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Fishing Creek (North Branch Susquehanna River tributary)

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Fishing Creek is a 29.98-mile-long (48.25 km) tributary of the Susquehanna River in Columbia County, Pennsylvania in the United States.[1] It joins the Susquehanna River near the census-designated place of Rupert and the town of Bloomsburg. The watershed has an area of 385 square miles (1,000 km2).

Nomadic Native Americans arrived in the lower reaches of Fishing Creek around 8000 B.C and some spent winters in the upper reaches of the valley by 3000 to 2000 B.C. In the past few centuries, the Fishing Creek area has been home to many industries, mills, and dams. It drains parts of five Pennsylvania counties: Columbia, Montour, Sullivan, Luzerne, and Lycoming. The creek's main tributaries include Hemlock Creek, Little Fishing Creek, Green Creek, Huntington Creek, West Branch Fishing Creek, and East Branch Fishing Creek.

Public recreation activities include canoeing, birdwatching, and fishing. The creek is known for its trout population, which includes brook, brown and rainbow trout; it contains many other species of fish. Northern hardwood trees and ruffed grouse live in the surrounding area.[2][3]

Some areas contain significant amounts of algae because of leaking septic systems in the watershed. The area around its tributary West Creek is the least habitable part of the Fishing Creek area, according to a 2011 study. The water quality of the creek can vary. Its pH ranges between 4.9 and 8.5, while the concentration of dissolved oxygen ranges from 5 to 17.5 mg per liter. The creek's average discharge is 615 cubic feet per second (17.4 m3/s); its watershed contains gravel, shale and various loams—in particular the Albrights soil series and the Leck Kill soil.

Course

Fishing Creek in Sugarloaf Township

Fishing Creek's source is at 920 feet (280 m) above sea level in Sugarloaf Township, south of State Game Lands Number 13 and Pennsylvania Route 118, where East Branch and West Branch Fishing Creeks of southern Sullivan County meet in the northern reaches of Columbia County. The creek heads approximately due south with a few bends through Sugarloaf Township for about 2 miles (3.2 km). In the southern part of this township, it turns east for less than a mile and picks up Coles Creek—its first named tributary after the confluence of the East and West Branches. Coles Creek empties into Fishing Creek from the northeast.

Around this point, Fishing Creek turns sharply south into Benton Township and starts flowing parallel to Pennsylvania Route 487.[4][5] In Benton Township the creek flows four or five miles, including about a mile in Benton. While in Benton, the tributary West Creek parallels Fishing Creek, then empties into Fishing Creek from the west just south of Benton. Fishing Creek crosses under Pennsylvania Route 239 and continues approximately south, passing through the community of Maple Grove and flowing into Fishing Creek Township and Stillwater.[6] In Stillwater, Raven Creek empties into Fishing Creek from the northeast. In southern Fishing Creek Township, about 1.5 to 2 miles (2.4–3.2 km) south of Stillwater, the creek turns and picks up Huntington Creek, then flows past the communities of Zaners, Forks, and Pealertown while in Fishing Creek township.[7]

Upon leaving the township, about 1 mile (1.6 km) after picking up Huntington Creek, Fishing Creek flows southwest past Knob Mountain and into Orange Township.[7] 2 miles (3.2 km) downstream, Fishing Creek passes near the northern foot of Knob Mountain, passes by Orangeville and makes a 90° turn to the northwest. Shortly after this turn it picks up Green Creek and turns west. After some distance, it turns south again, passing Bowman Bridge and a gauging station. From this point, Fishing Creek flows along the border between Orange and Mount Pleasant Townships for almost 2 miles (3.2 km).[8] While on the border between these two townships, it flows past Kocher Park.[4] The creek stays considerably nearer to the western edge of the river valley than the eastern edge at this point. Near Lighstreet, Fishing Creek turns west into Mount Pleasant Township, passing several lakes and the Turkey Hill Oxbow. Upon entering Mount Pleasant Township, the creek stops paralleling Pennsylvania Route 487 and flows in the vicinity of Interstate 80 for 2 to 3 miles (3.2–4.8 km).[8]

