0 Quick Facts 7.1 Mahantango Creek

7.1 MAHANTANGO CREEK

Description

The Mahantango Creek watershed encompasses 164.6 square miles, 28.5 square miles of which are within northern Dauphin County. Originating in Schuylkill County, this large stream flows generally northeast to southwest to its junction with the Susquehanna River in Upper Paxton Township. Pine Creek, located in the northeast corner of Dauphin County, is a major tributary.

This watershed is very rural in character, with a low population density and the vast majority of land use in agriculture and forestland. Populated areas in Dauphin County include the boroughs of Pillow and Mahantango Creek before entering the Susquehanna River. Gratz. Topography is characteristic of the ridge and valley province, dominated by flat to moderately sloping land of the valley floor with steeper slopes QUICK FACTS found on the mountains and ridges that are composed mainly of red sandstone. Watershed Size:

DEP Classification 164.6 mi 2 28.5 mi 2 in Dauphin County The main stem of the stream is classified by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as Stream Miles: 56.1 a warm water fishery (WWF). Pine Creek is Impaired Stream Miles: 2.3 classified as a cold-water fishery (CWF). DEP lists Mahantango Creek watershed a section of Pine Creek in Dauphin County as Land Uses: Predominantly forest impaired by siltation and nutrients, both sources of and agriculture pollution are attributed to agricultural activities. DEP Stream Classification: Site Locations Pine Creek – CWF Main Stem and Deep Creek – WWF Five locations were monitored in the Mahantango creek watershed; three on the main stem and one DEP Listed Impairments: site each on Deep Creek and Pine Creek. The locations of these sites are described in Figure 7.1 Pine Creek - Siltation from agricultural activities below. - Nutrients from agricultural activities

Watershed Municipalities: Study Results Williams Twp, Lykens Twp, Gratz, Mifflin Twp, Pillow, Three sites, 2, 4 and 5, were located along the main Upper Paxton Twp, Wiconisco Twp stem of the Mahantango Creek. Site 2, the furthest upstream, was located at Spain Road and site 5, the furthest downstream, was located at Malta Road. Site health scores decreased from good to poor from the upstream to the downstream site. Site 2, rated as good, had a high number of macroinvertebrates and a high percentage of pollution sensitive types. Site 4, at Mahantango Creek Road, rated as fair. Site 5, rated as poor, had few representatives of the pollution sensitive types.

Two tributaries were also monitored. Pine Creek, site 1, was monitored at Erdman Road. This site had a health score rated as good. Total number of macroinvertebrates and total number of sensitive types were high at this site. Deep Creek, site 3, was monitored at Luxemburg Road. The health score here was rated as poor. This site was dominated by tolerant macroinvertebrates. 0 Figure 7.1

Stream Health: Good Fair Poor

Figure 7.1a Mahantango Creek Macroinvertebrates

Types perSample 5

0 1 2 3 4 5

Sample Site

Types of Macroinvertebrates Pollution Sensitive Types

Figure 7.1b Mahantango Health Score

100 90 80 70 60 50

IBI (%) IBI 40 30 20 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 Sample Site

2 7.2 WICONISCO CREEK

Description

The Wiconisco Creek watershed encompasses an area of approximately 102 square miles in northern Dauphin County, and 14.2 mi 2 outside of the county, classifying its size as a large stream. Originating in Schuylkill County, the creek flows generally east to west to its junction with the Susquehanna River at Millersburg Borough. Two significant tributaries enter the Wiconisco Creek at Lykens. Bear Creek enters from the north and Rattling Creek enters from the south. Wiconisco Creek’s largest tributary, Little Wiconisco Creek, enters farther west near Millersburg Borough. Many smaller un-named tributaries join Wiconisco Creek between Loyalton and Millersburg. Wiconisco Creek before entering the Susquehanna River

