Indian Creek (Mauses Creek tributary)
Indian Creek (also known as Indian Run[1] or Indian Run Creek[2]) is a tributary of Mauses Creek in Montour County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 2.6 miles (4.2 km) and flows through Derry and Valley Townships.[3] The creek's watershed has an area of 1.92 square miles (5.0 km2).
| Indian Creek | |
|---|---|
 Vegetation near Indian Creek | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | valley in Derry Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania |
| • elevation | 840 to 860 feet (260 to 260 m) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Mauses Creek in Valley Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania |
• coordinates | 40°59′41″N 76°38′38″W |
• elevation | 489 ft (149 m) |
| Length | 2.6 mi (4.2 km) |
| Basin size | 1.92 sq mi (5.0 km2) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Mauses Creek → Mahoning Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
No stream in the watershed of Indian Creek is considered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to be impaired. Indian Creek has an elevation of 489 feet (149 m) above sea level near its mouth. There are 82 "disturbances" on the creek.[1] Interstate 80 crosses the creek.
Course
Indian Creek begins in a valley near the southern edge of Derry Township. It flows south for a few hundred feet before entering Valley Township. A few hundred feet further downstream, the creek turns southwest and flows in this direction for several tens of a mile. It then turns south-southwest for some distance, passing through a pond, before turning south and eventually crossing Interstate 80 and Pennsylvania Route 54. Shortly after crossing these highways, the creek reaches its confluence with Mauses Creek.[3]
Indian Creek reaches its confluence with Mauses Creek 1.20 miles (1.93 km) upstream of its mouth.[4]
Hydrology
No part of Indian Creek or any of its tributaries are considered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to be impaired.[5]
The runoff curve number at Indian Creek was 60.3 in 2010. By 2020, it is predicted to be 61.3. The stormwater lag time of the creek was 66.9 minutes in 2010 and is predicted to be 65.3 minutes in 2020.[6]
Geography and geology
Indian Creek has an elevation of 489 feet (149 m) above sea level near its mouth.[7] The headwaters of the creek are between 840 feet (260 m) and 860 feet (260 m).[3]
There are 82 features on Indian Creek that are considered to be "disturbances". 24 of these are erosion sites (13 of which are on the creek's left bank and 11 of which are on the creek's right bank), 10 of which are deposition bars, and 9 of which are bridges. Six of the "disturbances" are pipes, six are riprap, two are tributaries, one is a concrete wall, and one is a horse crossing.[1]
17 of the erosion sites on Indian Creek have streambank heights of less than 6 feet (1.8 m), 5 have streambank heights of 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 m), and 2 have streambank heights of more than 9 feet (2.7 m). Three of the erosion sites on the creek have bank angles of less than 45 degrees, thirteen have bank angles between 45 and 90 degrees, and eight have bank angles over 90 degrees. Two banks on the creek are made of bedrock or boulders, 12 are made of smaller rocks, and 10 are made of sand and clay.[1]
Eight erosion sites on Indian Creek are less than 50 feet (15 m) long. Of these, five have bank heights less than 6 feet (1.8 m) high, two have bank heights of 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 m) high, and one has a bank height of more than 9 feet (2.7 m). Five erosion sites on the creek are between 51 feet (16 m) and 100 feet (30 m) long. Of these, four have bank heights less than 6 feet (1.8 m) high, one has a bank height of 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 m) high, and two have bank heights of more than 9 feet (2.7 m). 11 erosion sites on the creek are over 100 feet (30 m) long. Of these, 8 have bank heights less than 6 feet (1.8 m) high, 2 have bank heights of 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 m) high, and 1 has a bank height of more than 9 feet (2.7 m).[1]
Watershed and history
The watershed of Indian Creek has an area of 1.92 square miles (5.0 km2).[4] The creek's watershed has 4.3 miles (6.9 km) of streams.[5]
Indian Creek is one of the main causes of flooding in Valley Township.[8]
A pair of bridges carrying Interstate 80 were built over Indian Creek in 1963. They are both 214.9 feet (65.5 m) long.[9] A road runs alongside the creek for at least part of its length.[10] Township Road 371 also crosses the creek. It once underwent a replacement at a cost of $1,120,000.[2]
Biology
Three of the banks on Indian Creek are more than 60 percent covered in vegetation. 11 of the banks are between 30 and 60 percent covered in vegetation and 10 banks are less than 30 percent covered.[1] There are riparian buffers along the creek.[10]
The Montour County Natural Areas Inventory describes Indian Creek as "of ecological value".[10]
See also
References
- An Assessment of Bank Erosion Along Indian Run (PDF), retrieved July 11, 2014
- Montour County (PDF), retrieved July 12, 2014
- United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, archived from the original on April 5, 2012, retrieved July 11, 2014
- Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, retrieved July 11, 2014
- Montour County Conservation District (December 2009), Montour County Implementation Plan For The Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2014, retrieved July 12, 2014
- Herbert, Rowland; Grubert, Inc. (June 2010), Montour County Act 167 County-Wide Stormwater Management Plan Phase II (PDF), retrieved July 11, 2014
- Topographic Map Stream Features in Montour County, Pennsylvania, archived from the original on July 14, 2014, retrieved July 11, 2014
- Montour County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (PDF), July 2008, retrieved July 12, 2014
- Montour County, retrieved July 12, 2014
- Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy (2005), MONTOUR COUNTY NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY 2005 (PDF), retrieved July 12, 2014