Along the border of Mount Pleasant Township and Bloomsburg, Fishing Creek picks up Little Fishing Creek[4] before turning south and paralleling the western border of Bloomsburg.[8] As it flows between Bloomsburg and Fernville, Fishing Creek turns sharply westward, paralleling U.S. Route 11, and picks up Hemlock Creek. Shortly after picking up Hemlock Creek, Fishing Creek turns southeast under U.S. Route 11, then flows parallel to Pennsylvania Route 42 for slightly over 1 mile (1.6 km), picking up Montour Run from the right then emptying into the Susquehanna between Bloomsburg and Rupert. The Rupert Covered Bridge No. 56 crosses the main stem of Fishing Creek.[4][9] The mouth of the creek is 456 feet (139 m) above sea level—464 feet (141 m) lower than the source and 29.98 miles (48.25 km) downstream of the source.[10][1]

The Rupert Covered Bridge No. 56

Tributaries

Main article: List of tributaries of Fishing Creek (North Branch Susquehanna River)
The East Branch of Fishing Creek at the Sullivan County - Columbia County line

Fishing Creek has several major tributaries and numerous minor ones. The major tributaries are Hemlock Creek, Little Fishing Creek, Green Creek, Huntington Creek, and the East and West Branch Fishing Creeks. West Branch Fishing Creek rises on North Mountain and flows east into Fishing Creek. East Branch Fishing Creek is a tributary that starts on North Mountain in Sullivan County and is approximately 4.4 miles (7.1 km) long.[11]Huntington Creek starts in State Game Lands number 57 and heads southwest through Luzerne County until it reaches the north side of Knob Mountain, which it runs parallel to until it merges with Fishing Creek.[4] Huntington Creek drains the eastern and northeastern parts of the Fishing Creek watershed.[12] Four covered bridges cross Huntington Creek; these are the Twin Bridges-East Paden Covered Bridge No. 120,[13] the Twin Bridges-West Paden Covered Bridge No. 121,[14] the Josiah Hess Covered Bridge No. 122,[15] and the Huntington Mills Bridge.[16]

Green Creek rises near Waller[17] and heads roughly south to Rohrsburg[18] and on to Orangeville, where it joins Fishing Creek.[18] Green Creek drains the central part of the Fishing Creek watershed.[12] Little Fishing Creek starts just south of the boundary between Columbia and Sullivan Counties. The creek winds through rural areas before reaching Pennsylvania Route 42,[17][18] which it runs parallel to for the remainder of its length. It drains the western part of the Fishing Creek watershed. Four covered bridges cross Little Fishing Creek; these are the Wanich Covered Bridge No. 69, the Sam Eckman Covered Bridge No. 92, the Jud Christie Covered Bridge No. 95, and the Creasyville Covered Bridge.[19]

Other tributaries of the main stem include Coles Creek and West Creek near Benton, Raven Creek, in Fishing Creek Township, Hemlock Creek in Hemlock Township, Montour Run in Montour Township, and Deerlick Run and Stony Brook (Fishing Creek), both near Orange Township.[4]

Watershed

Fishing Creek drains most of Columbia County north of the Susquehanna River except for a small area in the eastern part of the county, which is drained by Briar Creek.[20] It also drains southern Sullivan County and western Luzerne County. Minor tributaries of Fishing Creek drain small portions of eastern Montour County and southeastern Lycoming County.[12] The watershed is 85 percent forest and 13 percent farmland. In its upper reaches, the other 2 percent is residential; downstream the remainder is urban.[21] Fishing Creek's drainage basin consists of a number of sub-watersheds. The largest ones are the Huntington Creek watershed, with an area of 114 square miles; the Little Fishing Creek watershed, with an area of 68.1 square miles; the Green Creek drainage basin, with an area of 36.9 square miles; and the West Branch Fishing Creek drainage basin, with an area of 32.9 square miles.[1]

