Loyalsock Creek Watershed Presented by: Jim Rogers, Theresa Black, Don Muraco, and Todd Hillegas OverviewOverview ofof thethe ProjectProject •• PurposePurpose •• HowHow sitessites werewere evaluatedevaluated •• WhatWhat waswas foundfound •• TributariesTributaries •• ConclusionConclusion •• AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements PurposePurpose •• TheThe studystudy waswas toto identifyidentify andand documentdocument thethe overalloverall physicalphysical healthhealth ofof thethe LoyalsockLoyalsock CreekCreek WatershedWatershed andand itsits majormajor tributariestributaries suchsuch as:as: – Elk Creek – Hoagland branch of Elk Creek – Little Loyalsock – Lopez Creek – Mill Creek (Montoursville) – Mill Creek (Warrensville) – Ogdonia Creek – Plunketts Creek – Wallis Run PhysicalPhysical AssessmentAssessment •• Identify:Identify: –– ErosionErosion concernsconcerns –– LandLand andand gravelgravel barsbars –– LocationsLocations ofof bridges,bridges, roadsroads andand damsdams –– RiparianRiparian evaluationevaluation –– InvasiveInvasive plantplant speciesspecies identificationidentification SiteSite EvaluationEvaluation •• HighHigh bankbank angleangle •• HighHigh bankbank heightheight •• HighHigh rootroot densitydensity •• HighHigh particleparticle sizesize SiteSite EvaluationEvaluation •• ModerateModerate bankbank heightheight •• ModerateModerate bankbank angleangle •• HighHigh densitydensity ofof rootsroots •• ModerateModerate particleparticle sizesize SiteSite EvaluationEvaluation •• LowLow bankbank heightheight •• HighHigh bankbank angleangle •• HighHigh densitydensity ofof rootsroots •• ModerateModerate particleparticle sizesize AdditionalAdditional EvaluationsEvaluations •• SoilSoil texturetexture – Clay, Sand, or Loam •• StreamStream alignmentalignment – Straight, Moderate, or Sharply Curved •• VegetationVegetation – Weeds, Trees, or Crops •• StreamStream GradientGradient – No riffles, balance of riffles and pools, & mostly riffles •• AdjacentAdjacent landland usageusage TourTour ofof thethe UpperUpper LoyalsockLoyalsock TheThe LowerLower LoyalsockLoyalsock BeforeBefore andand AfterAfter RipRip RapRap Where’sWhere’s MyMy Steps?Steps? PipePipe LineLine HellbenderHellbender LoyalsockLoyalsock SewerSewer LineLine TributariesTributaries – Elk Creek – Hoagland branch of Elk Creek – Little Loyalsock – Lopez Creek – Mill Creek (Montoursville) – Mill Creek (Warrensville) – Ogdonia Creek – Plunketts Creek – Wallis Run JimJim andand Theresa’sTheresa’s AdventureAdventure onon LopezLopez CreekCreek HoaglandHoagland BranchBranch andand ElkElk CreekCreek •• PumpsPumps alongalong thethe CreekCreek •• BedrockBedrock formationsformations withinwithin thethe StreamStream controlledcontrolled waterwater flowflow andand limitedlimited erosionerosion •• TheThe majoritymajority ofof thethe streamstream flowedflowed throughthrough forestedforested areasareas whichwhich providedprovided thethe streamstream withwith aa substantialsubstantial bufferbuffer OgdoniaOgdonia CreekCreek •• HIGHHIGH erosionerosion potentialpotential •• BedrockBedrock formationsformations withinwithin thethe streamstream •• HeavilyHeavily riprip--rappedrapped alongalong GirlGirl ScoutScout CampCamp •• StreamStream runsruns drydry wherewhere itit meetsmeets thethe Loyalsock.Loyalsock. –– WhereWhere doesdoes thethe waterwater go?go? LittleLittle LoyalsockLoyalsock CreekCreek MillMill CreekCreek WarrensvilleWarrensville •• HeavilyHeavily clutteredcluttered withwith debrisdebris •• HighlyHighly urbanizedurbanized •• SeveralSeveral damsdams werewere locatedlocated alongalong thethe creekcreek •• ManyMany withdrawwithdraw pumps,pumps, andand pipespipes toto dischargedischarge toto thethe streamstream TheThe AdventuresAdventures ofof MillMill CreekCreek MillMill CreekCreek MontoursvilleMontoursville •• AreaArea assessedassessed waswas fromfrom QuakerQuaker StateState RoadRoad toto thethe pointpoint wherewhere itit entersenters intointo thethe LoyalsockLoyalsock Creek.Creek. •• TheThe streamstream waswas narrownarrow andand heavilyheavily riprip-- rapped.rapped. •• ModeratelyModerately urbanized.urbanized. ConclusionConclusion •• 200200 totaltotal erosionerosion sitessites overover 5252 milesmiles •• ProjectsProjects involvinginvolving thethe tributariestributaries maymay havehave thethe greatestgreatest impactimpact onon preservingpreserving thethe LoyalsockLoyalsock Creek.Creek. •• TheThe highhigh areasareas ofof concernconcern alongalong thethe creekcreek occuroccur aroundaround riprip--raprap andand islandsislands oror depositiondeposition bars.bars. FinalFinal ThoughtsThoughts AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements •• CoreyCorey RichmondRichmond andand thethe staffstaff ofof thethe SullivanSullivan CountyCounty ConservationConservation District.District. •• BrittBritt BassettBassett andand BassettBassett Engineering.Engineering. •• MarcMarc Lewis.Lewis. •• CountryCountry SkiSki andand Sports.Sports. •• LycomingLycoming CollegeCollege andand Dr.Dr. MelMel Zimmerman.Zimmerman. •• TheThe residentsresidents ofof thethe LoyalsockLoyalsock Watershed.Watershed. TheThe EndEnd.