Gravel Run (Susquehanna River tributary)

Gravel Run is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 4.4 miles (7.1 km) long and flows through Rush Township and Upper Augusta Township.[1] The watershed of the stream has an area of 6.33 square miles (16.4 km2). A number of bridges cross the stream and a mill was also historically present along it. The stream is considered to be a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. It has a number of unnamed tributaries.

Gravel Run
Gravel Run
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationhill in southern Rush Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
 • elevationbetween 820 and 840 feet (250 and 260 m)
Mouth 
 • location
Susquehanna River in Rush Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
 • coordinates
40°55′18″N 76°42′59″W
 • elevation
436 ft (133 m)
Length4.4 mi (7.1 km)
Basin size6.33 sq mi (16.4 km2)
Basin features
ProgressionSusquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay

Course
Gravel Run

Gravel Run begins on a hill in southern Rush Township. It flows west for a few hundred feet and then turns southwest for a similar distance before turning west again. The stream then turns roughly to the north for more than a mile, flowing parallel to Pine Swamp Road for most of the distance and receiving an unnamed tributary. Its valley deepens in this area. The stream then reaches Klines Grove, where it receives another unnamed tributary and turns northeast, flowing along the border between Rush Township and Upper Augusta Township. After a few hundred feet, it makes an abrupt turn west before turning north-northwest. The stream's valley continues to deepen and after approximately a mile, the stream turns west and slightly south before gradually turning northwest and reaching Wolverton. In Wolverton, the stream reaches its confluence with the Susquehanna River.[1]

Gravel Run joins the Susquehanna River 130.58 miles (210.15 km) upriver of its mouth.[2]

Geography

Gravel Run enters the Susquehanna River on the river's left bank.[3] The elevation near the mouth of Gravel Run is 436 feet (133 m) above sea level.[4] The elevation of the stream's source is between 820 and 840 feet (250 and 260 m).[1]

Gravel Run forms a portion of the border between Rush Township and Upper Augusta Township.[5]

Watershed

The watershed of Gravel Run has an area of 6.33 square miles (16.4 km2).[2] Both the mouth and the headwaters of the stream are in the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Riverside.[4] The stream is one of the main streams in Northumberland County.[6]

History

Gravel Run has been contained in Northumberland County since the county was formed in 1772, when Pennsylvania was still a colony.[5] At the time, it was located in Augusta Township, but in 1785, Catawissa Township split off from Augusta, with Gravel Run part of the border between the two.[7] Three years later, in 1788, Ralpho Township split from Catawissa, and included the land that bordered Augusta; Ralpho was renamed Shamokin a year later.[7] In 1819, Rush Township was created by splitting Shamokin, with Rush on the Augusta border.[7] A year later, the triennial assessment listed Henry Lacock as the owner of a gristmill and a sawmill on Gravel Run in Rush Township.[8] The 1846 split of Augusta Township into Upper Augusta Township and Lower Augusta Township left Gravel Run as part of the border between Rush Township and Upper Augusta Township.[9]

Gravel Run was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1176010.[4]

Two bridges that are more than 20 feet (6.1 m) long have been built over Gravel Run. A concrete channel beam bridge was built over the stream in 1939 and repaired in 2003. It is 28.9 feet (8.8 m) long. A concrete tee beam bridge that is 26.9 feet (8.2 m) long was built over the stream in 1960.[10]

Bassett Campground is located near Gravel Run, in the stream's left floodway.[11]

Biology

As of August 31, 2011, the wild trout designation for Gravel Run is being considered. It has been proposed that the stream be designated as a stream with naturally reproducing trout.[12] The stream's Chapter 93 Classification is considered to be a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery throughout its drainage basin.[13][14]

See also

References
  1. United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, archived from the original on April 5, 2012, retrieved October 25, 2014
  2. Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, retrieved October 25, 2014
  3. United States Army Corps of Engineers (July 2003), Susquehanna River Flood Warning and Response System (PDF), p. 11, retrieved October 25, 2014
  4. Geographic Names Information System, Feature Detail Report for: Gravel Run, retrieved October 24, 2014
  5. Herbert Charles Bell, J. J. John (1891), History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, p. 19
  6. Sherman Day (1843), Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania, p. 524
  7. Herbert Charles Bell, J. J. John (1891), History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, pp. 727–28
  8. Herbert Charles Bell, J. J. John (1891), History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, p. 741
  9. Herbert Charles Bell, J. J. John (1891), History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, p. 699
  10. Northumberland County, retrieved October 25, 2014
  11. "Actions taken under Section 401: Federal Water Pollution Control Act: Encroachments", Pennsylvania Bulletin, retrieved October 25, 2014
  12. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (2014), Streams Being Considered for Wild Trout Designation, archived from the original on October 5, 2015, retrieved October 25, 2014
  13. Northumberland County Conservation Distriction Erosion & Sedimentation Control Plan Review: Fee Schedule (PDF), July 21, 2011, retrieved October 25, 2014
  14. Northumberland County Greenways and Open Space Plan (PDF), retrieved October 25, 2014
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