Oxbow lake

Northern Bloomsburg and Scott Township include a small oxbow lake of Fishing Creek; the area around this lake is known as the Turkey Hill Oxbow.[22] It is located between the Interstate 80 and the forests on the side of Turkey Hill. The oxbow is on a flood plain and includes grasses, a large area of forested wetlands, and areas of open water.[23] The Turkey Hill Oxbow lake serves as an overflow for the waters of Fishing Creek during wet periods of the year. During dry periods of the year, however, there is only water in a few places there.[23]

Most land around the lake is steep.[22] They are covered by hemlock and hardwood forests, as well as skunk cabbage seeps.[23] The forests around the lake also contain black birch, yellow birch, white oak, red oak, sugar maple, tulip poplar, and Norway maple, while the understory contains slippery elm, European privet, Japanese barberry, American elderberry, wild hydrangea, witch hazel, mountain laurel, ironwood, and the rare American Yew. The American yew population was in significant decline by 2004 because of heavy grazing by deer.[23]

There are numerous wildflower species in the uplands and rock outcroppings of the Turkey Hill Oxbow. These include white baneberry, northern maidenhair fern, spikenard, blue cohosh, foamflower, False Solomon's Seal, purple trillium, and wild columbine.[23] Animals inhabiting the areas surrounding the pools include pickerel frogs, green frogs, wood ducks, and snapping turtles. Plants in this location include broadleaf arrowhead, Northern Blueflag, manna grasses, water starwort, and several varieties of sedges.[23] Japanese knotweed has been seen near Interstate 80 on the northern edges of the Turkey Hill Oxbow.[23]

History

Native American settlement

Nomadic Native Americans reached the area near the mouth of Fishing Creek by 8000 B.C.[24] For comparison, Native Americans first inhabited Pennsylvania between 16000 and 10000 B.C.[25] By 3000 to 2000 B.C., some of them went into the Fishing Creek valley during the winter to hunt deer and bears, and returned to the Susquehanna River in the summer, and trade routes were created. Permanent habitation did not occur until 1000 B.C. when some Native American villages were built at the mouth of Fishing Creek. The Native Americans who settled in this area included the Shawnee Indians and the Susquehannock Indians.[24][26] A Native American path ran along Fishing Creek from Bloomsburg to Orangeville before turning away in the direction of Tunkhannock Creek. Since at least 1769, there has been a path along Fishing Creek between the mouths of Huntington and Green Creeks.[20]

European settlement

The first lots at the mouth of Fishing Creek were surveyed in 1769, when European settlers began moving into the area and in the same year, the Penn family purchased 1060 acres (430 hectares) of land 2 miles (3.2 km) upstream of Benton.[3][20] In 1778, Moses Van Campen built a fort of logs covered with earth with a small swivel cannon on Fishing Creek to protect settlers on the frontier.[27] There were settlers in on the creek in Orange Township in 1780 and the Fishing Creek valley north of Orangeville, in what is now Stillwater, was first settled in 1783 by Daniel McHenry.[28][29] The headwaters of Fishing Creek were settled in late 1780s and early 1790s. Leonard Rupert established a ferry on the creek in 1786. The first sawmill on the upper portion of Fishing Creek was built in the late 1790s; it was destroyed in a flood in 1848.[30]

The first mill in Sugarloaf Township was built alongside Fishing Creek in 1802. Another mill on the creek in the same township was noted for its buckwheat flour. A schoolhouse had been built on the creek by 1806.[20] In 1818, John Barton built a flour and grist mill on Fishing Creek. This was destroyed by fire in 1855 and again in 1905, and was rebuilt, but it burned down again in 1932 and was not rebuilt.[31] Another gristmill stood on the creek until 1830, when it was converted into a paper mill. Iron ore was discovered in the area of Fishing Creek in 1822.[27] In 1844, an anthracite-burning furnace was built on the creek near Bloomsburg.[3] In the 19th century, an aqueduct was built across the creek. Another historic industry was the Susquehanna Slate Company, which operated on the creek in the late 19th century.[32] From approximately 1840 to around 1900, the wagon-making industry was important to the upper Fishing Creek area.[33] The Fishing Creek Confederacy, which occurred from August to November 1864 during the American Civil War, was a suspected uprising of a high number of deserters and draft evaders. 1,000 soldiers occupied and searched the Fishing Creek valley and the mountains at the Fishing Creek headwaters, but were unable to find any deserters. Nevertheless, 100 residents of Columbia County were arrested and imprisoned for desertion and draft evasion, although most were later released.[34] Starting in 1877, the Bloomsburg Water Company used Fishing Creek as its water supply. The Bloomsburg and Sullivan Railroad, which paralleled the creek, was built in 1888.[20]