QUICK FACTS Rural in character, population density is low with Wiconisco Creek watershed the vast majority of land use in agriculture and Watershed Size: 116.2 mi 2, forestland. Population centers include several 14.2 mi 2 in small boroughs. Topography is characteristic of Dauphin County the ridge and valley province, dominated by flat to moderately sloping land of the valley floor. Land Uses: Primarily Steeper slopes are found on the mountains and Agriculture and Forested ridges that form the basin boundary. The ridges of the Wiconisco Creek watershed are composed Stream Miles: 161.7 mainly of red and gray sandstone and conglomerate. The valley is underlain with Impaired Stream Miles: 58.9 sandstone and shale. A portion of the eastern section of the watershed is underlain with coal. DEP Stream Classification:

Rattling Creek East and West Branch – EV DEP Classification Rattling Creek E/W Branch confluence to mouth – HQ- CWF The main stem of Wiconisco Creek is classified as Bear Creek – CWF a WWF. Some tributaries to Wiconisco Creek (source to Route 209 at Bridge) are listed as CWF DEP Listed Impairments: while other tributaries from this bridge to the river are identified as Warm Water Fishery (WWF). Little Wiconisco Creek – Siltation and nutrients from agriculture activities Bear Creek is listed as a Coldwater Fishery Bear Creek – Metals from AMD (CWF). Rattling Creek’s East and West Branches Wiconisco Creek headwaters – Metals from AMD are classified as Exceptional Value (EV) with their confluence to the Wiconisco Creek classified Watershed Municipalities as a high quality cold water fishery (HQ-CWF). The Little Wiconisco Creek is identified as a Rush Twp, Jefferson Twp, Jackson Twp, Williams, Williamstown, Washington Twp, Elizabethville, WWF. PA DEP lists a portion of Wiconisco Wiconisco Twp, Upper Paxton Twp, Millersburg, Mifflin Creek and several of its tributaries in the Twp, Lykens Borough, Lykens Twp, Berrysburg, Gratz watershed as impaired for one or more of their designated uses. A section of the Wiconisco Creek in the headwaters area is impaired by metals 3 and low pH from abandoned mine drainage (AMD). Bear Creek is also listed as impaired by metals caused by AMD. Little Wiconisco Creek also appears on the list due to siltation and nutrient impairments attributed to agricultural activities. A few small tributaries of Wiconisco Creek are also listed due to similar impacts from agricultural activities.

Site Locations

Nine Locations were monitored within the Wiconisco Creek watershed. Three sites on the main stem of the watershed, three on Little Wiconisco Creek, one on Rattling Creek, one on Bear Creek, and one on a small tributary called White Creek. The locations of these sites are described in Figure 7.2 below.

Study Results

Nine sites were monitored in the Wiconisco Creek watershed. Three sites were located on the main stem. Site 4, the furthest upstream was located at Fisher Road. Site 7 was located at Shiffers Mill Road. The furthest site downstream, site 8, was located at Power Company Road. Sites 4 and 7 were both ranked as poor with low numbers of total pollution sensitive macroinvertebrates. Site 7 had very little aquatic life and no sensitive macroinvertebrates. At site 8, the health rating was fair with a high percentage of sensitive types.

Three sites were located on the Little Wiconisco Creek. Site 5, the furthest upstream was located at Kessler Road. Site 6 was located at Sam’s Road. Site 9, the furthest downstream was located in Millersburg. All sites ranked as poor. Although site 6 had many types of macroinvertebrates in the sample, there were very few sensitive types in relation to the total percentage of macroinvertebrates.

Rattling Creek, an Exceptional Value stream, had one site, site 2, located at Edward Street in Lykens Borough. This site ranked as good with a balanced community of macroinvertebrates.

Site 1 was located on Bear Creek, just upstream of its confluence with the Wiconisco Creek. No aquatic life was found.

Site 3 was located on White Creek at Old Specktown Road. This site was rated as fair with a good balance of total macroinvertebrates and sensitive types. A complete set of metrics calculations for Wiconisco Creek can be found in Appendix VI.

