Lake Choctaw

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Lake Choctaw
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Lake Choctaw
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Lake Choctaw
LocationLuzerne County and Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
Coordinates 40°55′46″N76°07′49″W / 40.9294°N 76.1304°W / 40.9294; -76.1304
Type manmade lake
Primary inflows Sugarloaf Creek
Primary outflows Sugarloaf Creek
Surface area22.1 acres (8.9 ha)
Shore length10.85 miles (1.37 km) [1]
Surface elevation1,266 feet (386 m)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Choctaw is a manmade lake and reservoir in Luzerne County and Schuylkill County in Pennsylvania, in the United States. [1] [2] It has a surface area of 22.1 acres. The lake is situated on Sugarloaf Creek. In the past, the lake had poor water quality and a low pH. However, after the installation of a treatment system on the nearby Oneida Number One Tunnel, the water quality rapidly improved and fish were introduced into it.

Contents

Geography and geology

The elevation of Lake Choctaw is 1,266 feet (386 m) above sea level. [2] The lake is on Sugarloaf Creek, but also receives water from the Oneida Number One Tunnel. [1] [3]

The only rock formation in the vicinity of Lake Choctaw is the Mauch Chunk Formation. The only soil in the vicinity of the lake is the Hazleton soil. There are some areas prone to flooding immediately south of the lake. However, there are no such areas immediately north of the lake. [4]

The land immediately north and east of Lake Choctaw has a zoning designation of C-1. The land immediately south and west of the lake mainly has the zoning designations of C and R. [4]

Lake Choctaw is dammed by an impoundment. [5] The dam is known as the Lake Choctaw Dam. The dam was considered to be unsafe in 1979. [6] The lake is manmade. [7]

Hydrology

Lake Choctaw was historically highly acidic. [8] However, in modern times, it has become alkaline, with a high pH and concentration of alkalinity. [5] [8] It also has a low concentration of aluminum. Additionally, the lake serves as an oxidation/precipitation basin, helping to remove aluminum from the water discharged by the Oneida Number One Tunnel. [5]

Lake Choctaw has been described as "once-dead, [and] totally acidified". [8] However, more recently, its water quality was described as "very good" in the TMDL for Catawissa Creek. The water quality of the lake is expected to improve further in the future. [5]

The pH of Lake Choctaw was between 4.5 and 5.0 prior to the installation of a treatment system at the Oneida Number One Tunnel in 2000. [7] Two months after the installation of the treatment system, it increased to between 6.5 and 7.0. [7] [9]

History

In the late 20th or early 21st century, the Catawissa Creek Restoration Association was involved in a plan to restore the water quality of Lake Choctaw, along with Sugarloaf Creek, Tomhicken Creek, and Catawissa Creek, using a passive treatment system. [10]

Biology

Historically, Lake Choctaw was an infertile lake. However, in modern times, it is stocked with fish provided by the Zion Grove Trout Fishery. [8] These fish include brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, and minnows. [9] Freshwater jellyfish were observed in the lake in 2007. [11] Additionally, aquatic insects inhabit the lake. [7] [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catawissa Creek</span> Tributary of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania

Catawissa Creek is a 41.8-mile-long (67.3 km) tributary of the Susquehanna River in east-central Pennsylvania in the United States. Its watershed has an area of 153 square miles (400 km2).

The Audenried Tunnel, also known as the Audenried Mine Tunnel, is a drainage tunnel located in East Union Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately three miles long and drains the western portion of a coal basin near Kelayres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomhicken Creek</span> Tributary of Catawissa Creek in Pennsylvania, US

Tomhicken Creek, also known as Tomhickon Creek, is a stream in Luzerne County and Schuylkill County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 11 miles (18 km) long and is the largest tributary of Catawissa Creek. Named tributaries of the creek include Little Crooked Run, Little Tomhicken Creek, Raccoon Creek, and Sugarloaf Creek. The watershed of the main stem has an area of 20.6 square miles. A number of mine tunnels discharge into the creek and its tributaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crooked Run (Catawissa Creek tributary)</span> River

Crooked Run is a tributary of Catawissa Creek in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 4.4 miles (7.1 km) long and flows through North Union Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 4.24 square miles (11.0 km2). The stream is considered to be a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery and Class A Wild Trout Waters. However, it is impaired by atmospheric deposition. The main rock formations in the stream's watershed are the Mauch Chunk Formation and the Pocono Formation and the main soils are the Leck Kill soil and the Hazleton soil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raccoon Creek (Tomhicken Creek tributary)</span> River

