creek mile long tributary northumberland counties pennsylvania sources acid drainage creek watershed mined upper watershed 19th 20th centuries tributaries include streams watershed unaffected acid drainage higher number diversity fish species main stem passive treatment systems watershed coal mining watershed 19th century continues extent 21st century watershed course source strip mines eastern near heads west short distance crossing pennsylvania route entering picks tributary continues westward heading township goes strip mines begins paralleling miles passing communities boston run entering creek passes pennsylvania route goes plane leaving township creek enters soon entering township creek passes picking parallels pennsylvania route distance leaving creek stops paralleling pennsylvania route turns south gap leaving strip mines gordon picks little creek turns west creek briefly passing flows northern mountain leaving township creek enters enters flows westward number miles valley south north creek passes pennsylvania route valley creek passes flowing west goes township miles flows short distance leaves valley picks creek turns southwest passes cutting gap exiting point creek enters picks tributary distance west mouth north miles south tributaries tributaries include waste house run unofficially named tributaries local names big run big run creek unaffected acid drainage starts springs meets main stem strip mines tributary watershed tributaries include begins watershed area square miles contaminated sewage drainage tributary starts watershed area square miles mining watershed large quantities dissolved iron aluminum waters additionally trace amounts metals including copper lead traces numerous metals waters concentrations conform drinking water standards acid drainage sources watershed significant ones significant sources minute minute sources range iron concentrations sites ranges concentrations ranges stream ranges abandoned drainage ranges concentration dissolved oxygen ranges concentration watershed abandoned drainage ranges dissolved iron concentration stream ranges dissolved iron concentration abandoned drainage ranges dissolved aluminum creek ranges concentration abandoned drainage ranges dissolved concentration stream water ranges abandoned drainage ranges concentration dissolved waters ranges abandoned drainage creek watershed ranges dissolved concentration stream waters ranges concentration abandoned drainage ranges stream water concentration dissolved ranges abandoned drainage range concentration sites watershed maximum concentration concentration sites watershed maximum concentration concentration sites watershed places high concentration sites maximum concentration sites concentration maximum concentration sites concentration copper maximum concentration lead concentration sites maximum concentration maximum silver concentration concentration exceed concentration exceed maximum concentration water watershed enters watershed tunnels mainly gap water creek flows tunnels discharge creek locations ranges cubic feet second discharge acid drainage creek ranges cubic feet second discharge typically found higher march august sewage treatment plants larger communities watershed sewage disposal systems discharge sewage stream tributaries creek experiences atmospheric disposition type runoff geology geography watershed ridge lower creek watershed creek watershed runs northeast southwest running hunter rock formations watershed include found northern creek valley coal beds formation coal beds feet feet thick mining coal beds depths feet underground significant deposits creek downstream watershed number close parallel ridges valleys tend oriented direction creek east west highest elevation watershed feet sea level eastern watershed far lowest elevation watershed feet mouth elevations ridges tend feet feet sea level valleys feet feet lower stream bed iron crust near fish live area minerals acid drainage areas watershed include aluminum red found substantial watershed main rock types watershed rock occupies percent watershed sandstone occupies percent number tunnels contribute water large sections watershed mined areas upper watershed said resemble numerous large piles upper watershed buildings valley damaged underground mining watershed area watershed square miles square kilometers watershed northumberland square miles square kilometers located sources acid drainage watershed watershed population close people july tract land watershed converted wetland known swamp serves passive treatment system organization performed creek main stem creek divided basins basin drained tributaries upstream area square miles basin drained tributaries including little creek watershed basin area square miles basin downstream drains area creek flows mountain line mountain ending basin area square miles final basin drained downstream basin area square miles watershed percent forested land percent agricultural land percent barren mined land percent developed land upper percent forested land percent mined land percent developed land percent agricultural land upper watershed total municipalities watershed eastern edge watershed marked southern edge formed northern edge formed mountain drainage system watershed pattern pattern angular drainage pattern streams watershed tend relatively little main creek somewhat gordon near mouth close edge watershed near watershed history early history naming comes corruption word word means area owned european settlers arrived community named modern history people filed application lots terminus community formed march ran coal mines upper canal running pittsburgh course going planned late 19th century company waste production gas gas lighting underground surfaced mined upper watershed farming western watershed early 20th century deep mines ceased operation surface mines instead continued mining operations watershed total million short tons mined creek watershed yield state pennsylvania year 1910s drained creek large amounts flowed time layer coal banks creek feet mines remain active 21st century coal waste covered bridge crosses called built feet length passive treatment systems installed creek watershed creek wetlands created created biology fall species fish observed included black northern small bass rock bass october survey identified species fish individuals location species individuals species individuals creek mouth additionally individuals species fish observed mouth tributary found aforementioned sites fish species found include river banded shield brown trout observed watershed historically deer came creek consume salt second growth forests near run tributary recreation located immediately south nature trail walking trail creek dedicated catch release fishing bass bass permitted creek
Mahanoy Creek