5 Figure 7.2

Stream Health: Good Fair Poor

Figure 7.2a Wiconisco Creek Macroinvertebrates

TypesSample per 5

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Sample Site

Types of Macroinvertebrates Pollution Sensitive Types

Figure 7.2b Wiconisco Health Score

100

90 80 70

(%) IBI 40 30

20 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Sample Site

7.3 ARMSTRONG CREEK

Description

The Armstrong Creek watershed encompasses an area of approximately 32.5 square miles in northern Dauphin County. The entire watershed lies within Dauphin County. Armstrong Creek begins between Broad Mountain and Berry Mountain in north central Jackson Township. It flows generally southwest to where a tributary, New England Run, flows into it. Armstrong Creek discharges into the Susquehanna River near Halifax. The watershed is very rural in character with low population density. Land use in the Armstrong Creek basin is predominantly agriculture. Forested land is found mostly on the slopes of the mountains forming the basin and along stream corridors. Two small villages, Fisherville and Armstrong Creek before entering the Susquehanna River. Enders, and the Borough of Halifax are the largest concentrations of development. Topography throughout the basin is dominated by flat to moderately sloping land of the valley floor. Steeper slopes are found on the mountains and QUICK FACTS ridges that form the basin boundary.

DEP Classification Watershed Size: 32.5 mi 2 in Dauphin County Conley Run, a tributary of Armstrong Creek, is a CWF from its headwaters to where it enters the Stream Miles: 72.1 main stem. Armstrong Creek is classified as a Impaired Stream Miles: 11.1 Armstrong Creek watershed Warm Water Fishery (WWF) with a section of the main stem and several relatively small tributaries Land Uses: Predominantly forest listed as impaired by siltation caused by and agriculture agricultural activities. The Creek is a Trout Stocked Fishery (TSF). DEP Stream Classification:

HQ-CWF – Segment of Conley Run Site Locations CWF – Conley Run to confluence with main stem WWF , TSF – Confluence to mouth Five sites were located on the main stem of Armstrong Creek, two on Conley Run, and one DEP Listed Impairments: site was located on New England Run. Figure 7.3 seen below, describes the location of each site. Siltation from agricultural activities in small sections

Watershed Municipalities: Study Results Halifax Twp, Jackson Twp, Jefferson Twp, Wayne Twp Sites 1, 3, and 5, located on the main stem from the headwaters to Enders road all rated as good with balanced aquatic communities. Site 6, at Rutter Road, rated as poor with little diversity. Site 8, farthest downstream at Deppen Park, rated as fair. Both sites, 6 and 8, had fairly low numbers of sensitive macroinvertebrates.

8 Two sites, site 2 at Wolf Hole Road and site 4 at Millers church Road were located on Conley Run. Despite having a relatively high total number of macroinvertebrates, Site 2 was rated as fair due to a low percentage of sensitive types. Site 4 rated as good with a higher percentage of sensitive macroinvertebrates.

Site 7 was located on New England Run at Tobias Road. This site rated as good, indicating a balanced aquatic community with a high percentage of sensitive macroinvertebrates. A complete set of metrics calculations for Armstrong Creek can be found in Appendix VI.

9 Figure 7.3

Stream Health: Good Fair Poor

Figure 7.3a Armstrong Creek Macroinvertebrates

25 20

15 10 5

Types per Sample 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Sample Site

Types of Macroinvertebrates Pollution Sensitive Types

Figure 7.3b Armstrong Health Score

100

IBI (%) IBI 40

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sample Site

7.4 POWELLS CREEK

Description

The Powells Creek watershed drains an area of approximately 39.6 square miles in north central Dauphin County. The entire watershed lies within Dauphin County. Two streams, a north fork and a south fork, originate on the forested slopes between Peters Mountain and Broad Mountain. Both forks flow west and join about 2 miles west of Carsonville. Powells Creek continues west flowing into the Susquehanna River about four miles southwest of Halifax Borough. This watershed is long, about 20 miles and narrow, typically about two miles wide but with a broad valley floor. The main stem of the creek collects several small tributaries from the north and south. Powells Creek before entering the Susquehanna River.

