North Branch Mehoopany Creek: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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USGS 01533500 North Branch Mehoopany Creek near Lovelton, PA|accessdate = August 28, 2016}}</ref>
In the early 1900s, the average annual rate of precipitation in the watershed of North Branch Mehoopany Creek is {{convert|35|to|40|in|cm}}.<ref name = "waterresouceswaterresources"/>
==Geography and geology==
The elevation near the [[river mouth|mouth]] of North Branch Mehoopany Creek is {{convert|755|ft|m}} above [[sea level]].<ref name = "gnis">{{Citation|author = [[Geographic Names Information System]]|url = http://gnis.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=136:3:0::NO::P3_FID,P3_TITLE:1193036,North%20Branch%20Mehoopany%20Creek|title = Feature Detail Report for: North Branch Mehoopany Creek|accessdate = August 25, 2016}}</ref> The elevation near the creek's [[river source|source]] is {{convert|1560|ft|m}} above sea level.<ref name = "nationalmap"/>
The topography of the watershed of North Branch Mehoopany Creek has been described as "rough and hilly".<ref name = "waterresources"/> The creek has a deep and narrow valley flanked by steep hills.<ref name = "waterresources"/><ref name = "streby">{{citation|author = George Streby|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=R83TAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA3&lpg=RA1-PA3&dq=%22North+Branch+of+Mehoopany+Creek%22&source=bl&ots=bpm4kBNN0O&sig=l1_zkX1Zc139mOuKut77RYYuUFM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjZgfCQmOTOAhUIKCYKHSH-DcoQ6AEIQzAH#v=onepage&q=%22North%20Branch%20of%20Mehoopany%20Creek%22&f=false|title = History of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania|page = 3|year = 1903|accessdate = August 28, 2016}}</ref> In the early 1900s, the creek's valley was noted to be very fertile.<ref name = "streby"/> Near the headwaters, there are [[swamp]]s and small lakes. The creek has a [[stream channel|channel]] that is [[sinuous]] and flows through [[rock formation]]s consisting of [[sandstone]] and [[shale]].<ref name = "waterresources">{{citation|author = Pennsylvania Water Supply Commission|https://books.google.com/books?id=-mM_AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA162&lpg=RA1-PA162&dq=%22North+Branch+Mehoopany+Creek%22&source=bl&ots=1I5hvC9Ry1&sig=SeV9Z4HfT6gIDcxJ6bNKkZgNuzA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj5u-yIu-HOAhUP4mMKHRpYAe04FBDoAQgbMAA#v=onepage&q=Mehoopany%20Creek%22&f=false|title = Water Resources Inventory Report ..., Parts 1-5|page = 441|year = 1921|accessdate = August 27, 2016}}</ref>
The [[bedrock]] in the watershed of North Branch Mehoopany Creek consists entirely of [[sandstone]].<ref name = "wilkes"/> The Arnot-Oquaga-Dystrochrepts soil association occurs between North Branch Mehoopany Creek and Mehoopany Creek. In the 2000s, accelerated erosion of [[streambank]]s and lateral shifting were identified at five locations on North Branch Mehoopany Creek. This was caused by man-made alterations after [[Tropical Storm Agnes]] in 1972 and other flooding events, as well as [[dredging]] in the creek. Remedying this would reduce the [[sediment]] load of Mehoopany Creek.<ref name = "conservationplan"/>
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North Branch Mehoopany Creek was entered into the [[Geographic Names Information System]] on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1193036. The creek is also known as North Fork Mehoopany Creek and North Fork Mehoppany Creek.<ref name = "gnis"/> The latter variant name appears in a 1983 county highway map created by the [[Pennsylvania Department of Transportation]].<ref>{{citation|author = [[Geographic Names Information System]]|url = http://gnis.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=136:4:0::NO:4:P4_FID,FNAME:1193036,North%20Fork%20Mehoppany%20Creek|title = Variant Citation|accessdate = August 25, 2016}}</ref> However, in 1969, [[civil engineer]] Ronald W. Hurs was unable to find any evidence that locals referred to the creek as "North Fork Mehoopany Creek". Deeds dating back to about 100 years before that all called the creek "North Branch Mehoopany Creek".<ref>{{citation|author = Ronald W. Hurs|url = http://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/feat_folder?p_file=111634|title = PA_1193036_001_North Branch Mehoopany Creek_frm_1969.pdf|date = August 15, 1969|accessdate = August 25, 2016}}</ref> [[North Branch Township, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania|North Branch Township]] probably takes its name from the creek.<ref name = "history">{{citation|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=IMosAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA526&lpg=PA526&dq=%22North+Branch+of+Mehoopany+Creek%22&source=bl&ots=c7zDjJ1Bt-&sig=O_PaoBJ0mkJKhu5LNjwKNtrXZOU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjZgfCQmOTOAhUIKCYKHSH-DcoQ6AEIRjAI#v=onepage&q=%22North%20Branch%20of%20Mehoopany%20Creek%22&f=false|title = History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming Counties, Pa|pages = 513, 526|year = 1880|accessdate = August 28, 2016}}</ref>
The first road in North Branch Township, Wyoming County was built from Forkston up the valley of North Branch Mehoopany Creek.<ref name = "history"/> In the early 1900s, the main industry in the watershed of North Branch Mehoopany Creek was [[agriculture]]. Major communities in the creek's watershed at the time included Lovelton, with 136 people, and Colley, with 75 people. The creek was used as water power for a [[gristmill]] at Lovelton in the early 1900s.<ref name = "waterresouceswaterresources"/>
A two-span prestressed [[box beam]] or girders bridge carrying State Route 3001 over North Branch Mehoopany Creek was built in Forkston Township, Wyoming County in 1987 and is {{convert|89.9|ft|m}} long.<ref>{{citation|url = http://uglybridges.com/pa/wyoming/|title = Wyoming County|accessdate = August 25, 2016}}</ref> A steel stinger/multi-beam or girder bridge carrying T-410 over the creek was built in Colley Township, Sullivan County in 1925 and is {{convert|33.1|ft|m}} long.<ref>{{citation|url = http://uglybridges.com/pa/sullivan/|title = Sullivan County|accessdate = August 26, 2016}}</ref>
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==External links==
*[http://energy.wilkes.edu/Images/Energy%20Institute/Water_Quality/WQ_NBM.gif Map of the North Branch Mehoopany Creek watershed]
[[Category:Rivers and streams of Bradford County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Rivers and streams of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Rivers and streams of Wyoming County, Pennsylvania]]