Big Run (West Branch Fishing Creek tributary)

Big Run begins on a plateau in Davidson Township. It flows southeast and almost immediately leaves the plateau and begins descending steeply through a deep and narrow valley. After several tenths of a mile, the stream gradually turns south. A short distance further downstream, it crosses Fishing Creek Road and reaches its confluence with West Branch Fishing Creek.

Big Run joins West Branch Fishing Creek {{convert|6.44|mi|km}} upstream of its mouth.{{Citation|url = http://www.lycoming.edu/cwi/pdfs/paGazetterOfStreams.pdf|title = Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams|date = November 2, 2001|accessdate = January 1, 2015}}

Between June 2010 and April 2011, the water temperature of Big Run was measured four times during a study of the Fishing Creek watershed. The highest temperature, {{convert|59.0|F|C}} occurred on June 18, 2010 and the second-highest temperature, {{convert|41.1|F|C}}, occurred on November 13, 2010. The second-lowest temperature occurred, {{convert|39.7|F|C}} on April 9, 2011. The lowest temperature, {{convert|32.3|F|C}}, occurred on January 4, 2011.{{Citation|url = https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?oe=UTF8&ie=UTF8&msa=0&jsv=255b&vps=1&mid=zHxAV3ajmveM.kzQieuetM3iI|title = Fishing Creek Watershed Study|accessdate = January 1, 2015}}

Between June 2010 and April 2011, the specific conductivity of the waters of Big Run was measured four times during the study of the Fishing Creek watershed . The highest specific conductivity was 20 micro-siemens per centimeter. This value occurred on June 18, 2010. The lowest specific conductivity occurred on January 4, 2011. The value was 6 micro-siemens per centimeter. The specific conductivity was 15 micro-siemens per centimeter on November 13, 2010 and April 9, 2011.

The pH of Big Run was measured four times during the study of the Fishing Creek watershed between June 2010 and April 2011. The highest pH was 4.65 and it occurred on November 13, 2010. The second-highest pH was 4.37. This value occurred on June 18, 2010. The second-lowest was 4.13 and occurred on January 4, 2011. The lowest pH, 4.02, occurred on April 9, 2011.

Big Run is designated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for use for aquatic life.{{Citation|url = http://sullivancounty-pa.org/app/download/6774752704/FishingInSullivanCounty20120626.pdf|title = Attaining/Non-Attaining Streams|date = June 26, 2012|accessdate = January 1, 2015|url-status = dead|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150119120439/http://sullivancounty-pa.org/app/download/6774752704/FishingInSullivanCounty20120626.pdf|archivedate = January 19, 2015}} It attains the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's standards for this use.

The elevation near the mouth of Big Run is {{convert|1434|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:1169569,Big%20Run|archive-url = https://archive.today/20150101171232/http://gnis.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=136:3:0::NO:3:P3_FID,P3_TITLE:1169569,Big%20Run|url-status = dead|archive-date = January 1, 2015|title = Feature Detail Report for: Big Run|accessdate = January 1, 2015}} The elevation of the stream's source is between {{convert|2240|and|2260|ft|m}} above sea level.

In its lower reaches, Big Run is on a glacial till known as the Wisconsinan Till. This till is a diamict that is unstratified or poorly stratified. In part of the area where the stream is in the vicinity of Wisconsinan Till, the till is underlain by alternating layers of silt and clay. Each layer is approximately {{convert|1|in|cm}} thick. Boulder Colluvium occurs near the stream's headwaters. The majority of the surface is covered in boulders consisting of quartz, sandstone, or conglomerate. Bedrock consisting of sandstone and shale can be found in the vicinity of the stream, especially in its middle and upper reaches.{{Citation|author=Duane D. Braun |url=http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/openfile/elkgrove.pdf |title=Surficial geology of the Elk Grove 7.5-Minute Quadrangle Sullivan, Columbia, and Lycoming Counties, Pennsylvania |year=2007 |accessdate=January 1, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712171601/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/openfile/elkgrove.pdf |archivedate=July 12, 2007 }}

The watershed of Big Run has an area of {{convert|0.51|sqmi|km2}}. The stream is entirely within the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Elk Grove.

Big Run was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1169569.

• Painter Run, next tributary of West Branch Fishing Creek going downstream
• Shingle Mill Run, next tributary of West Branch Fishing Creek going upstream

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Category:Rivers of Sullivan County, Pennsylvania

Category:Tributaries of Fishing Creek (North Branch Susquehanna River)

Category:Rivers of Pennsylvania