The watershed is mostly forested with a significant amount of agricultural land. Residential development is currently limited QUICK FACTS primarily in the form of frontage lots. Slightly

more dense residential use is found in the western 2 end of the basin in and near the village of Watershed Size: 39.6 mi in Dauphin County Matamoras. Commercial and industrial uses are not significant in the watershed. Stream Miles: 78.9

Topography throughout the basin is dominated by Impaired Stream Miles: 3.0 flat to moderately sloping land of the valley floor. Land Uses: Predominantly agriculture Powells Creek watershed Steeper slopes are found on the mountains and ridges that form the basin boundary. and forest Powells Creek watershed DEP Stream Classification: DEP Classification North and South Forks – CWF The North Fork and South Fork of Powells Creek Powell Creek – TSF are both classified as CWF. From the confluence of the North and South Forks to the mouth, DEP Listed Impairments:

Powells Creek is classified as trout stocking Section of the main stem and an unnamed tributary – fishery (TSF). A very small section of the creek Siltation from agriculture activities and a small tributary are listed as impaired by siltation caused by agricultural activity. Watershed Municipalities:

Site Locations Reed Twp, Halifax Twp, Wayne Twp, Jefferson Twp

Powells Creek is surrounded by two mountain ridges with stream water flowing from each side, into the valley. Before joining together as the main stem of Powells Creek, the two streams are known as the North and South Branches. One site was located on the North Branch, one on the South Branch, and four on the main stem of Powells Creek.

Study Results

Six sites were located on Powells, Creek. Site 3, 4, 5 and 6 were located on the main stem from Back Road to Mountain Road. All sites rated as good with abundant aquatic communities and high percentages of sensitive types. Site 4 had the highest score of any site in the County.

Site 1, on the North Branch of Powell’s Creek at Back Road, and site 2 on the South Branch of Powell’s Creek at Carsonville Road, also rated as good. Site 1 exhibited a balanced community of tolerant and sensitive species. Site 2 exhibited a high percentage of sensitive species. A complete set of metrics calculations for Powells Creek can be found in Appendix VI.

Figure 7.4

Stream Health: Good Fair Poor

Figure 7.4a Powells Creek Macroinvertebrates

Sample Typesper 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sample Site

Types of Macroinvertebrates Pollution Sensitive Types

Figure 7.4b Powells Health Score

100 90 80

60 50

(%) IBI 40 30

10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sample Site

7.5 CLARK CREEK

Description

The Clark Creek watershed drains an area of 43.1 square miles in central Dauphin County. The watershed is a long narrow basin approximately 25 miles long with an average width of about 1.5 miles. The stream flows west joining the Susquehanna River northeast of Dauphin Borough. There are no significant tributaries only small streams draining the steep mountainsides; Third and Stony Mountain to the south and Peters Mountain to the north.

The vast majority of the watershed is forested with a significant amount of land in public ownership. Population density is very low. The City of Harrisburg has constructed and maintains a water supply reservoir Clark Creek before entering the Susquehanna River. on the main stem of the stream in Rush Township. The reservoir is one of the main sources of drinking water for the city and surrounding area. Topography is typical of the Ridge and Valley physiographic province in QUICK FACTS Pennsylvania. The ridges of the Clark Creek watershed are composed mainly of red and gray sandstone with some conglomerate. The valley is underlain with 2 sandstone and shale. Watershed Size: 43.1 mi in Dauphin County

DEP Classification Stream Miles: 46.9

Clark Creek is classified as a High Quality – Cold Impaired Stream Miles: 0 Water Fishery (HQ-CWF) designated special protection waters. The creek is also classified as a Trout Stocking Land Uses: Predominantly forest Clark Creek watershed Fishery (TSF). DEP Stream Classification:

