Spring Run (West Branch Susquehanna River tributary)

Spring Run (also known as The Gut) is a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 2.3 miles (3.7 km) long and flows through Delaware Township and Watsontown.[1] The watershed of the stream has an area of 1.34 square miles (3.5 km2). The stream is designated as an impaired waterbody due to sedimentation/siltation and unknown causes. The stream is classified as a Warmwater Fishery.

Spring Run
The Gut
Spring Run looking upstream
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationshallow valley in Delaware Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
 • elevation551 ft (168 m)
Mouth 
 • location
West Branch Susquehanna River in Watsontown, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
 • coordinates
41°05′18″N 76°52′28″W
 • elevation
449 ft (137 m)
Length2.3 mi (3.7 km)
Basin size1.34 sq mi (3.5 km2)
Basin features
ProgressionWest Branch Susquehanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay

Course
Spring Run looking downstream

Spring Run begins in a shallow valley in Delaware Township. It flows northwest for a few tenths of a mile before turning west-northwest for several tenths of a mile. The stream then heads in a west-southwesterly direction for several tenths of a mile, entering Watsontown. In Watsontown, it continues flowing west-southwest for several tenths of a mile, crossing a railroad. The stream then turns west for a few tenths of a mile, reentering Delaware Township and crossing Pennsylvania Route 405. In then turns south-southwest for a short distance, reentering Watsontown and reaching its confluence with the West Branch Susquehanna River.[1]

Spring Run joins the West Branch Susquehanna River 16.54 miles (26.62 km) upstream of its mouth.[2]

Hydrology

Spring Run is designated as an impaired waterbody. The causes of impairment are an unknown cause and sedimentation/siltation. The probable sources of impairment are agriculture and urban runoff/storm sewers.[3]

Geography and geology

The elevation near the mouth of Spring Run is 449 feet (137 m) above sea level.[4] The elevation of the stream's source is 551 feet (168 m) above sea level.[1]

Watershed
Algae and plantlife in Spring Run

The watershed of Spring Run has an area of 1.34 square miles (3.5 km2).[2] The stream is entirely within the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Milton.[4] Its mouth is located at Watsontown.[2]

In the early 1970s, approximately 71 acres (29 ha), or 8.56 percent of the watershed of Spring Run, was residential land. Out of this, a total of 45.75 acres (18.51 ha) were suburban, 18.00 acres (7.28 ha) were mobile homes, and 7.35 acres (2.97 ha) were rural non-farm areas. A total of 3.24 acres (1.31 ha), or 0.39 percent of the stream's watershed, was commercial land.[5]

The designated use for Spring Run is aquatic life.[3] The stream is classified as a Warmwater Fishery.[6]

History

Spring Run was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1188261. The stream is also known as The Gut.[4] This alternative name appears in various sources.[7]

In 2015, Warrior Run Community Corp was issued a permit to construct a new pedestrian bridge over Spring Run for an existing walking trail. The proposed bridge was described as being a timber pedestrian bridge with a length of 30 feet (9.1 m).[6] Moran Industries once applied for a permit to discharge stormwater into the stream during construction activities.[8]

See also

References
  1. United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, retrieved January 15, 2016
  2. Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, p. 134, retrieved January 15, 2016
  3. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2006 Waterbody Report for Spring Run, retrieved January 15, 2016
  4. Geographic Names Information System, Feature Detail Report for: Spring Run, retrieved January 15, 2016
  5. Buchart-Horn (1971), Watsontown Area Joint Comprehensive Plan: Borough of Watsontown, Township of Delaware, Borough of McEwensville, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, p. 32
  6. "Water obstructions and encroachments", Pennsylvania Bulletin, June 27, 2015, retrieved January 15, 2016
  7. Geographic Names Information System, Variant Citation, retrieved January 15, 2016
  8. "Approvals to use NPDES and/or other general permits", Pennsylvania Bulletin, retrieved January 15, 2015
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