Raccoon Creek is a tributary of Tomhicken Creek in Luzerne County and Schuylkill County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 3.3 miles (5.3 km) long and flows through Black Creek Township in Luzerne County and North Union Township in Schuylkill County. The watershed of the stream has an area of 2.67 square miles (6.9 km2). The stream is considered to be a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery and Class A Wild Trout Waters. The main rock formations in the stream's watershed are the Mauch Chunk Formation and the Pottsville Formation and the main soil is the Leck Kill soil.

Sugarloaf Creek is a tributary of Tomhicken Creek in Luzerne County and Schuylkill County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long and flows through Hazle Township and Black Creek Township in Luzerne County and North Union Township in Schuylkill County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Crooked Run</span> River in Pennsylvania, United States

Little Crooked Run is a tributary of Tomhicken Creek in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.7 miles (2.7 km) long and flows through North Union Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 1.22 square miles (3.2 km2). The stream is considered to be a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery and Class A Wild Trout Waters. The main rock formations in the stream's watershed are the Mauch Chunk Formation and the Pottsville Formation and the main soil is the Hazleton soil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Tomhicken Creek</span> River

Little Tomhicken Creek is a tributary of Tomhicken Creek in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.0 mile (1.6 km) long and flows through East Union Township and North Union Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 4.31 square miles (11.2 km2). The creek is considered to be a Coldwater Fishery. However, it is devoid of fish life and is impaired by acid mine drainage. It also has low water quality. The main rock formations in the creek's watershed are the Mauch Chunk Formation and the Pottsville Formation and the main soil is the Hazleton soil. Nearly all of the creek's length is fairly close to a road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Catawissa Creek</span> Tributary of Catawissa Creek, Pennsylvania

Little Catawissa Creek is a tributary of Catawissa Creek in Columbia County and Schuylkill County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 10.8 miles (17.4 km) long and flows through Conyngham Township in Columbia County and Union Township and North Union Township in Schuylkill County. The named tributaries of the creek include Stony Run and Trexler Run. The creek has some alkalinity and is slightly acidic. The main rock formations in the watershed of it are the Mauch Chunk Formation, the Pocono Formation, and the Pottsville Formation. A number of other rock formations occur in small areas of the watershed as well. The main soils in the watershed are the Leck Kill soil and the Hazleton soil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trexler Run</span> River

Trexler Run is a tributary of Little Catawissa Creek in Columbia and Schuylkill counties in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 3.4 miles (5.5 km) long and flows through Roaring Creek Township in Columbia County and Union Township in Schuylkill County. The watershed of the stream has an area of 3.81 square miles (9.9 km2). The stream is considered to be a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery and Class A Wild Trout Waters. The main rock formations in the stream's watershed are the Mauch Chunk Formation, the Pocono Formation, and the Pottsville Formation and the main soil is the Leck Kill soil. Both brook trout and brown trout inhabit the stream, as do several other species of fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davis Run</span> River

Davis Run is a tributary of Catawissa Creek in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long. The watershed of the stream has an area of 2.86 square miles (7.4 km2). The stream is considered to be a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery and Class A Wild Trout Waters. Six species of fish inhabit the stream, including brown trout and brook trout. The main rock formations in the stream's watershed are the Mauch Chunk Formation and the Pottsville Formation and the main soils are the Leck Kill soil and the Hezleton soil. The stream has two unnamed tributaries and a lake known as the Pumping Station Reservoir.

Cross Run is a tributary of Catawissa Creek in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.1 miles (1.8 km) long and flows through Hazle Township. The stream is in the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Conyngham. The stream has two reservoirs on it and has been used as a water supply for Hazleton since at least the late 1800s or early 1900s. Both of the stream's reservoirs have dams. The stream has one unnamed tributary. Cross Run and its unnamed tributary are considered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to be impaired for part of their lengths.

