Monument Creek (Spring Brook tributary)

Monument Creek is a tributary of Spring Brook in Luzerne County and Lackawanna County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 2.8 miles (4.5 km) long and flows through Pittston Township in Luzerne County and Spring Brook Township.[1] The creek is considered to be a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery. It has one named tributary, which is known as Trout Creek. The surficial geology in the vicinity of Monument Creek consists of bedrock, Wisconsinan Till, alluvium, Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift, and fill.

Monument Creek
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationlake in Pittston Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
 • elevationbetween 1,620 and 1,640 feet (490 and 500 m)
Mouth 
 • location
Spring Brook in Pittston Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
 • coordinates
41°19′42″N 75°41′24″W
 • elevation
869 ft (265 m)
Length2.8 mi (4.5 km)
Basin features
ProgressionSpring Brook → Lackawanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay
Tributaries 
 • rightTrout Creek

Course

Monument Creek begins in a lake in Pittston Township, Luzerne County. It flows north-northeast for nearly a mile before passing through another pond and turning north. After a few tenths of a mile, it turns north-northeast again and exits Luzerne County. Upon exiting Luzerne County, the creek enters Spring Brook Township, Lackawanna County. It continues flowing north-northeast in a deep valley and re-enters Pittston Township, Luzerne County. It then turns northeast for a few tenths of a mile before turning north-northwest for several tenths of a mile, receiving the tributary Trout Creek from the right and crossing Pennsylvania Route 502 before reaching its confluence with Spring Brook.[1]

Trbituaries

Monument Creek has one named tributary, which is known as Trout Creek.[1]

Geography and geology

The elevation near the mouth of Monument Creek is 869 feet (265 m) above sea level.[2] The elevation near the source of the creek is between 1,620 and 1,640 feet (490 and 500 m) above sea level.[1]

The surficial geology in the vicinity of the lower reaches of Monument Creek mainly consists of alluvium and Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift. However, a glacial or resedimented till known as Wisconsinan Till is also present, as is bedrock consisting of conglomerate, sandstone, and shale. Further upstream, the surficial geology consists almost entirely of Wisconsinan Till and bedrock, but some fill is present as well. Near the headwaters, there are also small patches of alluvium and Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift, as well as one lake.[3]

At one point, Monument Creek flows through an embankment with a depth of approximately 150 feet (46 m).[4] A 36-inch (0.9-meter) water main has crossed Monument Creek, elevated at a height of 50 feet (15 m) above the creek.[5] Mount Pisgah is in the watershed of the creek.[3]

Watershed

Monument Creek is entirely within the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Avoca.[2] The creek is situated approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) from the community of Avoca.[4]

History

Monument Creek was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1199184.[2]

In the late 1800s, the water tank of the Wilkes-Barre and Eastern Railroad was located near Monument Creek.[4]

The Pennsylvania American Water Company has a permit for encroachment to modify or maintain an aerial utility line that crosses Monument Creek in Pittston Township, Luzerne County. They also have a permit to repair 90 feet (27 m) of the creek's streambank and install riprap.[6]

Biology

Monument Creek is considered to be a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery.[6]

See also

References
  1. United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, retrieved March 29, 2015
  2. Geographic Names Information System, Feature Detail Report for: Monument Creek, retrieved March 29, 2015
  3. Duane D. Braun (2007), Surficial geology of the Avoca 7.5-minute quadrangle, Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties, Pennsylvania, p. 17, retrieved March 29, 2015
  4. "The Body of an Unknown Man Found in the Woods", The Scranton Republican, p. 14, April 18, 1896, retrieved March 29, 2015 – via newspapers.com
  5. United States Geological Survey (1971), Scranton_166.pdf (PDF), retrieved March 29, 2015
  6. "Applications received under the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act (32 P. S. §§ 693.1--693.27) and section 302 of the Flood Plain Management Act (32 P. S. § 679.302) and requests for certification under section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.", Pennsylvania Bulletin, retrieved March 29, 2015
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