Site Locations High Quality, Cold Water Fishery Trout Stocking Fishery Three sites were located on Clark Creek, all on the main stem. Site 1, furthest upstream was located above the DEP Listed Impairments: Dehart Dam. Site 2 was located at the intersection of the creek and Appalachian Trail. Site 3 was located None furthest downstream at McKelvey Road. Watershed Municipalities:

Study Results Middle Paxton Twp, Rush Twp

The sites increased in health rating from poor to fair to good from site 1 to 3. Site 1 indicated a relatively low diversity and an abundance of pollution tolerant black fly larva. Although site 2 improved to a fair rating, sensitive species were fairly low. Site 3 indicated a diverse aquatic community, accounting for its rating as high.

16 Clark Creek is listed by DEP as a High Quality Stream, which makes the results of sites 1 and 2 somewhat enigmatic. Additional data and analysis will be needed to determine why these samples ranked as they did. The complete table of Metrics calculations for Clark Creek can be found in Appendix VI.

17 Figure 7.5

Stream Health: Good Fair Poor

Figure 7.5a Clark Creek Macroinvertebrates

Types Sample per 5

0 1 2 3 Sample Site

Types of Macroinvertebrates Pollution Sensitive Types

Figure 7.5b Clark Health Score

100 90 80

70 60 50

(%) IBI 40

20 10 0 1 2 3 Sample Site

7.6 STONY CREEK

Description

Located between Second and Third Mountains in central Dauphin County, Stony Creek watershed drains an area of 24.0 square miles, with 11.6 mi 2 extending outside of the county. This mid-reach watershed is a long narrow basin about 21 miles long and 1.5 miles wide. Originating in northern Lebanon County, the Creek flows west to the Susquehanna River at Dauphin Borough. Two significant tributaries, Rausch Creek and Rattling Run, drain small valleys located near the top of Third Mountain and paralleling the main basin.

The vast majority of the watershed is forested with over 80% of its land area in Pennsylvania Game Stony Creek before entering the Susquehanna River. Lands. The small portion of the watershed that is not forested is located at its western end. Population density for the majority of the watershed is very low. Dauphin Borough is the only population center QUICK FACTS in the watershed. Topography is typical of the Ridge and Valley physiographic province in Pennsylvania. Watershed Size: 24.0 mi 2 11.6 mi 2 in DEP Classification Dauphin County

Stony Creek is classified as a Cold Water Fishery Land Uses: Predominantly forest (CWF) throughout its extent. From its headwaters to Ellendale Dam, the creek is considered High Stream Miles: 34.4 Quality (HQ). Rattling Run, a tributary running Stony Creek watershed Impaired Stream Miles: 5.3 down from Stony Mountain, is impaired by low pH from Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD). DEP Stream Classification:

Site Locations CWF HQ-CWF, Special Protection waters – Source to Ellendale Stony Creek was assessed on four stretches, three Dam sites were on the main stem and one site was located DEP Listed Impairments: on Rattling Run, a tributary. A description of each sample site location can be found in Figure 7.6 Rattling Run – AMD (low pH) below. Watershed Municipalities: Study Results Dauphin Borough, East Hanover Twp, Middle Paxton Twp The furthest upstream, site 1, was located at the Dauphin County line. This site rated as good with a high percentage of sensitive macroinvertebrates. Site 3, at the gamelands gate, and site 4, at Denison Road, both rated as fair. Both sites had fairly diverse communities with lower percentages of sensitive types.

20 Site 2, on Rattling Run, was also rated as good with a diverse aquatic community, despite being impaired by low pH. A complete table of metrics calculations for Stony Creek can be found in Appendix VI.

Figure 7.6

Stream Health: Good Fair Poor

Figure 7.6a Stony Creek Macroinvertebrates

TypesperSample 5

0 1 2 3 4 Sample Site

Types of Macroinvertebrates Pollution Sensitive Types

Figure 7.6b Stony Health Score

100

90 80 70

60 50

(%) IBI 40

30 20

10 0 1 2 3 4 Sample Site