There were limestone mines at the junction of Fishing Creek and Little Fishing Creek, but these have not been used since at least 1887.[35] During the Great Depression, a beach was constructed on Fishing Creek near Fernville by the Works Progress Administration. After Fishing Creek flooded in 1972 as a result of Hurricane Agnes, a flash flood warning system was installed there.[3] In 2002, some land from the Custer/Kocher homestead on Fishing Creek near Lightstreet was converted into a park called the Frank W. Kocher Memorial Park, which was later expanded to cover 7 acres (2.8 ha).[36] In the 21st century, the only significant industry in the Fishing Creek watershed is the Benton Foundry.[21] As of 2002, all that remains of the railroads on Fishing Creek are steel bridges.[3]

Hydrology

Main article: Hydrology of Fishing Creek (North Branch Susquehanna River)

Discharge

Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) downstream of Orangeville, Fishing Creek's discharge averages 615 cubic feet per second (17.4 m3/s) and its median discharge is 361 cubic feet per second (10.2 m3/s). The lowest recorded discharge since 1938, when the gauging station was set up, was 90 cubic feet per second (2.5 m3/s) in 1962 while the highest was 2,580 cubic feet per second (73 m3/s) in 1981.[37] Further upstream in Benton, the discharge is almost always less than 720 cubic feet per second (20 m3/s), and usually approaches zero during the summer. The typical discharge is around 540 cubic feet per second (15 m3/s). In years of drought, the streambeds of West Branch and East Branch Fishing Creeks typically run dry for 105 days over summer; even in wet years they are dry for an average of 5 days.[21] At a stream-gauging station near Bloomsburg, Fishing Creek's discharge ranged between 10 cubic feet per second (0.28 m3/s) and 5,350 cubic feet per second (151 m3/s) between 2002 and 2012. The lowest discharge recorded occurred on November 9, 2004, and the highest discharge recorded occurred on September 23, 2003.[38]

pH

Near Benton, Fishing Creek's pH ranges from around 5.6 to 7.25, while near Bloomsburg, a wider range was recorded, from 5.8 to 8.5.[21][38] Near Camp Lavigne, it ranges from 5.5 to 7.1. East Branch Fishing Creek is the only stream in the watershed whose pH drops below 5.5; it can fall as low as 4.9. West Creek and Coles Creek are the least acidic streams in the watershed, with pH levels usually above 6.3 and often above 7. Typically, the creek and its tributaries are not at risk of becoming too acidic for the optimal health of fish, but in early spring during snowmelts, the pH levels approach the limit that brook trout can tolerate. Fishing Creek's waters are acidic because of acid rain.[39]

Dissolved chemicals

Nonmetals

The concentration of dissolved oxygen in Fishing Creek ranges from approximately 5 to 17.5 mg/L at Benton. Between May 2010 and July 2011, the dissolved oxygen level for the streams in the watershed was highest in February 2011 and lowest in June, July, and August 2010. A site near Camp Lavigne had slightly less fluctuation, ranging from 8 to 17 mg/L.[21] The concentration near Bloomsburg between 2002 and 2012 ranged between 4.1 and 17.1 mg/L. The lowest concentration occurred on July 25, 2005, and the highest concentration occurred on January 6, 2009. The average concentration was 10.942 mg/L.[38] The concentration of carbon dioxide near Bloomsburg between 2002 and 2012 ranged from 0.3 to 34 mg/L. The lowest concentration was on April 6, 2006 and February 14, 2012. The highest concentration was on December 17, 2003. The average concentration was 2.04 mg/L.[38]

