Benson Hollow

Benson Hollow is a tributary of Bowman Creek in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 0.9 miles (1.4 km) long and flows through Eaton Township.[1] The watershed of the stream has an area of 1.82 square miles (4.7 km2). Benson Hollow is a first-order stream and is not designated as an impaired waterbody. The surficial geology in its vicinity consists of Wisconsinan Outwash, alluvium, Wisconsinan Till, bedrock, and a lake. The stream's watershed is designated as a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery.

Benson Hollow
Benson Hollow looking downstream
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationvalley to the west of Cedar Ledge in Eaton Township, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania
 • elevationbetween 1,340 and 1,360 feet (408 and 415 m)
Mouth 
 • location
Bowman Creek in Eaton Township, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania
 • coordinates
41°30′49″N 75°58′17″W
 • elevation
584 ft (178 m)
Length0.9 mi (1.4 km)
Basin size1.82 sq mi (4.7 km2)
Basin features
ProgressionBowman Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay

Course
Benson Hollow looking upstream

Benson Hollow begins in a valley to the west of Cedar Ledge in Eaton Township. It flows south-southeast for a few tenths of a mile before turning east-southeast. Several tenths of a mile further downstream, the stream reaches its confluence with Bowman Creek.[1]

Benson Hollow joins Bowman Creek 1.72 miles (2.77 km) upstream of its mouth.[2]

Hydrology

Benson Hollow is not designated as an impaired waterbody.[3]

Geography and geology

The elevation near the mouth of Benson Hollow is 584 feet (178 m) above sea level.[4] The elevation of the stream's source is between 1,340 and 1,360 feet (408 and 415 m) above sea level.[1]

During the Ice Age, glacial meltwater from Benson Hollow helped form a delta in the valley of Bowman Creek. There is a "deeply notched" col at the stream's headwaters.[5]

Near the culvert, Benson Hollow has a streambed made of gravel with an average grain size of 45 millimeters (1.8 in). The stream is a Rosgen C Type stream and does not have large loads of debris.[6] The surficial geology along the lower reaches of the stream, but alluvium and a lake occur in the upper reaches. The stream's valley is flanked by Wisconsinan Till and bedrock consisting of sandstone and shale.[5]

Watershed

The watershed of Benson Hollow has an area of 1.82 square miles (4.7 km2).[2] The stream is entirely in the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Tunkhannock.[4]

Benson Hollow is a first-order stream.[6]

A single-barrel culvert carries Benson Hollow in one reach. The culvert passes a 25-year maximum design flow. Areas of deposition occur upstream of the culvert and a large scour pool occurs downstream of it. These phenomena are typical of such culverts.[6]

History

Benson Hollow does not have a name of its own, but takes its name from the valley through which it flows.[2] The stream's valley was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1169270.[4]

Biology

The drainage basin of Benson Hollow is designated as a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery.[7] Wild trout naturally reproduce in the stream from its headwaters downstream to its mouth.[8]

See also

References
  1. United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, archived from the original on April 5, 2012, retrieved September 12, 2015
  2. Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, pp. 2, 5, retrieved September 12, 2015
  3. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Assessment Summary for Reporting Year 2006 Pennsylvania, Upper Susquehanna-Tunkhannock Watershed, archived from the original on November 21, 2015, retrieved September 12, 2015
  4. Geographic Names Information System, Feature Detail Report for: Benson Hollow, retrieved September 12, 2015
  5. Duane D. Braun, Surficial geology of the Tunkhannock 7.5-minute quadrangle, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, pp. 12, 17, retrieved September 14, 2015
  6. Rebecca Wargo (2003), A comparison of single cell vs. multi-cell culverts, p. 15, retrieved September 13, 2015
  7. "§ 93.9i. Drainage List I. Susquehanna River Basin in Pennsylvania Susquehanna River", Pennsylvania Code, retrieved September 12, 2015
  8. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (August 2015), Pennsylvania Wild Trout Waters (Natural Reproduction) - August 2015 (PDF), p. 105, retrieved September 12, 2015
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