Locust Creek (Shamokin Creek)
| Locust Creek | |
|---|---|
Locust Creek
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| Basin features | |
| Main source | pond in East Cameron Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania between 1,340 and 1,360 feet (408 and 415 m) |
| River mouth | Shamokin Creek in Mount Carmel Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania 1,010 ft (310 m) 40°46′54″N 76°27′22″W / 40.7817°N 76.4562°WCoordinates: 40°46′54″N 76°27′22″W / 40.7817°N 76.4562°W |
| Progression | Shamokin Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Basin size | 5.75 sq mi (14.9 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Length | 4.0 mi (6.4 km) |
Locust Creek is a tributary of Shamokin Creek in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 4.0 miles (6.4 km) long and flows through East Cameron Township and Mount Carmel Township. The watershed of the creek has an area of 5.75 square miles (14.9 km2). The stream is designated as impaired due to metals from abandoned mine drainage. It also experiences a low pH. The creek flows through a water gap in Locust Mountain. Prominent land uses in its watershed include refuse areas and forested land. The creek's watershed is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery.
Locust Creek begins in a pond in East Cameron Township. It flows east-northeast through a deep, broad valley for several tenths of a mile before entering Mount Carmel Township. The creek flows east-northeast for more than a mile before receiving an unnamed tributary from the and abruptly turning north-northwest. For the next several tenths of a mile, it flows alongside Pennsylvania Route 54 through a water gap. The stream then leaves the water gap, crosses Pennsylvania Route 901, and turns west. A few tenths of a mile further downstream, it reaches its confluence with Shamokin Creek.
Locust Creek joins Shamokin Creek 28.88 miles (46.48 km) upstream of its mouth.
Locust Creek has no named tributaries, but it has one unnamed tributary. This tributary is known as UNT #18656 and 1 mile (1.6 km) of it is an impaired waterbody.
Locust Creek has poor water quality. The entire length of Locust Creek is designated as an impaired waterbody. The cause of the impairment is metals and the source is abandoned mine drainage. The acid mine drainage impacts to the creek are severe.
Locust Creek is an intermittent stream, with some ephemeral reaches. It is fed by several mine discharges known collectively as the Locust Gap Mine discharges. The creek also leaks water into underground mines. In three measurements between 1997 and 2000, the discharge of the stream ranged from 0 to 1.8 cubic feet per second (0.000 to 0.051 m3/s). In March 2000, the water temperature of the stream was measured to be 10.0 °C (50.0 °F), while the specific conductance was 299 micro-siemens per centimeter at 25 °C (77 °F).
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