The total concentration of nitrogen near Bloomsburg between 2002 and 2012 ranged from 0.52 to 2.8 mg/L. The lowest concentration occurred on October 14, 2009, and the highest concentration occurred on January 13, 2003. The average concentration was 1.212  mg/L. The concentration of ammonia in the creek ranged from less than 0.02  mg/L to 0.06  mg/L. The highest concentration occurred on May 19, 2009. The total concentration of nitrates near Bloomsburg was always less than 0.04 mg/L.[38] The total concentration of phosphates at the gauging station near Bloomsburg between 2002 and 2012 ranged from less than 0.031 mg/L to 0.11 mg/L. The highest concentration occurred on May 19, 2009. The total concentration of phosphorus in the waters of Fishing Creek at the gauging station near Bloomsburg between 2002 and 2012 ranged from less than 0.01 mg/L to 0.575  mg/L. The highest phosphorus concentration occurred on July 5, 2011.[38]

The total concentration of dissolved solids near Bloomsburg ranges from less than 2 to 166 mg/L. The lowest concentration during that time occurred several times in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. The highest concentration occurred on September 23, 2003.[38]

Metals

In most places on Fishing Creek, there is not enough dissolved aluminum to be toxic, although East Branch Fishing Creek has aluminum concentrations of over 100  μg per liter, which approaches levels lethal to fish. Fishing Creek itself and all its other tributaries have dissolved aluminum concentrations of less than 70 μg per liter. The concentration is linked to the thawing of soils; aluminum trapped in frozen soils is released into the streams. Aluminum levels in the creek peak in March and April and drop to almost zero in the summer.[21]

The concentration of calcium at the gauging station near Bloomsburg has ranged from 5.5 mg/L to 26 mg/L. The lowest concentration occurred on February 6, 2008, and the highest concentration occurred on June 18, 2012. The concentration averaged at 7.532 mg/L. The concentration of magnesium at the gauging station near Bloomsburg has ranged from 1.5 mg/L to 6.7 mg/L. The lowest concentration occurred on November 1, 2006, and the highest was on June 18, 2012. The average concentration is 1.748 mg/L.[38]

Dams

Boone's Dam near Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

There is a lowhead dam referred to by locals as Boone's Dam on Fishing Creek near Bloomsburg. A dam was built on the creek in the northern reaches of Bloomsburg to power the nearby Irondale furnaces.[3][40] In 1818, a John Barton built another dam on the creek about 2 miles (3 km) north of Bloomsburg.[31] In the 19th and early 20th centuries, there were two other dams on Fishing Creek. One was in Orange Township and the other, a 212-foot (65 m) wide concrete dam, was in Orangeville.[20] A dam known as the Benton Dam was built on the upper reaches of the creekdirectly upstream of Benton.[21]

Water temperature

The highest water temperature in the watershed is at West Creek, which can reach 77 °F (25 °C) in the summer. The water temperature of Fishing Creek in Benton can reach 75 °F (24 °C) in the summer. Coles Creek only reaches 66 to 68 °F (19 to 20 °C) in the summer. In the winter, the water in the main stem is around 32 °F (0 °C) and West Branch Fishing Creek's temperature can drop to 28 °F (−2 °C) in the winter, making it the coldest stream in the watershed.[21] At a gauging station near Bloomsburg, the water temperature ranged from 32 to 78 °F (0 to 26 °C) between November 2002 and November 2012. The lowest water temperature was on January 10, 2011. The highest temperature occurred on August 3, 2006. The average temperature in August was 22.67 °C (72.81 °F) and the average water temperature in January was 1.92 °C (35.46 °F). The average temperature between 2002 and 2012 was approximately 12.03 °C (53.65 °F).[38]

Geology

The Fishing Creek valley in the Allegheny Front in the Deep Valley section of the Allegheny Plateau

