Sand Spring Run

Sand Spring Run is a tributary of White Deer Creek in Union County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 5.7 miles (9.2 km) long and flows through Lewis Township and West Buffalo Township.[1] The watershed of the stream has an area of 4.94 square miles (12.8 km2). The stream is not designated as an impaired waterbody. It is a mountainous freestone stream and is mostly in Bald Eagle State Forest.

Sand Spring Run
Sand Spring Run looking downstream
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationshallow valley on a mountain in Lewis Township, Union County, Pennsylvania
  elevation1,768 ft (539 m)
Mouth 
  location
White Deer Creek in West Buffalo Township, Union County, Pennsylvania near White Deer
  coordinates
41°03′32″N 77°04′30″W
  elevation
1,033 ft (315 m)
Length5.7 mi (9.2 km)
Discharge 
  average6.06 cu ft/s (0.172 m3/s)
Basin features
ProgressionWhite Deer Creek → West Branch Susquehanna RiverSusquehanna RiverChesapeake Bay
Tributaries 
  lefttwo unnamed tributaries
  rightone unnamed tributary

Course

Sand Spring Run looking upstream

Sand Spring Run begins in a shallow valley on a mountain in Lewis Township. It flows east for several tenths of a mile, passing through two ponds before turning south for several tenths of a mile as its valley deepens. The stream then turns west-southwest for a few tenths of a mile before turning south-southeast. After a few tenths of a mile, it crosses Interstate 80 and turns east-northeast for a few miles, flowing alongside Interstate 80 through a valley. It then receives an unnamed tributary from the left and enters West Buffalo Township. Here, the stream continues flowing east-northeast for a few miles, receiving an unnamed tributary from the right and one from the left. Its valley then broadens and it reaches its confluence with White Deer Creek.[1]

Sand Spring Run joins White Deer Creek 12.48 miles (20.08 km) upstream of its mouth.[2]

Hydrology

Sand Spring Run is not designated as an impaired waterbody.[3] The average daily discharge of the stream was once found to be approximately 6.06 cubic feet per second (0.172 m3/s).[4] Between water year 1969 and water year 1980, the average annual discharge of the stream ranged from 5.37 cubic feet per second (0.152 m3/s) in water year 1969 to 14.4 cubic feet per second (0.41 m3/s) in water year 1978.[5]

There is a stream gauge on Sand Spring Run near White Deer.[6]

Geography and geology

The streambed of Sand Spring Run

The elevation near the mouth of Sand Spring Run is 1,033 feet (315 m) above sea level.[7] The elevation of the stream's source is 1,768 feet (539 m) above sea level.[1]

Sand Spring Run is in the Ridge and Valley Freestone region. It is a mountainous freestone stream.[4]

Watershed

The watershed of Sand Spring Run has an area of 4.94 square miles (12.8 km2).[2] The mouth of the stream is in the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Williamsport SE. However, its source is in the quadrangle of 1186931.[7] The stream's mouth is located near White Deer.[2]

The designated use for Sand Spring Run is aquatic life.[3] A road known as State Route 1010 (White Deer Pike Road/Sugar Valley Narrows Road) flows alongside the stream, as does Interstate 80.[8]

History and recreation

Sand Spring Run was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1186931.[7]

The Sugar Valley Railroad, which was incorporated on October 19, 1900, passed near Sand Spring Run. However, it was abandoned by 1904 or 1905.[9]

Virtually all of Sand Spring Run is within Bald Eagle State Forest.[10]

Biology

Wild trout naturally reproduce in Sand Spring Run in its lower 4.47 miles (7.19 km).[11] Both brook trout and brown trout inhabit the stream.[4]

See also

References

  1. United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, retrieved January 13, 2015
  2. Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, p. 124, retrieved January 14, 2016
  3. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2006 Waterbody Report for Sand Spring Run, retrieved January 13, 2015
  4. INSTREAM FLOW STUDIES PENNSYLVANIA AND MARYLAND (PDF), May 1998, pp. 74, 130, 179, retrieved January 13, 2016
  5. United States Geological Survey, USGS 01553130 Sand Spring Run near White Deer, PA, retrieved January 13, 2015
  6. C. A. Billingsley; B. A. Anderson (1976), Surface Water Supply of the United States 1966-70: North Atlantic slope ..., p. 361, retrieved January 13, 2016
  7. Geographic Names Information System, Feature Detail Report for: Sand Spring Run, retrieved January 13, 2015
  8. Union County Planning Commission, Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. (June 2003), White Deer Watershed Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan June 2003 (PDF), p. 17, retrieved January 13, 2015{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. Mary B. Lontz (December 9, 2004), "Trail of History", Mifflinburg Telegraph, retrieved January 13, 2016
  10. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bald Eagle State Forest (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on May 1, 2015, retrieved January 13, 2015
  11. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (October 2015), Pennsylvania Wild Trout Waters (Natural Reproduction) - October 2015 (PDF), p. 88, retrieved January 13, 2015
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