Basin size 1.46 sq mi (3.8 km) Basin area 3.78 km² | Length 5 km | |
Main source valley near the northern border of Plymouth Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
between 1,400 and 1,420 feet (430 and 430 m) River mouth Susquehanna River in Plymouth, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
515 ft (157 m) Progression Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay Discharge Average rate:
often dry | ||
Coal Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 2.9 miles (4.7 km) long and flows through Plymouth Township and Plymouth. The watershed of the creek has an area of 1.46 square miles (3.8 km2). A reservoir known as Spring Brook Reservoir Number Four is situated on the creek. The surficial geology near the creek includes Wisconsinan Till, Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift, alluvium, coal dumps, and bedrock consisting of sandstone and shale. On July 3, 2011, Coal Creek flooded when 5 inches (13 cm) of rain fell in the watershed in less than 90 minutes. The flood caused $5 million in damage. The creek is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery.
Contents
CourseEdit
Coal Creek begins in a valley near the northern border of Plymouth Township. It flows south-southwest for nearly a mile, passing through Spring Brook Reservoir Number Four. After passing through the reservoir, the creek continues flowing south-southwest for a short distance before turning south-southeast. After several tenths of a mile, its valley becomes significantly shallower and it turns southeast, entering Plymouth. A few tenths of a mile further downstream, the creek turns south-southeast. After several tenths of a mile, it crosses US Route 11 and later exits Plymouth, reentering Plymouth Township. A short distance further downstream, it reaches its confluence with the Susquehanna River.
Coal Creek joins the Susquehanna River 184.96 miles (297.66 km) upriver of its mouth.
HydrologyEdit
In the early 1900s, Coal Creek was described as having clear waters as far downstream as the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Railroad openings near an outcrop. However, downstream of that point, large amounts of mine water were pumped into the creek. The creek is often dry, but can experience short, high-rate floods on occasion.
Geography and geologyEdit
The elevation near the mouth of Coal Creek is 515 feet (157 m) above sea level. The elevation near the creek's source is between 1,400 and 1,420 feet (430 and 430 m) above sea level. As it descends over 800 feet (240 m) in less than three miles between its source and its mouth, the creek is a "rapid stream".
Since the Coal Creek Flood in 2011, 1,500 feet (460 m) of Coal Creek in residential areas have been protected with riprap and concrete walls. The creek is in the Wyoming Valley. Its headwaters are in mountains in Plymouth Township.
Reynolds Shaft is not far from the mouth of Coal Creek. The Baltimore Coal Company historically had a mine on the creek. A 100-year-old water main runs through the creek. The water main is made of cast iron and supplies water to a third of the Wyoming Valley.
For a significant portion of its length, the surficial geology of the watershed of Coal Creek features a glacial or resedimented till known as Wisconsinan Till, as well as bedrock consisting of sandstone and shale. Near the creek's lower reaches, alluvium, coal dumps, Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift, and land where coal was once surface mined.
WatershedEdit
The watershed of Coal Creek has an area of 1.46 square miles (3.8 km2). The creek's mouth is in the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Wilkes-Barre West. However, its source is in the quadrangle of Kingston.
The watershed of Coal Creek is extremely narrow in its lower reaches. It is considerably broader in its middle and upper reaches, but is still much longer than it is wide.
A reservoir known as the Spring Brook Reservoir Number Four is situated on Coal Creek approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) downstream of its source. This reservoir is at an elevation of 1,280 feet (390 m) above sea level. It is dammed and has a capacity of 6,000,000 gallons. In the early 1900s, another reservoir was present on the creek 0.5 miles (0.80 km) further downstream, at an elevation of 1,100 feet (340 m) above sea level. This reservoir held only 3,000,000 gallons and is known as Reservoir Number Three. Further downstream was Reservoir Number Two, which was at an elevation of 940 feet (290 m) above sea level and held 1,500,000 gallons.
Much of the flow of Coal Creek is diverted around a levee at one point. Some of the creek's flow also goes through storm sewers.
HistoryEdit
Coal Creek was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1172052.
Abijah Smith moved from Connecticut to Luzerne County in 1806 and purchased tracts of land on both sides of Coal Creek.
On July 3, 2011, a localized flooding event known as the Coal Creek Flood occurred. During the event, 5 inches (13 cm) or more of rain fell in 90 minutes in the watershed, causing "indescribable damage". After the flood, the municipalities of Plymouth and Plymouth Township began clearing the resulting debris and opening temporary access roads. However, the area did not qualify for federal aid, as the damage was highly localized. The flood is considered to be a 1000 year flood. However, the nearby Wadham Creek (less than a mile from Coal Creek) did not even overflow its banks.
In 2011, several Emergency Watershed Program projects were planned for the watershed of Coal Creek. Flooding on the creek in 2011 destroyed the nearby Coal Street and exposed a 100-year-old 36-inch water main.
The damage cost by the Coal Creek Flood in 2011 was upwards of $5,000,000. The total cost of repairing Coal Creek was $1,342,732.
BiologyEdit
Coal Creek is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery.