Fisher Run

Fisher Run is a tributary of Catawissa Creek in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 2.9 miles (4.7 km) long and flows through Main Township and Beaver Township.[1] The stream is impaired by acid mine drainage. It is considered to be a high-quality coldwater fishery and Class A Wild Trout Waters. The watershed of the stream has an area of 3.03 square miles (7.8 km2).

Fisher Run
Fisher Run looking upstream in its lower reaches
Etymologynamed after Isaac Fisher
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationCatawissa Mountain in Main Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania
 • elevation1,340 ft (410 m)
Mouth 
 • location
Catawissa Creek in Beaver Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania
 • coordinates
40°57′24″N 76°21′20″W
 • elevation
574 ft (175 m)
Length2.9 mi (4.7 km)
Basin size3.03 sq mi (7.8 km2)
Basin features
ProgressionCatawissa Creek → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay
Tributaries 
 • right"Trib 27549 To Fisher Run"

Course
Fisher Run looking downstream in its lower reaches

Fisher Run begins on Catawissa Mountain in southwestern Main Township. The stream flows east in a valley and crosses a road within a few tenths of a mile. A short distance later, it turns northeast for well over a mile. It eventually crosses Fisher Run Road and then Iron Bridge Road. Immediately after crossing Iron Bridge Road, the stream turns southeast and enters Beaver Township. In Beaver Township, the stream almost immediately reaches its confluence with Catawissa Creek.[1]

Fisher Run joins Catawissa Creek 8.78 miles (14.13 km) upstream of its mouth.[2]

Tributaries

Fisher Run has one unnamed tributary. It is known as "Trib 27549 To Fisher Run".[3]

Hydrology

Fisher Run is considered to be impaired by acid mine drainage and metals.[3] It is one of several streams and creeks in the watershed of Catawissa Creek with this impairment. The pH of the stream is between 6.0 and 6.9.[3] The total concentration of alkalinity is 4 milligrams per liter.[4]

Geography and geology

The elevation near the mouth of Fisher Run is 574 feet (175 m) above sea level.[5] The elevation of the stream's source is approximately 1,340 feet (410 m) above sea level.[1]

Most of the upper reaches of the watershed of Fisher Run are on rock of the Pocono Formation and most of the lower reaches are on rock of the Mauch Chunk Formation. However, the southern part of the watershed is on rock of the Spechty Kopf Formation and the Buddys Run Member of the Catskill Formation.[3]

The main soils in the watershed of Fisher Run are the Leck Kill soil, the Hazleton soil, and the Watson soil.[3]

Watershed, history, and etymology

The watershed of Fisher Run has an area of 3.03 square miles (7.8 km2).[2] Most of the watershed is in Main Township. However, substantial areas of it are in Catawissa Township and Roaring Creek Township. A small portion of the watershed is in Beaver Township.[3]

The upper reaches and most of the rest of the watershed of Fisher Run are in Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 58. However, the stream flows through agricultural land in its lower reaches.[3]

Fisher Run is most likely named after Isaac Fisher.[6]

Biology

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection considers Fisher Run to be a high-quality coldwater fishery.[3] It is also considered by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to be Class A Wild Trout Waters between its headwaters and its mouth.[4] The stream is inhabited by brook trout, which also reproduce naturally throughout the stream.[4][7]

See also

References
  1. United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, archived from the original on April 5, 2012, retrieved September 12, 2014
  2. Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, retrieved September 12, 2014
  3. Pennsylvania Environmental Council (December 9, 2010), Catawissa Creek Watershed Rivers Conservation Plan (PDF), retrieved September 11, 2014
  4. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (December 16, 2013), Class A Wild Trout Waters (PDF), p. 17, retrieved September 14, 2014
  5. Topographic Map Stream Features in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, archived from the original on July 28, 2014, retrieved September 12, 2014
  6. Walter M. Brasch (1982), Columbia County place names, p. 86
  7. Pennsylvania Wild Trout Waters (Natural Reproduction) – July 2013 (PDF), July 2013, archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2014, retrieved September 14, 2014
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