Frozen Run

For the stream in West Virginia, see Frozen Run (West Virginia).
Frozen Run

Frozen Run near its mouth
Etymology it is known to freeze over
Basin
Main source pond in Hemlock Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania
River mouth Hemlock Creek in Hemlock Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania
535 ft (163 m)
Progression Hemlock Creek → Fishing Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay
Basin size 3.55 sq mi (9.2 km2)
Physical characteristics
Length 3.2 mi (5.1 km)

Frozen Run is a tributary of Hemlock Creek in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 3.2 miles (5.1 km) long and flows through Hemlock Township.[1] The watershed of the stream has an area of 3.55 square miles (9.2 km2). The stream flows through Frosty Valley and is also near a fault. It is designated as a coldwater fishery. Parts of the watershed are impaired due to siltation. The stream has several unnamed tributaries.

A. Joseph Armstrong describes Frozen Run as "pretty mundane" in his book Trout Unlimited's Guide to Pennsylvania Limestone Streams.[2]

Course

Frozen Run begins in a pond in Hemlock Township. It flows south in a valley for less than a mile before turning southeast, entering the much broader Frosty Valley. In Frosty Valley, the stream turns east and flows for a few miles before reaching its confluence with Hemlock Creek near the community of Buckhorn.[1]

Frozen Run joins Hemlock Creek 2.26 miles (3.64 km) upstream of its mouth.[3]

Tributaries

Frozen Run has a number of unnamed tributaries. These include UNT 65640513, UNT 65640565, UNT 65640671, and UNT 65640719.[4]

Hydrology, geography, and geology

Parts of Frozen Run and several of its unnamed tributaries are considered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to be impaired by siltation due to agriculture.[4] 2.4 miles (3.9 km) of streams in the watershed are considered to be impaired.[5]

The water temperature of Frozen Run is 68 °F (20 °C). The width of the stream is between 5 feet (1.5 m) and 10 feet (3.0 m).[2] Frozen Run has an elevation of 535 feet (163 m) above sea level near its mouth.[6]

Frozen Run mostly flows through rock of the Mahantango Formation. However, parts of the stream are over rock of the Harrell Formation and the stream's upper reaches lie over rock of the Trimmers Rock Formation. The stream is in Frosty Valley and is located near the Lightstreet Fault.[7]

Watershed

The watershed of Frozen Run has an area of 3.55 square miles (9.2 km2).[3] Areas that are hazardous during floods are largely undeveloped in the watershed of Frozen Run.[8]

Name and etymology

Frozen Run is named for the fact that it is sometimes frozen.[9] A 1997 book listed Frozen Run as one of the most interesting stream names in Pennsylvania.[10]

Biology

Frozen Run has a large population of chubs. According to A. Joseph Armstrong, there may also be trout inhabiting the stream.[2] Frozen Run is designated as a coldwater fishery.[5]

There are forested seeps at the headwaters of Frozen Run. According to the Columbia County Natural Areas Inventory, these may contain "sensitive ecological features".[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, retrieved July 22, 2014
  2. 1 2 3 A. Joseph Armstrong (January 1, 2000), Trout Unlimited's Guide to Pennsylvania Limestone Streams, Stackpole Books, retrieved July 22, 2014
  3. 1 2 Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, p. 101, retrieved July 22, 2014
  4. 1 2 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (January 8, 2013), HEMLOCK CREEK WATERSHED TMDL Columbia and Montour Counties (PDF), retrieved July 22, 2014
  5. 1 2 Columbia County, Pennsylvania CHESAPEAKE BAY TRIBUTARY STRATEGY (PDF), February 2005, retrieved July 22, 2014
  6. ↑ Topographic Map Stream Features in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, retrieved July 22, 2014
  7. ↑ James H. Dolimpio (1990), Bedrock geologic map of the Washingtonville and Millville quadrangles, Montour, Columbia, and Northumberland counties, Pennsylvania, retrieved July 22, 2014
  8. ↑ APPENDIX C FEMA STUDY (PDF), February 4, 2008, retrieved July 22, 2014
  9. ↑ Walter M. Brasch (1982), Columbia County place names, Columbia County Historical Society, retrieved July 22, 2014
  10. ↑ Jeffrey R. Frazier (January 1, 1997), Pennsylvania Fireside Tales: Origins and Foundations of Pennsylvania Mountain Folktales and Legends, Volume 2
  11. ↑ The Pennsylvania Science Office of The Nature Conservancy (2004), Columbia County Natural Areas Inventory 2004 (PDF), p. 97, retrieved July 22, 2014

Coordinates: 41°00′39″N 76°30′17″W / 41.0107°N 76.5047°W / 41.0107; -76.5047

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