The Fishing Creek watershed has been affected by glaciation, which has left a glacial till near the source and glacial outwash in the lower parts of the watershed. The watershed lies in two major geological regions. One is the Deep Valley section of the Allegheny Plateau, which contains the upper reaches of the watershed. The plateau is characterized by deep valleys and rounded mountains with elevations of around 2,400 feet (730 m). The other geological region is the Susquehanna Lowlands section, which is characterized by linear ridges of moderate elevation and valleys less steep than those of the Deep Valley region.[21] There are also flood plains along the creek.[41] Near its mouth, Fishing Creek cuts through Montour Ridge.[35] A basalt-containing section of the Catskill Formation extends to the banks of Fishing Creek in Hemlock Township.[42] Other rock formations along the banks of the creek include the Clinton Formation, the Selena Formation, the Lower Helderburg Formation, and the Hamilton Formation.[20] There is a terminal moraine, which crosses Fishing Creek near Benton.[43]

The bed of the creek contains red and brown shale in some places.[28] Other parts of the watershed lie over gray sandstone or conglomerates.[12] There are numerous deposits of iron ore and limestone in the lower sections of the Fishing Creek valley.[3] There are also some deposits of marble along the creek.[26] Most of the rock in the watershed, including the Trimmers Rock Formation and Catskill Formation, is from the Devonian Period, but some of the northernmost tributaries have watersheds on rock from the Mississippian Period, such as the Huntley Mountain Formation and Burgoon sandstone.[21] Fishing Creek is a freestone stream, although its water is colder than that of most eastern freestone streams.[44]

Areas along Fishing Creek contain pools followed by riffles, which are further followed by more pools. This configuration of pools and riffles creates an ideal situation for fly-fishing.[44] The lower part of Fishing Creek forms one side of a triangle of low-lying land in western Bloomsburg, which floods severely during heavy rains.[3]

Soil

The main soil in the area of Fishing Creek belongs to the Albrights series, which contains a 7-inch (18 cm)-thick layer of sticky, reddish-brown, gravelly silt loam. Below this is a layer of yellowish-red, gravelly, silty clay loam, which extends to approximately 30 inches (76 cm) below ground. Under this is a layer that contains equal portions of gravel and silty clay loam. Bedrock occurs several feet below the surface.[41] Another soil series in the drainage basin of Fishing Creek is the Leck Kill-Meckesville-Calvin series. The top 8 inches (20 cm) are dark brown silt loam with small pieces of sandstone and shale. Below this level is a subsoil of reddish-brown silt loam that occurs from 8 to 32 inches (20 to 81 cm) below ground. Beneath the subsoil there is a 6-inch (15 cm) layer of sticky clay loam, below which is a bedrock of red shale.[41]

The Barbour series occurs near the source of the creek. It is topped with a crumbly, 10-inch (25 cm)-thick layer of brownish-red silt loam. Below this is a loose subsoil of reddish-brown loam with some gravel. This layer can be easily penetrated by roots and water. Under this is a layer of reddish-brown gravel and sand, which extends to 10 feet (3.0 m) or more underground.[41] The Basher series also occurs along upper Fishing Creek. The top layer is a loose, crumbly, reddish-brown sandy loam extending to 9 inches (23 cm) underground. The subsoil is a loose, porous, reddish-brown sandy loam with some gravel, extending to 20 inches (51 cm) underground. Below this is a layer of red sandy loam with some gravel that extends from 15 to 30 inches (38 to 76 cm) underground.[41]

The Pekin series is found along Fishing Creek and its tributary Huntington Creek. The top layer is a dark brown silt loam that extends to 8 inches (20 cm) underground. Below this is a layer of brown silt loam with 10 percent gravel extending 16 inches (41 cm) underground. The subsoil is mottled, brown, silty clay loam with cobbles and extends to 40 inches (100 cm) underground. Bedrock occurs at a depth of 6 to 40 feet (1.8 to 12.2 m) underground. The Pekin soils near Fishing Creek contain more cobbles than typical Pekin soils.[41] Soils of the Chenango-Pope-Holly series have also been found along Fishing Creek.[43]

