Steer Run
• Carr Run
• Hamilton Run
• Sugarcamp Run
• Little Mahoning Creek
• Glade Run
• Camp Run
• Pine Run
• Little Mudlick Creek
• Cathcart Run
• Cave Run
• Scrubgrass Creek

Mahoning Creek also has the Mahoning Creek Lake and Mahoning Creek Dam.

Pine Run

Pine Run is a tributary of Mahoning Creek. It has its own smaller streams:

• Middle Branch Pine Run
• Caylor Run
• Eagle Run
• Painter Run
• Nye Branch
• Sugarcamp Run
• Mudlick Creek

Cowanshannock Creek

Cowanshannock Creek is a tributary of the Allegheny River. Its branches include:

• Spruce Run
• South Branch Cowanshannock Creek
• Craigs Run
• Huskins Run
• Long Run
• Spra Run
• Mill Run

Crooked Creek

Crooked Creek is another important tributary. It has many smaller streams that flow into it:

• Rayne Run
• Brush Run
• Pine Run
• Twomile Run
• McKee Run
• Fulton Run
• Dark Hollow Run
• Mitchell Run
• Curry Run (which includes Cheese Run)
• Anthony Run
• Walker Run
• Plum Creek (which includes South Branch Plum Creek, North Branch Plum Creek, Cessna Run, and Dutch Run)
• Gobblers Run
• Craig Run
• Lindsay Run
• Sugar Run
• Fagley Run
• Cherry Run
• Pine Run
• Beers Run
• Coal Bank Run
• Horney Camp Run
• Elbow Run
• Campbell Run

Crooked Creek also has the Crooked Creek Lake and Crooked Creek Dam, as well as a place called Paradise Beach.

Kiskiminetas River

The Kiskiminetas River is a major tributary formed by the joining of two other rivers:

• Conemaugh River
• Loyalhanna Creek

Other streams that flow into the Kiskiminetas River are:

• Blacklegs Creek
• Sulphur Run
• Long Run
• Wolford Run
• Flat Run
• Roaring Run
• Beaver Run
• Pine Run
• Carnahan Run
• Guffy Run
• Brady Run
• Penn Run
• Elder Run

Conemaugh River

The Conemaugh River is one of the two rivers that form the Kiskiminetas River. It starts where the Stonycreek River and Little Conemaugh River meet.

Other streams that flow into the Conemaugh River include:

• Hinckston Run
• Elk Run
• Saint Clair Run
• Strayer Run
• Laurel Run
• Clark Run
• Findley Run
• Big Spring Run
• Sugar Run
• Baldwin Creek
• Shannon Run
• Richards Run
• Tubmill Creek
• Roaring Run
• Toms Run
• McGee Run
• Stony Run
• Blacklick Creek
• Aultmans Run
• Spruce Run
• Boatyard Run
• Elders Run

The Conemaugh River also has the Conemaugh River Lake and the Conemaugh Dam.

Loyalhanna Creek

Loyalhanna Creek is the other river that forms the Kiskiminetas River. It has many smaller streams flowing into it:

• White Oak Run
• Phoebe Run
• Linn Run
• Rolling Rock Creek
• Laughlintown Run
• Zimmerman Run
• Mill Creek
• Twomile Run
• Coalpit Run
• Fourmile Run
• Miller Run
• Ninemile Run
• Monastery Run
• Unity Run
• Saxman Run
• Union Run
• Keystone Run
• Crabtree Creek
• Whitethorn Creek
• Serviceberry Run

Loyalhanna Creek also has the Loyalhanna Lake and Loyalhanna Dam.

Blacklegs Creek

Blacklegs Creek is a tributary of the Kiskiminetas River. It has these smaller streams:

• Whisky Run
• Hooper Run
• Nesbit Run
• Harpers Run
• Marshall Run
• Big Run

It also includes Green Valley Lake.

Buffalo Creek

Buffalo Creek is a tributary of the Allegheny River. Its branches include:

• Little Buffalo Run
• Patterson Creek
• Marrowbone Run
• Rough Run
• Sipes Run
• Cornplanter Run
• Pine Run
• Little Buffalo Creek

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