:Muddy Run (Spruce Run tributary)

File:Muddy Run looking upstream.JPG

Muddy Run begins near the base of Buffalo Mountain in West Buffalo Township. It flows east-southeast for several tenths of a mile before turning east-northeast and then east-southeast. Several tenths of a mile further downstream, the stream turns south-southeast for a few tenths of a mile before entering Buffalo Township and turning east for a few miles. It then turns southeast for several tenths of a mile before turning northeast. Several hundred feet further downstream, it reaches its confluence with Spruce Run.

Muddy Run joins Spruce Run {{convert|0.34|mi|km}} upstream of its mouth.{{Citation|url = http://www.lycoming.edu/cwi/pdfs/paGazetterOfStreams.pdf|title = Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams|page = 103|date = November 2, 2001|access-date = July 24, 2015}}

A total of {{convert|2.6|mi|km}} of streams in the watershed of Muddy Run are designated as impaired waterbodies. The cause of the impairment is sedimentation/siltation and the source of the impairment is grazing-related agriculture.{{Citation|author = United States Environmental Protection Agency|url = http://oaspub.epa.gov/tmdl/attains_waterbody.control?p_list_id=&p_au_id=PA932&p_cycle=2006&p_state=PA&p_report_type=A|title = 2006 Waterbody Report for Muddy Run|access-date = July 24, 2015}} The total maximum daily load date is 2015. In addition to sediment, Muddy Run is also affected by E. coli, nutrient pollution, and thermal radiation.

In 2000, the load of sediment in Muddy Run was {{convert|526669|lb|kg}}, while in 2008 it was {{convert|494901|lb|kg}}. This equates to somewhere between {{convert|150|and|200|lb/acre|kg/ha}}. In the future, the load could be reduced by 50.30 percent to {{convert|245956|lb|kg}} per year. In 2000, the nitrogen load in the stream was {{convert|37176|lb|kg}} and in 2008, it was {{convert|36879|lb|kg}}. This equates to somewhere between {{convert|10|and|15|lb/acre|kg/ha}}. In the future, the nitrogen load could be reduced by 20.26 percent to {{convert|29406|lb|kg}} per year. In 2000 and 2008, the phosphorus load was {{convert|1372|and|1343|lb|kg}}, respectively. This equates to more than {{convert|0.4|lb/acre|kg/ha}}. In the future, the phosphorus load could be reduced by 37.53 percent to {{convert|839|lb|kg}} per year.

Of the {{convert|526669|lb|kg}} of sediment in Muddy Run in 2000, {{convert|247195|lb|kg}} came from row crops and {{convert|144298|lb|kg}} came from streambank erosion. Another {{convert|32677|lb|kg}} came from hay and pastures, while {{convert|11133|lb|kg}} came from unpaved roads. A total of {{convert|8838|lb|kg}} came from low-density urban development, while {{convert|82528|lb|kg}} came from other sources.

In 2000, the total load of nitrogen in Muddy Run from groundwater was {{convert|14221|lb|kg}}. The load from row crops was {{convert|1588|lb|kg}} and the load from hay and pastures was {{convert|983|lb|kg}}. The nitrogen load from low-density urban development was {{convert|85|lb|kg}}, the load from unpaved roads was {{convert|45|lb|kg}}, and the load from septic systems was {{convert|44|lb|kg}}. A total of {{convert|7|lb|kg}} came from streambank erosion and {{convert|431|lb|kg}} came from other sources.

In 2000, the total load of phosphorus in Muddy Run from row crops was {{convert|250|lb|kg}} and the load from groundwater was {{convert|229|lb|kg}}. The load from hay and pastures was {{convert|99|lb|kg}}, the load from low-density urban land was {{convert|14|lb|kg}}, {{convert|7|lb|kg}} came from unpaved roads, and {{convert|6|lb|kg}} came from septic systems. Other sources contributed {{convert|3|lb|kg}}.

The elevation near the mouth of Muddy Run is {{convert|486|ft|m}} above sea level.{{Citation|author = Geographic Names Information System|url = http://gnis.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=136:3:0::NO:3:P3_FID,P3_TITLE:1182059,Muddy%20Run|title = Feature Detail Report for: Muddy Run|access-date = July 24, 2015}} The elevation of the stream's source is between {{convert|780|and|800|ft|m|0}} above sea level.

A total of {{convert|0.2|mi|km}} of streams in the watershed of Muddy Run are flanked by fences, though this could eventually increase to {{convert|4.3|mi|km}}. Stabilization occurs on only {{convert|0.1|mi|km}} of streams, though this could increase to {{convert|9.7|mi|km}} in the future.

The watershed of Muddy Run has an area of {{convert|4.57|sqmi|km2}}. The mouth of the stream is in the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Lewisburg. However, the source is in the quadrangle of Mifflinburg. The watershed makes up 3 percent of the watershed of Buffalo Creek. There are {{convert|9.7|mi|km}} of streams in the watershed of Muddy Run, of which {{convert|4.3|mi|km}} are in agricultural land.{{Citation|author = Union County Conservation District, Buffalo Creek Watershed Alliance|url = http://www.pacd.org/webfresh/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/UnionCIP.pdf|title = 319 Watershed Implementation Plan: Buffalo Creek Watershed Union County, PA|pages = 24, 29–30, 49, 57–59, 102–103|date = November 2008|access-date = July 24, 2015|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030700/http://www.pacd.org/webfresh/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/UnionCIP.pdf|archive-date = March 4, 2016}}

A total of 57 percent of the watershed of Muddy Run is on forested land. Another 35 percent is on agricultural land, while 3 percent is on impervious surfaces. The amount of land on impervious surfaces could be as high as 26 percent in the future. There is a field lane improvement project on {{convert|1625|ft|m}} of Muddy Run. A total of {{convert|227|acre|ha}} of agricultural land in the watershed is on slopes of more than 3 percent. There are {{convert|1.2|mi|km}} of unpaved roads in the stream's watershed.

A total of {{convert|2.4|mi|km}} of streams in the watershed of Muddy Run have riparian buffering, but this could increase to as much as {{convert|4.3|mi|km}} in the future.

Muddy Run was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1182059. While some deeds reference Muddy Run as the name, the original name was Armstrong Run, as depicted on an official survey map of Union County dated 1874. Armstrong Run is also the name referenced in the landowners and residents map published in 1868 by Pomeroy and Beers of Philadelphia.

A concrete stringer/multi-beam or girder bridge carrying State Route 1001 was constructed over Muddy Run in Mazeppa in 1932. It is {{convert|24|ft|m}} long.{{Citation|url = http://www.uglybridges.com/pa/union/|title = Union County|access-date = July 24, 2015| publisher = Ugly Bridges.com}}

• Black Run (Spruce Run), next tributary of Spruce Run going upstream
• List of rivers of Pennsylvania

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Rivers of Union County, Pennsylvania

Category:Tributaries of Buffalo Creek (West Branch Susquehanna River)

Category:Rivers of Pennsylvania