| Turtle Creek | |
|---|---|
 Turtle Creek looking upstream in Mocanaqua | |
 | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | valley near Lee Road in Conyngham Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania |
| • elevation | between 860 and 880 feet (260 and 270 m) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Susquehanna River in Mocanaqua in Conyngham Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania |
• coordinates | 41°08′33″N76°08′40″W / 41.14239°N 76.14447°W /41.14239; -76.14447 |
• elevation | 482 ft (147 m) |
| Length | 2.5 mi (4.0 km) |
| Basin size | 1.59 sq mi (4.1 km2) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Susquehanna River →Chesapeake Bay |
Turtle Creek (also known asTurtle Run) is atributary of theSusquehanna River inLuzerne County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long and flows throughConyngham Township.[1] The watershed of the creek has an area of 1.59 square miles (4.1 km2). Wisconsinan Bouldery Till, Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift, Wisconsinan Outwash, alluvium, alluvial terrace, fill, and coal dumps all occur in the vicinity of the creek.[2][3] The creek has been the subject of a flood protection project. Its watershed is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery.
Turtle Creek begins in a valley near Lee Road in Conyngham Township. It flows west-southwest for approximately a mile and a half (2.5 kilometers) alongside Lee Road before passing through apond or smalllake and entersMocanaqua. In Mocanaqua, the creek continues flowing west-southwest for a few tenths of a mile before turning northwest. After a few tenths of a mile, it turns west-southwest again and after a few tenths of a mile, reaches its confluence with the Susquehanna River.[1]
Turtle Creek joins the Susquehanna River 171.70 miles (276.32 km) upriver of its mouth.[4]
Turtle creek is aperennial stream.[5]
The elevation near themouth of Turtle Creek is 482 feet (147 m) abovesea level.[6] The elevation of the creek'ssource is between 860 and 880 feet (260 and 270 m) above sea level.[1]
The surficial geology in the vicinity of the upper reaches of Turtle Creek mostly featuresbedrock consisting ofsandstone andshale. However, some patches of Wisconsinan Bouldery Till, a glacial or resedimentedtill containing numerousboulders, occurs in the creek's valley. Large areas ofstrip mining land occur to the north of its valley.[2] In its lower reaches, the surficial geology of the creek mostly features Wisconsinan Bouldery Till and Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift, which contains stratifiedsand andgravel along with some boulders. Wisconsinan Outwash,alluvium,alluvial terrace,fill, and coal dumps (large piles of coal waste) also occur near the creek's mouth.[3]
The valley of Turtle Creek is a deep and narrowstrike valley. During thelate Wisconsinan glaciation,basal ice flowed along the valley.Penobscot Mountain is located to the south of the creek.[2]
Abridge carrying Paradise Avenue crosses Turtle Creek in Conyngham Township approximately 400 feet (120 m) northeast of the intersection ofPennsylvania Route 239 and State Route 3004. In 1997, Conyngham Township received a permit to replace the bridge with another structure. The proposed structure contained a 10.9-foot by 4.25-footaluminum boxculvert.[7]
Thewatershed of Turtle Creek has an area of 1.59 square miles (4.1 km2).[4] The mouth of the creek is in theUnited States Geological Survey quadrangle of Shickshinny. However, the source is in the quadrangle of Nanticoke.[6] The drainage basin is part of the Lower North Branch Susquehanna drainage basin.[8]
Turtle Creek was entered into theGeographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System 1189974. Turtle Creek, is also known as Turtle Run.[6] This name appears on Patton's Philadelphia and Suburbs Street and Road Map of 1984.[9]
ThePennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has completed aflood protection project on Turtle Creek.[10] Such a project was considered as early as 1957.[11]
The entire drainage basin of Turtle Creek is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery.[12]