Mahanoy Creek

Mahanoy Creek
Mahanoy Creek in Little Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Counties	Northumberland and Schuylkill
Basin features
Main source	Mahanoy Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
River mouth	Susquehanna River in Jackson Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania 40°43′22″N 76°50′37″W / 40.7228°N 76.8435°W / 40.7228; -76.8435Coordinates: 40°43′22″N 76°50′37″W / 40.7228°N 76.8435°W / 40.7228; -76.8435
Progression	Susquehanna River, Chesapeake Bay
Basin size	157 sq mi (410 km2)
Tributaries	Left: Little Mahanoy Creek, Crab Run, Schwaben Creek Right: North Mahanoy Creek, Shenandoah Creek, Zerbe Run
Physical characteristics
Length	51.6 mi (83.0 km)
Discharge	Average rate: Up to 320 cubic feet per second (9.1 m3/s)

Mahanoy Creek is a 51.6-mile-long (83.0 km)tributary of the Susquehanna River in Northumberland and Schuylkill counties, Pennsylvania. There are at least 35 sources of acid mine drainage in the creek's watershed. Anthracite was mined in the upper part of the Mahanoy Creek watershed in the 19th and 20th centuries. Mahanoy Creek's tributaries include Schwaben Creek, Zerbe Run, Little Mahanoy Creek, Shenandoah Creek, and North Mahanoy Creek. Little Mahanoy Creek and Schwaben Creek are two streams in the watershed that are unaffected by acid mine drainage. Schwaben Creek has a higher number and diversity of fish species than the main stem.

There are two passive treatment systems in the Mahanoy Creek watershed by the Mahanoy Creek Watershed Association. Coal mining has been done in the watershed since the 19th century and continues to some extent in the 21st century. The watershed is in the Western Middle Anthracite Coal Field.

Mahanoy Creek's source is in strip mines in the eastern part of Schuylkill County, near Buck Mountain. It heads west for a short distance before crossing under Pennsylvania Route 54 and entering Mahanoy City, where it picks up the tributary North Mahanoy Creek. Mahanoy Creek continues westward, heading into Mahanoy Township again, and goes through more strip mines. It begins paralleling Bear Ridge for several miles, passing the communities of St. Nicholas and Boston Run before entering Gilberton. In Gilberton, the creek passes under Pennsylvania Route 924 and goes through by the former Mahanoy Plane. Upon leaving Mahanoy Township, the creek enters Butler Township. Soon after entering this township, the creek passes through Girardville, picking up Shenandoah Creek. It parallels Pennsylvania Route 54 for some distance into Ashland. Upon leaving Ashland, the creek stops paralleling Pennsylvania Route 54 and turns south through a gap in Ashland Mountain, leaving behind the strip mines. At Gordon, it picks up Little Mahanoy Creek and then turns west again, meandering out of Butler Township. The creek then briefly meanders through Barry Township before passing into Eldred Township. It flows on the northern side of a mountain in Weiser State Forest. Upon leaving Eldred Township, the creek enters Northumberland County.