Rough Run

Last updated
Rough Run
Etymology named for the speed of its waters and the dense foliage surrounding it
Physical characteristics
Main source plateau in Davidson Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania
between 2,240 and 2,260 feet (680 and 690 m)
River mouth West Branch Fishing Creek in Sugarloaf Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania
1,142 ft (348 m)
41°18′14″N76°23′32″W / 41.30398°N 76.39219°W / 41.30398; -76.39219 Coordinates: 41°18′14″N76°23′32″W / 41.30398°N 76.39219°W / 41.30398; -76.39219
Length 1.3 mi (2.1 km)
Basin features
Progression West Branch Fishing Creek → Fishing Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay
Basin size 0.72 sq mi (1.9 km2)

Rough Run is a tributary of West Branch Fishing Creek in Sullivan County and Columbia County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.3 miles (2.1 km) long and flows through Davidson Township in Sullivan County and Sugarloaf Township in Columbia County. [1] The watershed of the stream has an area of 0.72 square miles (1.9 km2). Glacial till and bedrock consisting of shale and sandstone can be found along the stream. It is named for the speed of its waters and the foliage along the sides of the stream.

Tributary stream or river that flows into a main stem river or lake

A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainage basin of its surface water and groundwater, leading the water out into an ocean.

West Branch Fishing Creek tributary of Fishing Creek in Columbia and Sullivan Counties, Pennsylvania

West Branch Fishing Creek is one of the northernmost major tributaries of Fishing Creek in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania and Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is 11.1 miles (17.9 km) long and flows through Davidson Township, Sullivan County and Sugarloaf Township, Columbia County. The creek's watershed has an area of 33.5 square miles, nearly all of which is forested land.

Sullivan County, Pennsylvania county in Pennsylvania, United States

Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,428, making it the second-least populous county in Pennsylvania. Its county seat is Laporte. The county was created on March 15, 1847, from part of Lycoming County and named for Charles C. Sullivan, leader of the Pennsylvania Senate at that time.

Contents

Course

Rough Run begins on a plateau in Davidson Township, Sullivan County, not far from the edge of the West Branch Fishing Creek watershed. The stream flows south-southwest for a short distance before turning south-southeast and dropping off the plateau. It begins to descend steeply in a valley. After a few tenths of a mile, the stream turns south-southwest again and exits Sullivan County after several tenths of a mile. [1]

Plateau An area of a highland, usually of relatively flat terrain

In geology and physical geography, a plateau, also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain, that is raised significantly above the surrounding area, often with one or more sides with steep slopes. Plateaus can be formed by a number of processes, including upwelling of volcanic magma, extrusion of lava, and erosion by water and glaciers. Plateaus are classified according to their surrounding environment as intermontane, piedmont, or continental.

Upon exiting Sullivan County, Rough Run enters Sugarloaf Township, Columbia County. It continues flowing south-southwest and steeply descending. After several tenths of a mile, the stream turns southwest for several hundred feet. It then turns south-southeast for several hundred feet and reaches the slope. The stream reaches its confluence with West Branch Fishing Creek immediately afterwards. [1]

Rough Run joins West Branch Fishing Creek 2.82 miles (4.54 km) upstream of its mouth, only 0.06 miles (0.097 km) downstream of the mouth of Peterman Run. [2]

Peterman Run is a tributary of West Branch Fishing Creek in Sullivan County and Columbia County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.7 miles (2.7 km) long and flows through Davidson Township in Sullivan County and Sugarloaf Township in Columbia County. The watershed of the stream has an area of 0.41 square miles (1.1 km2). Glacial till and bedrock consisting of shale and sandstone can be found along the stream. It is considered to be impaired by atmospheric deposition and metals.

Geography and geology

The elevation near the mouth of Rough Run is 1,142 feet (348 m) above sea level. [3] The elevation of the stream's source is between 2,240 and 2,260 feet (680 and 690 m). [1]

Sea level Average level for the surface of the ocean at any given geographical position on the planetary surface

Mean sea level (MSL) is an average level of the surface of one or more of Earth's oceans from which heights such as elevation may be measured. MSL is a type of vertical datum – a standardised geodetic datum – that is used, for example, as a chart datum in cartography and marine navigation, or, in aviation, as the standard sea level at which atmospheric pressure is measured to calibrate altitude and, consequently, aircraft flight levels. A common and relatively straightforward mean sea-level standard is the midpoint between a mean low and mean high tide at a particular location.

River source The starting point of a river

The source or headwaters of a river or stream is the furthest place in that river or stream from its estuary or confluence with another river, as measured along the course of the river.

