Bear Brook (also known as Bear Brook Creek[1]) is a tributary of Roaring Brook in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 3.0 miles (4.8 km) long and flows through Madison Township and Moscow.[2] The watershed of the stream has an area of 2.26 square miles (5.9 km2). Wild trout naturally reproduce within it. The surficial geology in the vicinity of the stream's lower reaches consists of Wisconsinan Till, Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift, bedrock, and alluvium. A bridge carrying Pennsylvania Route 690 crosses the stream.
| Bear Brook Bear Brook Creek | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | hill in Madison Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania |
| • elevation | between 1,800 and 1,820 feet (550 and 550 m) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Roaring Brook in Moscow, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania |
• coordinates | 41°20′19″N 75°30′50″W / 41.33869°N 75.51397°W |
• elevation | 1,473 ft (449 m) |
| Length | 3.0 mi (4.8 km) |
| Basin size | 2.26 sq mi (5.9 km2) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Roaring Brook → Lackawanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
Course
editBear Brook begins on a hill in Madison Township. It flows northwest for several tenths of a mile, flowing down the hill and entering a lake. From the western end of the lake, the stream flows west-southwest for more than a mile in a valley alongside Pennsylvania Route 690. It eventually passes a few ponds or lakes and turns west for several tenths of a mile, entering Moscow. The stream then turns south for a few hundred feet before turning west for a short distance, crossing Pennsylvania Route 690 and reaching its confluence with Roaring Brook.[2]
Bear Brook joins Roaring Brook 14.48 miles (23.30 km) upstream of its mouth.[3]
Geography and geology
editThe elevation near the mouth of Bear Brook is 1,473 feet (449 m) above sea level.[4] The elevation of the stream's source is between 1,800 and 1,820 feet (550 and 550 m) above sea level.[2]
The surficial geology in the vicinity of Bear Brook in its lower reaches mainly consists of Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift, Wisconsinan Till, and bedrock consisting of conglomeratic sandstone, sandstone, and shale. However, there are also a few patches of alluvium.[5]
Watershed
editThe watershed of Bear Brook has an area of 2.26 square miles (5.9 km2).[3] The mouth of the stream is in the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Moscow. However, its source is in the quadrangle of Sterling.[4]
History
editBear Brook was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1168851.[4]
In the early 1900s, the Lackawanna County Commissioners received permission to construct a bridge over the creek on Nork Road.[1] A concrete slab bridge carrying Pennsylvania Route 690 was constructed across Bear Brook in 1933. This bridge is 25.9 feet (7.9 m) long and is situated in Moscow.[6]
In the early 2000s, the Lackawanna River Watershed Conservation Plan recommended that Madison Township include protection of Langan Creek in its zoning plans.[7]
Biology
editWild trout naturally reproduce in Bear Brook from its upper reaches downstream to its mouth.[8]
See also
edit- Van Brunt Creek, next tributary of Roaring Brook going downstream
- East Branch Roaring Brook, next tributary of Roaring Brook going upstream
- List of rivers of Pennsylvania
- List of tributaries of the Lackawanna River
References
edit- ^ a b Department Reports of Pennsylvania, Volume 5, Part 2, 1919, p. 1308, retrieved April 14, 2015
- ^ a b c United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, archived from the original on March 29, 2012, retrieved April 14, 2015
- ^ a b Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, retrieved April 14, 2015
- ^ a b c Geographic Names Information System, Feature Detail Report for: Bear Brook, archived from the original on April 14, 2015, retrieved April 14, 2015
- ^ Duane D. Braun (2007), Surficial geology of the Moscow 7.5-minute quadrangle, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, p. 14, archived from the original on May 24, 2014, retrieved April 14, 2015
- ^ Lackawanna County, retrieved April 14, 2015
- ^ Lackawanna River Corridor Association (2001), Lackawanna River Watershed Conservation Plan (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015, retrieved April 14, 2015
- ^ Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (January 2015), Pennsylvania Wild Trout Waters (Natural Reproduction) - Jan 2015 (PDF), p. 45, archived from the original (PDF) on July 1, 2015, retrieved April 14, 2015