South Branch French Creek (French Creek tributary)

South Branch French Creek is a 24.2-mile (38.9 km) long tributary to French Creek in Erie County, Pennsylvania. It is classed as a 3rd order stream on the EPA waters geoviewer site.

South Branch French Creek
Tributary to French Creek
View of West High Street Bridge over South Branch of French Creek, with Penn Railroad Bridge in background
Location of the mouth of South Branch French Creek
South Branch French Creek (French Creek tributary) (the United States)
Location
CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
CountyErie
Physical characteristics
Sourcedivide between East Branch Oil Creek and Spring Creek
  locationSoutheastern corner of Erie County, about 2 miles northeast of Spartansburg, Pennsylvania[1]
  coordinates41°51′50″N 079°38′42″W[2]
  elevation1,680 ft (510 m)
MouthFrench Creek
  location
about 1.5 miles west of Union City, Pennsylvania[1]
  coordinates
41°54′10″N 079°54′06″W[2]
  elevation
1,200 ft (370 m)
Length24.2 mi (38.9 km)
Basin size81.3 square miles (211 km2)
Discharge 
  locationwest of Union City, Pennsylvania
  average151.52 cu ft/s (4.291 m3/s) at mouth with French Creek[3]
Basin features
Progressionwest
River systemAllegheny River
Population5,059 (2010)
Tributaries 
  leftLilley Run
Hungry Run
Horton Run
  rightSpencer Creek
Baskin Run
Slaughter Run
Beaver Run
Pine Run
Bentley Run

Course

South Branch French Creek rises in Concord Township of southeastern Erie County, Pennsylvania and flows south towards Corry, Pennsylvania then turns west towards Union City, Pennsylvania. Many tributaries feed into it on its way to French Creek west of Union City.

Watershed

South Branch French Creek drains 81.3 square miles of Erie Drift Plain (glacial geology). The watershed receives an average of 47.7 in/year of precipitation and has a wetness index of 457.08.[4]

Tributaries

Tributaries to South Branch French Creek (French Creek tributary)
Name, BankRiver Mile (km)[5]Watershed Area in Square Miles (km2)[6]Average Discharge[6]Mouth Coordinates[7]Mouth Elevation[2]Source Coordinates[7]Source Elevation[8]Remarks
Mouth81.3 square miles (211 km2)151.52 cu ft/s (4.291 m3/s)41°54′10″N 079°54′06″W1,200 ft (370 m)41°51′50″N 79°38′42″W1,680 ft (510 m)South Branch French Creek rises in Concord Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania and flows through the boroughs of Corry and Union City to join French Creek west of Union City.
Horton Run, left bank0.88 mi (1.42 km)3.11 square miles (8.1 km2)6.22 cu ft/s (0.176 m3/s)41°54′11″N 079°53′13″W1,204 ft (367 m)41°51′36″N 079°50′56″W1,550 ft (470 m)Horton Run rises about 2.5 miles southeast of Hinkley Corners, Pennsylvania on the divide between it and West Shreve Run (Oil Creek). It then flows northwest to join South Branch French Creek about 1 mile west of Union City, Pennsylvania.
Bentley Run, right bank4.30 mi (6.92 km)4.10 square miles (10.6 km2)8.09 cu ft/s (0.229 m3/s)41°53′50″N 079°50′12″W1,266 ft (386 m)41°55′51″N 079°47′39″W1,520 ft (460 m)Bentley Run rises just upstream of Union City Reservoir, about 1 mile north of Union City on the divide between it, Alder Run and Pine Run. The stream then flows southwest to meet South Branch French Creek in Union City, Pennsylvania.
Pine Run, right bank8.96 mi (14.42 km)2.0 square miles (5.2 km2)5.45 cu ft/s (0.154 m3/s)41°53′33″N 079°47′07″W1,309 ft (399 m)41°56′07″N 079°47′29″W1,580 ft (480 m)Pine Run rises on the divide between Bentley Run and Beaver Run, about 2 miles northeast of Union City, Pennsylvania. The stream then flows south to meet South Branch French Creek east of Union City.
Hungry Run, left bank10.10 mi (16.25 km)4.47 square miles (11.6 km2)9.00 cu ft/s (0.255 m3/s)41°53′07″N 079°46′41″W1,319 ft (402 m)41°50′36″N 079°46′40″W1,550 ft (470 m)Hungry Run rises on the Britton Run divide about 3 northeast of Tillotson, Pennsylvania. The stream then flows north to meet South Branch French Creek about 2 miles southwest of Elgin, Pennsylvania.
Lilley Run, left bank13.20 mi (21.24 km)4.77 square miles (12.4 km2)9.73 cu ft/s (0.276 m3/s)41°53′26″N 079°44′32″W1,342 ft (409 m)41°50′55″N 079°43′46″W1,652 ft (504 m)Lilley Run rises in a pond on the divide between this stream and Stranahan Run. Lilley Run then flows north to meet South Branch French Creek about 0.5 miles west of Concord, Pennsylvania.
Beaver Run, right bank13.42 mi (21.60 km)6.87 square miles (17.8 km2)13.55 cu ft/s (0.384 m3/s)41°53′27″N 079°44′22″W1,342 ft (409 m)41°56′35″N 079°47′25″W1,505 ft (459 m)Beaver Run rises about 3 miles northwest of Beaver Dam, Pennsylvania on the Bentley Run divide. The stream then flows south to meet South Branch French Creek about 0.5 miles south of Elgin, Pennsylvania.
Slaughter Run, right bank15.24 mi (24.53 km)5.67 square miles (14.7 km2)11.47 cu ft/s (0.325 m3/s)41°54′06″N 079°43′08″W1,352 ft (412 m)41°56′58″N 079°44′28″W1,790 ft (550 m)Slaughter Run rises on the Herrick Creek divide about 2 miles northwest of Five Points, Pennsylvania. The stream then flows south to meet South Branch French Creek about 1 mile east of Elgin, Pennsylvania.
Baskin Run, right bank15.86 mi (25.52 km)4.86 square miles (12.6 km2)10.21 cu ft/s (0.289 m3/s)41°54′23″N 079°42′42″W1,358 ft (414 m)41°58′48″N 079°43′10″W1,832 ft (558 m)Baskin Run rises on the Hare Creek divide about 0.5 miles northwest of Five Points, Pennsylvania. The stream then flows south to meet South Branch French Creek about 0.25 miles west of Lovell, Pennsylvania.
Spencer Creek, right bank18.52 mi (29.81 km)3.38 square miles (8.8 km2)7.24 cu ft/s (0.205 m3/s)41°55′09″N 079°41′00″W1,371 ft (418 m)41°58′08″N 079°41′21″W1,820 ft (550 m)Spencer Creek rises on the Hare Creek divide about 0.5 miles south of Five Points and then flows south to meet South Branch French Creek about 1.5 miles west of Corry, Pennsylvania.

References

  1. "Union City Fish Hatchery Topo Map, Erie County PA (Union City Area)". TopoZone. Locality, LLC. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  2. "GNIS Detail - South Branch French Creek". geonames.usgs.gov. US Geological Survey. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  3. "South Branch French Creek Watershed Report". Waters Geoviewer. US EPA. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  4. "ArcGIS Web Application". enviroatlas.epa.gov. US EPA. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  5. "Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams" (PDF). PA DEP and US Geological Survey. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  6. "ArcGIS Web Application". epa.maps.arcgis.com. US EPA. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  7. "GNIS Feature Search". geonames.usgs.gov. US Geological Survey. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  8. "South Branch French Creek Topo Map, Erie County PA (Waterford Area)". TopoZone. US EPA. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
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