For most of its length, Rough Run is on a glacial till known as the Wisconsinan Bouldery Till. The surface is largely covered with boulders and it is a diamict. The Wisconsinan Boulder Till is typically at least 6 feet (1.8 m) thick. It is upper reaches, the stream flows over bedrock consisting of sandstone and shale. The sandstone and shale are interbedded and are red and gray in color. The bedrock's diamict is reddish-brown to yellowish-brown. [4]

Boulder natural rock fragment (larger than 200 mm in diameter according to ISO 14688)

In geology, a boulder is a rock fragment with size greater than 25.6 centimetres (10.1 in) in diameter. Smaller pieces are called cobbles and pebbles. While a boulder may be small enough to move or roll manually, others are extremely massive. In common usage, a boulder is too large for a person to move. Smaller boulders are usually just called rocks or stones. The word boulder is short for boulder stone, from Middle English bulderston or Swedish bullersten.

Bedrock Lithified rock under the regolith

In geology, bedrock is the lithified rock that lies under a loose softer material called regolith at the surface of the Earth or other terrestrial planets. The broken and weathered regolith includes soil and subsoil. The surface of the bedrock beneath the soil cover is known as rockhead in engineering geology, and its identification by digging, drilling or geophysical methods is an important task in most civil engineering projects. Superficial deposits can be extremely thick, such that the bedrock lies hundreds of meters below the surface.

Sandstone A clastic sedimentary rock composed mostly of sand-sized particles

Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments.

Watershed

The watershed of Rough Run has an area of 0.72 square miles (1.9 km2). [2] The stream is entirely within the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Elk Grove. [3] Its mouth is in the northernmost part of Sugarloaf Township, Columbia County. [5]

History and etymology

Rough Run was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1185512. [3]

Rough Run is named for the rapid speed which its waters flow at and also for the dense foliage that occurs along it. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Chimneystack Run is a tributary of Coles Creek in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.8 miles (2.9 km) long and flows through Sugarloaf Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 1.07 square miles (2.8 km2). The stream's headwaters are located between Red Rock Mountain and Central Mountain. It has no named tributaries, but one unnamed tributary. Chimneystack Run is named after Chimneystack Rock. Wild trout inhabit the stream. Glaciation has affected the geography and geology in its vicinity.

Marsh Run river in the United States of America

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Elk Run (West Branch Fishing Creek tributary) tributary of West Branch Fishing Creek in Sullivan and Columbia Counties, Pennsylvania

Elk Run is tributary of West Branch Fishing Creek in Sullivan County and Columbia County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 4.8 miles (7.7 km) long and flows through Davidson Township in Sullivan County and Sugarloaf Township in Columbia County. The watershed of the stream has an area of 7.49 square miles (19.4 km2). The stream has three named tributaries: Gallows Run, Hog Run, and Long Run. Elk Run is considered to be an Exceptional Value stream and a Migratory Fishery. The forests surrounding it are deemed by the Sullivan County Natural Areas Inventory to be a "locally significant" area. The stream is named for an elk that was killed in it in the 1840s.

Bloody Run (West Branch Fishing Creek tributary) tributary of West Branch Fishing Creek in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania

Bloody Run is a tributary of West Branch Fishing Creek in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 2.9 miles (4.7 km) long and flows through Davidson Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 1.30 square miles (3.4 km2). Various glacial tills and bedrock consisting of sandstone and shale are found in the vicinity of the stream. The stream is designated for use by aquatic life and is a High-Quality Coldwater Fishery.

Painter Run tributary of West Branch Fishing Creek in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania

Painter Run is a tributary of West Branch Fishing Creek in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) long and flows through Davidson Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 5.20 square miles (13.5 km2). It has one named tributary, which is known as Oxhorn Run and one unnamed tributary. Painter Run is slightly acidic, with pH values ranging from 5.99 to 6.88. The stream is in a narrow valley with several ridges nearby. Sandstone of the Pocono Formation occurs near it. At least two bridges have been constructed over the stream. Its unnamed tributary is considered to be Class A Wild Trout Waters.

Big Run is a tributary of West Branch Fishing Creek in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.0 mile (1.6 km) long and flows through Davidson Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 0.51 square miles (1.3 km2). The stream is somewhat acidic, with a pH that ranged from 4.02 to 4.65 during a study on the watershed of Fishing Creek. Wisconsinan Till, Boulder Colluvium, and bedrock consisting of sandstone and shale all occur in the vicinity of the stream.

Hemlock Run is a tributary of West Branch Fishing Creek in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.8 miles (2.9 km) long and flows through Davidson Township. The stream has three unnamed tributaries. Its watershed has an area of 1.28 square miles (3.3 km2). Wisconsinan Till Moraine, Wisconsinan Bouldery Till, Wisconsinan Flow-Till, and Wisconsinan Till all occur near the stream.

Laurel Run is a tributary of West Branch Fishing Creek in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long and flows through Davidson Township. The stream is in the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Elk Grove. Wisconsinan Flow-Till, Boulder Colluvium, Wisconsinan Till Moraine, alluvium, and alluvial fan occur in the vicinity of the stream, as does bedrock consisting of sandstone and shale. The southern terminus of the late Wisconsinan glaciation is also in the area. A wood plank bridge on stone masonry abutment walls crosses the stream.

