Little Buffalo Creek

File:Little Buffalo Creek looking downstream.JPG

Little Buffalo Creek begins at the base of a mountain in White Deer Township. It flows south for a short distance before turning east-northeast and then east-southeast. Several tenths of a mile further downstream, the creek turns east-northeast for a few miles before turning south-southeast and entering a valley. After several tenths of a mile, it turns south and enters Kelly Township. The creek continues flowing south for some distance before meandering east for several tenths of a mile. It then turns south again for a few tenths of a mile before turning southwest. The creek then turns south-southeast, then east-northeast, before finally turning southwest. Several tenths of a mile further downstream, it reaches its confluence with Buffalo Creek.

Little Buffalo Creek joins Buffalo Creek {{convert|3.30|mi|km}} upstream of its mouth.{{Citation|url = http://www.lycoming.edu/cwi/pdfs/paGazetterOfStreams.pdf|title = Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams|page = 87|date = November 2, 2001|access-date = August 6, 2015}}

Little Buffalo Creek is impacted by nutrients, sediment, E. coli, and thermal radiation.

In 2000, the sediment load in Little Buffalo Creek was {{convert|2565051|lb|kg}}, while in 2008, it was {{convert|2430940|lb|kg}}. This equates to a unit area load of around {{convert|200|lb/acre|kg/ha}}. However, in the future, the sediment load could be reduced by 66.94 percent to {{convert|803723|lb|kg}} per year. The largest contributors of sediment to the creek in 2000 were streambank erosion ({{convert|1259807|lb|kg}}) and row crops ({{convert|962287|lb|kg}}). Hay and pastures contributed {{convert|127748|lb|kg}} and low-density urban land contributed {{convert|36520|lb|kg}}. {{convert|178689|lb|kg}} came from other sources.

In 2000, the nitrogen load of Little Buffalo Creek was {{convert|121901|lb|kg}} and in 2008, it was {{convert|120819|lb|kg}}. This equates to a unit area load of just under {{convert|10|lb/acre|kg/ha}}. However, in the future, the annual load could be reduced by 39.11 percent to {{convert|2597|lb|kg}}.

The phosphorus load of Little Buffalo Creek was {{convert|4377|lb|kg}} in 2000, while in 2008, it was {{convert|4265|lb|kg}}. This equates to a unit area load of less than {{convert|0.4|lb/acre|kg/ha}}. However, in the future, the phosphorus load could be reduced by 66.94 percent to {{convert|803723|lb|kg}} per year.

The elevation near the mouth of Little Buffalo Creek is {{convert|456|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:1179489,Little%20Buffalo%20Creek|title = Feature Detail Report for: Little Buffalo Creek|access-date = August 6, 2015}} The elevation of the creek's source is between {{convert|800|and|820|ft|m}} above sea level.

There are {{convert|0.6|mi|km}} of fencing and {{convert|0.0|mi|km}} of stabilization along streams in the watershed of Little Buffalo Creek. There are also significant flood-prone areas along the creek, which, during a flood, could make access to emergency services in western Kelly Township difficult.{{citation|url = http://elibrary.pacounties.org/Documents/Union_County/2256;%20Kelly%20Township/4211939136mcp.pdf|title = KELLY TOWNSHIP 1992 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE REPORT|page = 24|year = 1992|access-date = August 6, 2015}} There are some floodplain areas along the creek and its tributaries.

Little Buffalo Creek cuts through the Buffalo Mountain Anticlinal. Additionally, the Milton Anticlinal is located near the creek.{{Citation|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-HQMAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Little+Buffalo+Creek%22&pg=PA95|title = Report of Progress|pages = 91–92, 95|year = 1891|access-date = August 6, 2015}}

Outcroppings of the Ore sandstone are visible at the Buffalo Mountain Anticlinal on Little Buffalo Creek. Shales of the Bloomsburg Formation also occur in the watershed of the creek. Additionally, limestone of the Lower Helderberg Formation occurs near the creek.

The watershed of Little Buffalo Creek has an area of {{convert|19.0|sqmi|km2}}. The mouth of the creek is in the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Lewisburg. However, the source is in the quadrangle of Williamsport SE. The creek also flows through the quadrangle of Allenwood. It is one of the major tributaries of Buffalo Creek. The watershed makes up 14 percent of the Buffalo Creek drainage basin and is in the northeastern corner of that watershed.{{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 = 10–11, 16, 19, 24–25, 27–28, 30, 57–59, 61, 95–101|date = November 2008|access-date = August 6, 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}}

There are {{convert|38.7|mi|km}} of streams in the watershed of Little Buffalo Creek. Of these, {{convert|14.6|mi|km}} are in agricultural land. Forested land is more common in the watershed's upper reaches, while agricultural land is more common in the lower reaches. The creek does not flow through any protected areas, but its headwaters are not far from state forest lands. There are no major highways in the watershed, but Interstate 80 passes close to its northeastern edge.

A total of 54 percent of the watershed of Little Buffalo Creek is on forested land. Another 37 percent is on agricultural land. Only 3 percent of the watershed is impervious, but this could rise to 26 percent in the future. The watershed contains {{convert|2632|acre|ha}} of row crops and {{convert|2572|acre|ha}} of hay and pastures. A total of {{convert|1049|acre|ha}} of agricultural land in the watershed is on slopes of more than 3 percent. There are patches of commercial and residential land in the creek's watershed.

There are no unpaved roads in the watershed of Little Buffalo Creek.

Little Buffalo Creek was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1179489.