In 1914 the soils of the Fishing Creek watershed were found to yield large quantities of farm crops. Potatoes yielded 100 to 200 bushels per acre, corn 70 to 90 bushels per acre, oats 40 bushels per acre, wheat 20 to 30 bushels per acre, and hay one to two tons per acre.[43] J.H. Battle's History of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania states that the Fishing Creek valley is fertile.[45]

Biology

Benthic algae densely cover the bed of Fishing Creek, their preponderance attributed to leaking septic systems. At one location on the main stem downstream of Grassmere Park, algae coverage exceeds 60 percent. The dominant algal organism on West Branch Fishing Creek near the village of Elk Grove is Cladophora. The green algae Tetraspora dominates the stretch of Fishing Creek for 3 miles (4.8 km) downstream of Grassmere Park, where it covers 80 percent of the riverbed. South of Pennsylvania Route 239's crossing of the creek, the dominant algae are Microspora, Mougeotia, and Spirogyra. In the fall, decomposing algae covers 50 percent of the riverbed.[21]

36 species of macroinvertebrates live in Fishing Creek. The highest level of macroinvertebrate biodiversity on upper Fishing Creek is near Grassmere Park, while the lowest is in Benton. The number of macroinvertebrates per m2 on Fishing Creek ranges from under 200 in Benton to nearly 400 halfway between Coles Creek and Benton.[21]

Fishing Creek has populations of brook trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout, some (but not all) of which is stocked by the Fishing Creek Sportsman's Association.[21][44][46] Many of the trout are sizable; the largest trout caught in Fishing Creek weighed 8 pounds (3.6 kg) and was 28 inches (71 cm) long.[44] Although all streams in the watershed are suitable for trout habitation according the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, there are few brook trout in the watershed.[21] An 1887 book stated that Fishing Creek and its tributaries may have once been "alive with trout".[47] Wild brook trout are most common in West Branch Fishing Creek and fish in general are least common in East Branch Fishing Creek. West Creek has higher fish diversity than any other stream in the upper Fishing Creek watershed and is also the only place in the watershed that is inhabited by wild brown trout.[21] In addition, sculpin and cutlips minnow have been observed in large numbers on Fishing Creek and its tributaries. Less commonly observed fish in the Fishing Creek watershed include johnny darters, white suckers, and black-nosed dace. It is difficult for fish to spawn in Fishing Creek because of poor water quality near Benton, a lack of food, and because Fishing Creek's headwaters are dry for part of the year. The fish diversity in East Branch Fishing Creek and West Branch Fishing Creek is also significantly affected by episodic acidification, which is caused by acid rain falling in areas with no limestone in the bedrock. The main stem experiences similar problems, but to a lesser extent, and the tributaries Coles Creek and West Creek experience the problems even less.[21]

Northern hardwood trees are common in the Fishing Creek watershed.[12] Ruffed grouse are common along Little Fishing Creek and its tributaries north of Iola.[41] There are populations of Japanese knotweed, an invasive plant, along the creek and its tributaries south of Pennsylvania Route 118.[21]

Habitat quality

In 2011, the habitat quality of upper Fishing Creek and its tributaries were rated on a scale of 1 to 200 (with a higher rating indicating better habitability) by Point Park University and the Fishing Creek Sportsmans' Association. Most of upper Fishing Creek and its tributaries were rated 166 or higher, which was considered optimal. The waters near the mouths of West Branch and East Branch Fishing Creeks, and Fishing Creek near Benton, were rated 113 to 160, which was considered suboptimal. A portion of West Creek was rated 60-112, which was considered marginal.[21]

The highest density of aquatic macroinvertebrates in the watershed occurs at West Creek, where there are between 600 and almost 900 per m2. The lowest density of organisms occurs at a site on East Branch Fishing Creek, where there are approximately 100 organisms per m2. The density of organisms on the main stem of Fishing Creek ranges from slightly over 200 to slightly over 400 organisms per m2.[21]