Long Run is a tributary of Elk Run in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 2.4 miles (3.9 km) long and flows through Davidson Township. The stream's watershed has an area of 1.92 square miles (5.0 km2). It has no named tributaries, but four unnamed tributaries. The stream is considered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to be impaired by atmospheric deposition and metals. Wisconsinan Bouldery Till, Wisconsinan Till, and bedrock consisting of sandstone and shale occur in the vicinity of it.

Hog Run is a tributary of Elk Run in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 2.0 miles (3.2 km) long and flows through Davidson Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 1.05 square miles (2.7 km2). The stream is considered to be impaired by atmospheric deposition and metals. Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift, Wisconsinan Till, and bedrock consisting of shale and sandstone occur in the stream's vicinity.

Gallows Run is a tributary of Elk Run in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 0.7 miles (1.1 km) long and flows through Davidson Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 0.50 square miles (1.3 km2). The stream meets the standards of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Wisconsinan Till, Wisconsinan Bouldery Till, and bedrock consisting of sandstone and shale occur in the vicinity of the stream. There is also a patch of wetland in the area.

Oxhorn Run tributary of Painter Run in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania

Oxhorn Run is a tributary of Painter Run in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.8 miles (2.9 km) long and flows through Davidson Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 0.87 square miles (2.3 km2). The stream is considered to be impaired by atmospheric deposition and pH. Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift, Wisconsinan Till, and bedrock consisting of sandstone and shale occur in its vicinity.

Slip Run is a tributary of West Branch Fishing Creek in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.1 miles (1.8 km) long and flows through Davidson Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 0.53 square miles (1.4 km2). Wild trout naturally reproduce within the stream. Surficial geology in the area mainly consists of alluvium, Boulder Colluvium, Wisconsinan Till Moraine, Wisconsinan Till, and bedrock consisting of sandstone and shale.

Davis Hollow river in the United States of America

Davis Hollow is a tributary of Fishing Creek in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.4 miles (2.3 km) long and flows through Benton Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 0.80 square miles (2.1 km2). The surficial geology in its vicinity mainly consists of alluvium, alluvial terrace, Wisconsinan Till, Wisconsinan Lag, Illinoian Flow-Till, and Illinoian Lag.

Black Ash Creek river in the United States of America

Black Ash Creek is a tributary of Rogers Creek in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.9 miles (3.1 km) and flows through Ross Township. The watershed of the creek has an area of 1.46 square miles (3.8 km2). The creek is not impaired. The surficial geology in its vicinity consists of alluvium, Wisconsinan Outwash, Wisconsinan Till, and bedrock.

Brish Run is a tributary of Pine Creek in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and flows through Fairmount Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 0.66 square miles (1.7 km2). The stream has one unnamed tributary. The surficial geology in the vicinity of Brish Run mostly consists of Wisconsinan Till, but there is alluvium near its mouth and also bedrock in the area. The stream is being considered for wild trout designation.

West Branch Little Muncy Creek

West Branch Little Muncy Creek is a tributary of Little Muncy Creek in Sullivan County and Lycoming County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long and flows through Davidson Township in Sullivan County and Franklin Township and Jordan Township in Lycoming County. The watershed of the creek has an area of 4.33 square miles (11.2 km2). The creek has one named tributary, which is known as West Creek. The surficial geology in the vicinity of West Branch Little Muncy Creek includes alluvium, bedrock, fill, Wisconsinan and Reworked Illinoian Till, Wisconsinan Till, Wisconsinan Flow-Till, Wisconsinan Till Moraine, and Boulder Colluvium. The creek designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery and is being considered for addition to the wild trout waters list of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Little Indian Run is a tributary of Little Muncy Creek in Lycoming County and Sullivan County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 4.3 miles (6.9 km) long and flows through Franklin Township and Jordan Township in Lycoming County and Davidson Township in Sullivan County. The watershed of the stream has an area of 3.36 square miles (8.7 km2). The surficial geology in the stream's vicinity mainly consists of alluvium, bedrock, Wisconsinan Till, Wisconsinan Till Moraine, and Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift. Wild trout naturally reproduce within the stream. A number of sawmills were historically located on the stream.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer , retrieved December 25, 2014
  2. 1 2 Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, pp. 111, 123, retrieved December 25, 2014
  3. 1 2 3 Geographic Names Information System, Feature Detail Report for: Rough Run , retrieved December 25, 2014
  4. ↑ Duane D. Braun (2007), Surficial geology of the Elk Grove 7.5-Minute Quadrangle Sullivan, Columbia, and Lycoming Counties, Pennsylvania (PDF), p. 20, archived from the original (PDF) on July 12, 2007, retrieved December 26, 2014
  5. 1 2 Walter M. Brasch (1982), Columbia County Place Names, p. 187
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