Willow Brook (Utley Brook tributary) facts for kids

Willow Brook is a smaller stream, also called a tributary, that flows into Utley Brook. It is located in Susquehanna County and Wyoming County, in Pennsylvania, United States. This brook is about 3.7 miles (6.0 km) long. It runs through Lenox Township in Susquehanna County and Nicholson Township in Wyoming County. The ground around the stream is mostly made of a special kind of dirt left by glaciers, solid rock, river deposits, and wet, marshy areas. Several bridges have been built over Willow Brook. The stream is known as a place where fish that like cold water live, and it's also a path for fish that travel to different places.

Where Willow Brook Flows

Willow Brook starts in Clark Pond, which is in Lenox Township, Susquehanna County. From there, it flows west-southwest for a short distance. Then, it enters a wetland, which is a wet, marshy area.

In the wetland, the stream turns to flow south-southeast. A small, unnamed stream joins it from the right side. Willow Brook then passes through a tiny pond and leaves the wetland. It keeps flowing generally south-southeast for more than a mile. Along this path, another unnamed stream joins it, this time from the left side.

After that, the stream turns south for a few tenths of a mile. A small branch of Willow Brook splits off to the left, and the main stream enters another wetland. It then turns south-southwest for several tenths of a mile, going into yet another wetland. Here, a third unnamed stream joins it from the right.

Finally, Willow Brook turns south for a short distance before turning south-southeast. It passes through a small wetland and enters Nicholson Township, which is in Wyoming County. A bit further downstream, Willow Brook meets Utley Brook, where it ends its journey.

Land and Rocks Around the Stream

The land around where Willow Brook joins Utley Brook is about 778 feet (237 m) above sea level. Near where Willow Brook starts, the land is higher, about 1,302 feet (397 m) above sea level.

The types of soil and rocks on the surface near the end of Willow Brook include alluvium, which is made of layers of silt, sand, and gravel carried by water. There's also a type of till called Wisconsinan Till, which is dirt left behind by glaciers. You can also find solid bedrock made of sandstone and shale.

Closer to the lower parts of the stream, there are patches of alluvium and wetlands. Much of the area is covered by Wisconsinan Till, which is usually 6 feet (1.8 m) or more thick. Further upstream, most of the ground is Wisconsinan Till. However, there are also large areas of bedrock made of sandstone and shale, smaller spots of alluvium and wetlands, and a lake.

Fish and Their Homes

The area where Willow Brook ends is shown on a map called the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Lenoxville. However, where it begins is on the quadrangle map of Hop Bottom.

Willow Brook is special because it's classified as a Coldwater Fishery. This means it's a good home for fish that need cold water to live. It's also a Migratory Fishery, which means it's a pathway for fish that travel between different bodies of water.

History of Willow Brook

Willow Brook 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. Its special identification number in the system is 1191497.

Over the years, several bridges have been built to cross Willow Brook.

• In 1953, a strong bridge made of steel was built in Nicholson Township, Wyoming County. This bridge carries State Route 1027 over the brook and is 21.0 feet (6.4 m) long.
• More recently, in 2014, an old bridge carrying State Route 2019 (also known as Schoolhouse Road) over the stream in Lenox Township, Susquehanna County, was replaced. The work was planned to be finished by October 2014.