Luphers Run

Luphers Run is a tributary of Kern Run in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 2.9 miles (4.7 km) long and flows through Beaver Township and Beavertown.[1] The watershed of the stream has an area of 1.79 square miles (4.6 km2). The stream is impacted by acid deposition, low pH, low dissolved oxygen nutrients, and organic enrichment. However, wild trout naturally reproduce in it. A vernal pool system is located nearby. Flooding has been known to occur along the stream.

Luphers Run
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationlarge ridge in Beaver Township, Snyder County, Pennsylvania
 • elevation1,814 ft (553 m)
Mouth 
 • location
Kern Run in Beavertown, Snyder County, Pennsylvania
 • coordinates
40°45′08″N 77°10′38″W
 • elevation
584 ft (178 m)
Length2.9 mi (4.7 km)
Basin size1.79 sq mi (4.6 km2)
Basin features
ProgressionKern Run → Middle Creek → Penns Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay
Tributaries 
 • rightone unnamed tributary

Course

Luphers Run begins on a large ridge in Beaver Township. It flows north-northwest for several tenths of a mile before receiving an unnamed tributary from Bear Spring on the right. The stream then continues flowing north-northwest for more than a mile before reaching the bottom of the ridge. At this point, it turns northwest for a few tenths of a mile and enters Beavertown. In Beavertown, the stream turns north-northwest for a few tenths of a mile, crossing US Route 522 and reaching its confluence with Kern Run.[1]

Luphers Run joins Kern Run 1.34 miles (2.16 km) upstream of its mouth.[2]

Hydrology

Luphers Run is designated as an impaired waterbody. The cause of the impairment is nutrients and organic enrichment/low dissolved oxygen. The likely source of the impairment is municipal point source discharges.[3] Additionally, the headwaters of the stream are impacted by acid deposition and low pH.[4]

The Beavertown Municipal Authority is authorized to discharge sewage from the Beavertown Municipal Authority Sewage Plant into Luphers Run. Their permit to do so will expire in 2020.[5]

Geography and geology

The elevation near the mouth of Kern Run is 584 feet (178 m) above sea level.[6] The elevation of the stream's source is 1,814 feet (553 m) above sea level.[1]

Watershed

The watershed of Luphers Run has an area of 1.79 square miles (4.6 km2).[2] The mouth of the stream is in the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Beavertown. However its source is in the quadrangle of Beaver Springs.[6]

The designated use for Luphers Run is aquatic life.[3]

Flooding has been known to occur on Luphers Run in Beavertown and Beaver Township.[7]

History

Luphers Run was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1180080.[6]

Luphers Run has been used as a water supply for the borough of Beavertown.[8]

Biology

Wild trout naturally reproduce in Luphers Run from its headwaters downstream to its mouth.[9]

A site known as the Beavertown Vernal Pools is located in the vicinity of Luphers Run. The vernal pools are listed on the Snyder County Natural Heritage Inventory.[4]

See also

References
  1. United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, archived from the original on April 5, 2012, retrieved December 30, 2015
  2. Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, p. 93, retrieved December 30, 2015
  3. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2006 Waterbody Report for Luphers Run, retrieved December 31, 2015
  4. Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (December 2007), SNYDER COUNTY NATURAL HERITAGE INVENTORY (PDF), pp. 71, 103, retrieved December 31, 2015
  5. AUTHORIZATION TO DISCHARGE UNDER THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLICLY OWNED TREATMENT WORKS (POTWs), retrieved December 31, 2015
  6. Geographic Names Information System, Feature Detail Report for: Luphers Run, retrieved December 30, 2015
  7. Snyder County Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendix C - Hazard Profile (PDF), pp. 8, 10, retrieved December 31, 2015
  8. The State Water Plan: Subbasin 6 : Lower Central Susquehanna River, 1980, pp. 42, 54, 82, retrieved December 31, 2015
  9. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (October 2015), Pennsylvania Wild Trout Waters (Natural Reproduction) - October 2015 (PDF), p. 77, retrieved December 31, 2015
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