A gristmill and a sawmill were built on Little Buffalo Creek during the winter of 1774 to 1775.{{Citation|author = John Blair Linn|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=UqkHAwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Little+Buffalo+Creek%22+union+county+pa&pg=PA213|title = Annals of Buffalo Valley, Pennsylvania|page = 62|year = 1877|isbn = 9785870776095|access-date = August 6, 2015}} The Hubbler Bridge, which is also known as the Lewisburg Penitentiary Bridge, is located on Little Buffalo Creek {{convert|2|mi|km}} west of Lewisburg. It is on private property.{{Citation|author = Terry Shively|work = Millmont Times|url = http://millmonttimes.com/downloads/June%202006%20Millmont%20Times.pdf|title = THE COVERED BRIDGES OF PENNSYLVANIA|page = 2|date = June 1, 2006|access-date = August 6, 2015}} A bridge built over the creek in 1850 was used as a route for transporting grain to Campbell's Mill.{{Citation|author = Union County Planning Commission|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Qc_iAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Little+Buffalo+Creek%22|title = Historic Preservation Plan of Union County, Pennsylvania: Historic preservation plan|page = 91|year = 1977|access-date = August 6, 2015}}

A bridge carrying T-404 over Little Buffalo Creek was built before 1977. It is {{convert|4|mi|km}} west of New Columbia and is {{convert|35.1|ft|m}} long. A bridge carrying State Route 1003 was built over the creek {{convert|1|mi|km}} north of Kelly Cross Roads in 1934. This bridge is {{convert|50.9|ft|m}} long and was repaired in 1983. Another bridge carrying that road was built over the creek {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} north of Kelly Cross Roads in 1936 and is {{convert|35.1|ft|m}} long. A two-span bridge was built across the creek {{convert|2|mi|km}} south of Kelly Cross Roads in 1949, was repaired in 2002, and is {{convert|78.9|ft|m}} long. In 1950, a bridge carrying State Route 1004 was constructed over the creek in Kelly Cross Roads and is {{convert|58.1|ft|m}} long. In 1951, a bridge carrying State Route 1006 was built over Little Buffalo Creek in {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} northeast of Kelly Cross Roads and is {{convert|54.1|ft|m}} long.{{Citation|url = http://www.uglybridges.com/pa/union/|title = Union County|access-date = August 6, 2015}}

A bridge with a length of {{convert|78.1|ft|m}} was built across Little Buffalo Creek in 1985 and carries State Route 1003 {{convert|1|mi|km}} west of Kelly Point. A bridge with a length of {{convert|61.0|ft|m}} was built over the creek in 1991 and carries T-391 {{convert|0.9|mi|km}} east of Kelly Point.

In the 2008 report, the watershed of Little Buffalo Creek was ranked fourth amongst several sub-watersheds in the Buffalo Creek drainage basin for restoration priority. In 2014, the a $329,851 grant from the Growing Greener program was issued to the Union County Conservation District for agricultural best management practices in the creek's watershed.{{Citation|newspaper = PR Newswire|url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/governor-corbett-announces-118-grants-to-protect-improve-watersheds-in-40-counties-241485221.html|title = Governor Corbett Announces 118 Grants to Protect, Improve Watersheds in 40 Counties|date = January 22, 2014|access-date = August 6, 2015}}

The drainage basin of Little Buffalo Creek is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery.{{Citation|work = Pennsylvania Code|url = http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/025/chapter93/s93.9l.html|title = § 93.9l. Drainage List L. Susquehanna River Basin in Pennsylvania West Branch Susquehanna River|access-date = August 6, 2015}} Wild trout naturally reproduce on a reach of the creek from the T442 bridge downstream to the second State Route 1006 bridge. This reach is {{convert|1.99|mi|km}} long.{{Citation|author = Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission|url = http://fishandboat.com/trout_repro.pdf|title = Pennsylvania Wild Trout Waters (Natural Reproduction) - May 2015|access-date = August 6, 2015}} A group of spawning white suckers were observed in the creek in the 1920s.{{Citation|author = Norman Hamilton Stewart|work = Bulletin of the Bureau of Fisheries|url = http://www.nativefishlab.net/library/textpdf/14323.pdf|title = DEVELOPMENT, GROWTH, and FOOD HABITS of the WHITE SUCKER, CATOSTOMUS COMMERSONII LESUEUR|page = 3|year = 1926|access-date = August 6, 2015}}

A population of American eels was released into Little Buffalo Creek in 2013. The eels also carried with them the larvae of freshwater mussels. The aim of the project was to restore American eels and freshwater mussels to the ecosystem of the Susquehanna River.{{Citation|url = http://m.chesapeake360.com/marinerchesapeake/fishing/article_51ef2e42-abed-11e0-ac21-001cc4c03286.html?mode=jqm|title = Eels released into Little Buffalo Creek|date = June 6, 2013|access-date = August 6, 2015|archive-url = https://archive.today/20140610182334/http://m.chesapeake360.com/marinerchesapeake/fishing/article_51ef2e42-abed-11e0-ac21-001cc4c03286.html?mode=jqm|archive-date = June 10, 2014|url-status = dead}}

In a 2008 study, Little Buffalo Creek was found to be less biologically impaired than expected given the amount of agricultural activity and livestock in its watershed. Additionally, some wetlands have been created along the creek by landowners to serve as waterfowl habitats and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program of the United States Department of Agriculture has installed riparian buffers on the creek in some formerly agricultural land.

The pathogen load of Little Buffalo Creek is 6.646 × 10¹⁵ organisms per month. 5.684 × 10¹⁵ of those organisms come from urban areas, while 9.564 × 10¹⁴ come from farm animals and 3.214 × 10¹² come from septic systems. The remaining 2.182 × 10¹² come from wild animals.

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

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Category:Rivers of Union County, Pennsylvania

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

Category:Rivers of Pennsylvania