West Branch Schuylkill River

The West Branch Schuylkill River (also known simply as the West Branch) is an approximately 12.9-mile-long (20.8 km) tributary of the Schuylkill River in central Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA, with a watershed approximately 21 square miles (54 km2) in size. Several small communities are located in the watershed, which include Beaver Meadows, Buck Run, Glen Dower, Minersville, Pottsville, Cressona, and Schuylkill Haven. Mild amounts of acid mine drainage affect the West Branch and its tributaries. From its headwaters near Interstate 81, the river flows southeast through several water gaps in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, ending at its confluence with the Schuylkill River in Schuylkill Haven.[2]

West Branch Schuylkill River
West Branch
Topographic map of West Branch Schuylkill River watershed. The black line denotes the watershed boundary.
Location
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountiesSchuylkill
CitiesBuck Run, Glen Dower, Minersville, Pottsville, Cressona, Schuylkill Haven
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationBuck Run, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
 • coordinates40°42′45″N 76°18′27″W[1]
 • elevation1,200 ft (370 m)
MouthSchuylkill River
 • location
Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
 • coordinates
40°38′3″N 76°10′51″W[1]
 • elevation
600 ft (180 m)
Length13 mi (21 km)
Basin size21 sq mi (54 km2)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftDyer Run, Wagner Run, Wheeler Creek, Beaver Creek (Pennsylvania)
 • rightIndian Run, Panther Creek

Course

The West Branch's source is several small ponds east of Interstate 81, near the small community of Buck Run. The river flows east-northeast, paralleling Valley Road and later the Heckscherville Road. Near Heckscherville, it receives small tributaries Dyer Run, Wagner Run, and Wheeler Creek, all on the left bank. It then flows south and southeast past Minersville, and finally east through a narrow canyon, where it receives Indian Run on the right bank. After exiting the canyon, it turns south and enters an increasingly wide valley. At Cressona, it receives Panther Creek on the right bank and Beaver Creek on the left bank. As the river enters Schuylkill Haven it merges with the Schuylkill River on the right bank.[3]

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See also

References
  1. "West Branch Schuylkill River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  2. "EPA West Branch Schuylkill River TMDLs" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-02-16.
  3. https://maps.google.com
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