The highest Shannon Diversity Index of any stream in the Fishing Creek watershed is around 2.75 on West Branch Fishing Creek. This value is closely followed by that of West Creek, which has an index of 2.5 to 2.6. The lowest value in the watershed is that of East Branch Fishing Creek, which is around 1.2. The main stem of Fishing Creek has a Shannon Diversity Index of 2.1 to 2.4, depending on the site.[21]

The Fishing Creek Sportsmans' Association has proposed a number of methods of conservation of Fishing Creek and its tributaries. These include the planting of riparian buffers, the elimination of leaky septic systems, and protection of the area from hydraulic fracturing.[21]

Recreation

Kocher Park, with Fishing Creek in the background

The Fishing Creek Watershed Association plans to open a section of Fishing Creek that stretches for 6500 feet (1980 meters) and covers 92 acres (37.2 ha) to the public. There are other tracts of public property along Fishing Creek, one of which is called the Power Dam, located 2 miles (3.2 km) upstream of Benton. It covers 19 acres (7.7 ha) and stretches for 2900 feet (880 meters) of Fishing Creek, and features the remains of a concrete dam. Another public area is the Benton Overlook 1 mile (1.6 km) from Benton, which covers 42 acres (17.0 ha) stretches for 2600 feet (790 meters) of the creek. A public site at the Zaners Bridge in Zaner 2.5 miles (4.0 km) downstream from Stillwater covers 31 acres (12.5 ha) along 1000 feet (300 meters) of the creek, and features an abandoned railroad grade.[48]

The Grassmere Park Campground is on Fishing Creek.[49] Further downstream near Lightstreet is Kocher Park, which occupies more than 7 acres (2.8 ha). Typical activities there include canoing, dog walking, birdwatching[36] and fishing.[50] Camp Creasy was on the edge of Fishing Creek in Mount Pleasant Township from the 1950s to the 1970s.[9]

See also

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Fishing Creek (North Branch Susquehanna River)

References

  1. ^ a b c Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, retrieved May 8, 2014
  2. ^ Columbia-Montour Visitors' Bureau. "Outdoor Recreation Guide" (PDF). Retrieved September 10, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h William M. Ballie, ed. (2002). Discovering Bloomsburg: A bicentennial history. Bloomsburg Bicentennial Committee. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Google Maps". 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  5. ^ USGS. "sugarloa.jpg". Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  6. ^ USGS (September 6, 2009). "Benton Township". USGS. Retrieved September 10, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b USGS (1979). "Fishing Creek Township". USGS. Retrieved September 10, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b c USGS (September 6, 2009). "Orange Township/Mount Pleasant Township". USGS. Retrieved September 10, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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  19. ^ "Covered Spans of Yesteryear—report. Select Pennsylvania for the state, Columbia for the county, and Little Fishing Creek for the feature crossed". Retrieved January 20, 2014.
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  22. ^ a b "Map6EnvironmentallySensitiveFeaturesMap" (PDF). Retrieved October 8, 2013.
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  25. ^ Paula W. Wallace (1961), Indians in Pennsylvania, retrieved April 11, 2014
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  29. ^ Battle, J.H. (1887). "Chapter X - Fishingcreek Township". Retrieved September 10, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ Battle, J.H. (1887). "Chapter XI - Sugarloaf and Benton Townships". Retrieved September 10, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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  33. ^ "Wagons of the Upper Fishingcreek Valley". March 17, 2007. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
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  35. ^ a b Beers, J.H. (1887). "Hemlock Township". Retrieved September 10, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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  40. ^ United States. Army. Corps of Engineers (2005). Town of Bloomsburg, Columbia County, Flood Damage Reduction Project, Integrated Feasibility Report: Environmental Impact Statement. Retrieved September 10, 2013. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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  44. ^ a b c d Williams, Mark (2007). So Many Fish, So Little Time. ISBN 978-0-06-088239-6. Retrieved September 10, 2013. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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