Hunkydory Creek is a tributary of Catawissa Creek in Schuylkill County and Luzerne County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.4 miles (2.3 km) long and flows through Kline Township in Schuylkill County and Hazle Township in Luzerne County. The watershed of the creek has an area of 3.65 square miles (9.5 km2). The creek is considered to be a Coldwater Fishery. It is likely that it is not inhabited by any species of fish. The main rock formations in the creek's watershed are the Mauch Chunk Formation, the Pottsville Formation, and the Llwellyn Formation and the main soils are the Udorthents Kill soil and the Hezleton soil.

The Oneida Number One Tunnel is a mine drainage tunnel in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is one of five major mine tunnels in the watershed of Catawissa Creek. The tunnel discharges into Sugarloaf Creek near Lake Choctaw and Lake Susquehanna. The water quality of the tunnel's discharge has improved significantly since the installation of a treatment system at the site of the tunnel in 2001.

The Oneida Number Three Tunnel is a mine tunnel in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is one of five major mine tunnels in the watershed of Catawissa Creek. The tunnel discharges into Tomhicken Creek downstream of the mouth of Little Tomhicken Creek. The tunnel was constructed in the 1930s and a passive treatment system was installed at the site of the tunnel in 2009. The tunnel is more than a mile long.

The Green Mountain Tunnel is a mine drainage tunnel in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is one of five major mine drainage tunnels in the watershed of Catawissa Creek. The tunnel discharges into Catawissa Creek near the Audenried Tunnel and the Catawissa Tunnel. The tunnel was constructed in the 1930s and is slightly less than one mile long.

The Catawissa Tunnel is a mine drainage tunnel in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The tunnel discharges into Catawissa Creek further upstream than any other mine drainage tunnel in the watershed. The tunnel was constructed in the 1930s and a passive treatment system may or may not be installed at the site of the tunnel. The tunnel is several hundred feet long.

The Catawissa Tunnel is a mine drainage tunnel in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Its properties include the discharge, the pH, the chemical hydrology, and the water temperature. A total of 30 different metals and metalloids have been observed in the tunnel's waters. The hydrological data comes from a gauge on the tunnel at a location of 40°54'39" north and 76°03'59" west and an elevation of 1,440 feet (440 m) above sea level. Some of the most abundant metals in the waters of the tunnel include iron, aluminum, and manganese. These metals have concentrations on the order of several milligrams per liter. A number of other metals have concentrations on the order of micrograms per liter and some metals are found in even lower concentrations. Nonmetals such as nitrates, sulfates, fluorides, chlorides, and silica are also present in the tunnel. The concentrations of such nonmetals range between several micrograms per liter and several milligrams per liter.

The Quakake Tunnel is a mine drainage tunnel in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The tunnel is several thousand feet long and has a discharge of thousands of gallons per minute. It was the subject of an Operation Scarlift report. The tunnel is a major contributor of acid mine drainage to the watershed of the Lehigh River.

References

  1. 1 2 3 United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, archived from the original on March 29, 2012, retrieved September 27, 2014
  2. 1 2 Topographic Map Reservoir Features in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania , retrieved September 27, 2014
  3. ↑ States, United (2006), Review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's watershed programs: hearing before the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural Development, and Research of the Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, first session, December 6, 2005, U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 38, ISBN   9780160755309
  4. 1 2 Pennsylvania Environmental Council (December 9, 2010), Catawissa Creek Watershed Rivers Conservation Plan (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015, retrieved September 27, 2014
  5. 1 2 3 4 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (March 1, 2003), CATAWISSA CREEK WATERSHED TMDL Carbon, Columbia, Luzerne, and Schuylkill Counties (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2013, retrieved September 28, 2014
  6. ↑ Lancaster Farming, 27 October 1979 PDF, October 27, 1979, retrieved September 28, 2014
  7. 1 2 3 4 Kent Jackson (June 16, 2013), Group Effort Sustains Fish in Eagle Rock and Creeks, Standard-Speaker , retrieved September 28, 2014
  8. 1 2 3 4 Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (April 2009), Abandoned mine reclamation in Pennsylvania (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2014, retrieved September 28, 2014
  9. 1 2 3 Penn Future - Testimony - Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future: Working to Protect Pennsylvania's Environment and Economy, October 10, 2012, retrieved September 28, 2014
  10. ↑ Wayne G. Lehman, Watershed of Schuylkill County , retrieved September 27, 2014
  11. ↑ What is the distribution of the freshwater jellyfish in Pennsylvania?, archived from the original on September 26, 2014, retrieved September 28, 2014
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