Wolf Run (North Branch Mehoopany Creek tributary) facts for kids

Wolf Run is a small river, also called a tributary, that flows into North Branch Mehoopany Creek. It's located in Pennsylvania, crossing through Bradford and Sullivan Counties. This stream is about 3.2 miles (5.1 km) long. It starts in Wilmot Township and then goes through Colley Township.

The area of land that drains into Wolf Run, called its watershed, covers about 3.45 square miles (8.9 km²). Most of this land is used for farming or has forests. In 2001, scientists found seven different kinds of fish in Wolf Run. More recently, wild trout have also been seen there.

Where Does Wolf Run Flow?

Wolf Run begins in a shallow valley near a wetland (a marshy area) in Wilmot Township, Bradford County. It flows south-southeast for a short distance before entering a lake that doesn't have a name.

After leaving the lake, the stream continues flowing south-southeast for over a mile. It then enters Colley Township in Sullivan County. Here, another small stream joins it from the left side. Wolf Run then turns south-southwest for about a mile. It crosses under Pennsylvania Route 87 before joining North Branch Mehoopany Creek.

Wolf Run meets North Branch Mehoopany Creek about 10.64 miles (17.12 km) before that creek reaches its own end.

Water Quality of Wolf Run

Wolf Run is considered a healthy stream. It is not listed as a "polluted" or "impaired" waterbody.

In 2001, scientists measured the water quality of Wolf Run. About 0.73 miles (1.17 km) upstream from where it joins North Branch Mehoopany Creek, the pH of the water was 7.2. This means it was slightly alkaline, which is normal for many healthy streams. The alkalinity was 38 milligrams per liter (0.038 oz/cu ft), and the water hardness was 46 milligrams per liter (0.046 oz/cu ft). The specific conductance, which shows how well water conducts electricity, was 60 umhos. When the air temperature was 21.0 °C (69.8 °F), the water temperature was 17.0 °C (62.6 °F).

Land and Mountains Around Wolf Run

The elevation of the land where Wolf Run joins North Branch Mehoopany Creek is about 1,489 feet (454 m) above sea level. Where the stream starts, its source, the elevation is higher, at about 1,621 feet (494 m) above sea level.

Wolf Run is a "low-gradient" stream, meaning it doesn't drop very steeply. It falls at a rate of about 13.1 meters per kilometer (69 ft/mi). About 0.73 miles (1.17 km) upstream from its mouth, the stream is about 1.9 meters (6.2 ft) wide. It generally flows towards the south.

A mountain called Tyler Mountain is located just to the east of Wolf Run.

The Wolf Run Watershed

The watershed of Wolf Run covers an area of 3.45 square miles (8.9 km²). The entire stream is located within the United States Geological Survey map area known as Colley. It meets North Branch Mehoopany Creek at Colley.

Most of the land in the Wolf Run watershed is used for farming or has woodlots (small forests). A small part of the stream's length (18 percent) is within 100 meters (330 ft) of a road. More of it (75 percent) is within 300 meters (980 ft) of a road, and almost all of it (98 percent) is within 500 meters (1,600 ft) of a road. In 2000, about 7 people lived in each square kilometer of the watershed. This made it the most populated watershed of any named stream that flows into North Branch Mehoopany Creek.

History of Wolf Run

Wolf Run was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its special identification number in that system is 1191677.

A concrete bridge that carries Pennsylvania Route 87 over Wolf Run was built in Sullivan County in 1934. This bridge is about 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Colley. It is 26.9 feet (8.2 m) long. As of November 2014, about 657 vehicles crossed this bridge each day.

In 2001, scientists from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission visited Wolf Run. They studied the fish living there and did other research. They found that the water was too warm for wild trout to thrive everywhere. Also, the stream was too narrow to be part of the statewide trout stocking program, which adds fish to certain waterways.

Fish and Wildlife in Wolf Run

Wild trout naturally reproduce in Wolf Run. This means they lay eggs and hatch young fish all on their own, from the very beginning of the stream down to its mouth. Because of this, Wolf Run is classified as a Coldwater Fishery, which is a good habitat for cold-water fish like trout.

However, during the 2001 study, no game fish (fish that people usually try to catch for sport) were seen in Wolf Run. But seven other types of fish were found! These included:

• central stoneroller
• common shiner
• blacknose dace
• creek chub
• white sucker
• pumpkinseed
• tesselated darter