Beth Run

Beth Run is a tributary of Bowman Creek in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.9 miles (3.1 km) long and flows through Ross Township and Lake Township.[1] The watershed of the stream has an area of 2.34 square miles (6.1 km2). The surficial geology along it consists of Wisconsinan Till and alluvium. The stream's watershed is designated as a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery and the stream is Class A Wild Trout Waters.

Beth Run
Mouth of Beth Run
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationhead of a valley in Ross Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
 • elevationbetween 1,980 and 2,000 feet (604 and 610 m)
Mouth 
 • location
Bowman Creek near Mountain Springs in Lake Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
 • coordinates
41°21′38″N 76°09′49″W
 • elevation
1,598 ft (487 m)
Length1.9 mi (3.1 km)
Basin size2.34 sq mi (6.1 km2)
Basin features
ProgressionBowman Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay
Tributaries 
 • rightone unnamed tributary

Course

Beth Run begins at the head of a valley in Ross Township. It flows east-northeast for several tenths of a mile before turning northeast for several tenths of a mile and entering Lake Township. Here, the stream receives an unnamed tributary from the right and turns north for several tenths of a mile, its valley widening considerably. At the end of the valley, the stream reaches its confluence with Bowman Creek.[1]

Beth Run joins Bowman Creek 21.97 miles (35.36 km) upstream of its mouth.[2]

Hydrology

The concentration of alkalinity in Beth Run is 5 milligrams per liter (0.0050 oz/cu ft).[3]

Geography and geology

The elevation near the mouth of Beth Run is 1,598 feet (487 m) above sea level.[4] The elevation of the stream's source between 1,980 and 2,000 feet (604 and 610 m) above sea level.[1]

The surficial geology along most of the length of Beth Run consists of a till known as Wisconsinan Till. In the stream's upper reaches, alluvium is present as well and some of the Wisconsinan Till is underlain by glacial lake clays. There is also a patch of Wisconsinan Bouldery Till at the headwaters; it is rich in boulders. The surficial geology along the sides of the stream's valley includes bedrock consisting of sandstone and shale.[5]

Watershed

The watershed of Beth Run has an area of 2.34 square miles (6.1 km2).[2] The stream is entirely within the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Sweet Valley.[4]

The entire length of Beth Run is on public land that is open to access.[3]

History

Beth Run was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1169332.[4]

In the 1970s, the Pennsylvania Game Commission was attempting to purchase a 3,200-acre (1,300 ha) tract of land in the vicinity of Beth Run to add to Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 57.[6] The Pennsylvania Game Commission also once requested a permit to construct an aluminum box culvert bridge over the stream with the purpose of providing access to the southern parts of Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 57 for tree salvage cutting.[7]

Biology

The drainage basin of Beth Run is designated as a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery.[8] Wild trout naturally reproduce in the stream from its headwaters downstream to its mouth.[9] It is classified by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission as Class A Wild Trout Waters for brook trout from its headwaters downstream to its mouth.[3]

See also

References
  1. United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, archived from the original on April 5, 2012, retrieved October 18, 2015
  2. Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, p. 34, retrieved October 18, 2015
  3. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (August 2015), Class A Wild Trout Waters (PDF), p. 13, retrieved October 18, 2015
  4. Geographic Names Information System, Feature Detail Report for: Beth Run, retrieved October 18, 2015
  5. Duane D. Braun (2007), SURFICIAL GEOLOGY OF THE SWEET VALLEY 7.5-MINUTE QUADRANGLE, LUZERNE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA (PDF), p. 17, archived from the original (PDF) on July 13, 2007, retrieved October 18, 2015
  6. Stanley P. Karpinski (1978), The Luzerne County Critical Areas Inventory, p. 37, retrieved October 18, 2015
  7. "Applications received under the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act (32 P. S. §§ 693.1--693.27) and section 302 of the Flood Plain Management Act (32 P. S. § 679.302) and requests for certification under section 401 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.", Pennsylvania Bulletin, retrieved October 18, 2015
  8. "§ 93.9i. Drainage List I. Susquehanna River Basin in Pennsylvania Susquehanna River", Pennsylvania Code, retrieved October 18, 2015
  9. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (August 2015), Pennsylvania Wild Trout Waters (Natural Reproduction) - August 2015 (PDF), p. 50, retrieved October 18, 2015
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