Rock Creek (Tunkhannock Creek tributary)

Rock Creek begins in an unnamed lake in Herrick Township. It flows in a north-northeasterly direction for several tenths of a mile, entering Ararat Township. Here, the creek turns north-northwest for several tenths of a mile, entering a valley known as Chipmunk Hollow. Here, it receives an unnamed tributary from the right and turns west-northwest for several tenths of a mile. The creek then turns southwest for several tenths of a mile, entering Gibson Township and receiving two unnamed tributaries from the left and turning west-northwest. Several tenths of a mile further downstream, it receives an unnamed tributary from the right and turns west for a few tenths of a mile before reaching the end of Chipmunk Hollow and turning south. After several tenths of a mile of flowing parallel to Tunkhannock Creek, it enters a wetland and turns southwest, reaching its confluence with Tunkhannock Creek.{{citation|author = United States Geological Survey|url = http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/|title = The National Map Viewer|accessdate = August 1, 2016}}

Rock Creek is approximately {{convert|3.8|mi|km}} long. It joins Tunkhannock Creek {{convert|34.02|mi|km}} upstream of its mouth.{{Citation|url = http://www.lycoming.edu/cwi/pdfs/paGazetterOfStreams.pdf |title = Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams|page = 121|date = November 2, 2001|accessdate = August 1, 2016}}

Rock Creek is not designated as an impaired waterbody.{{citation|author = United States Environmental Protection Agency|url = https://oaspub.epa.gov/tmdl/attains_waterbody.control?p_list_id=&p_au_id=PA11276&p_cycle=2006&p_state=PA&p_report_type=A|title = 2006 Waterbody Report for Rock Creek|accessdate = August 1, 2016}} The total concentration of alkalinity in the creek is {{convert|39|mg/L|oz/cuft|sp=us}}.{{citation|author = Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission|url = http://fishandboat.com/classa.pdf|title = Class A Wild Trout Waters|page = 28|date = July 2016|accessdate = August 1, 2016}}

The elevation near the mouth of Rock Creek is {{convert|1045|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:1185249,Rock%20Creek|title = Feature Detail Report for: Rock Creek|accessdate = August 1, 2016}} The elevation near the creek's source is {{convert|1960|ft|m}} above sea level.

Rock Creek has been described as a small creek.{{citation|author = David G. Lappin|url = http://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/feat_folder?p_file=581249|title = PA_1185249_001_Rock Creek_frm_1968.pdf|date = December 9, 1968|accessdate = August 1, 2016}}

The surficial geology near the lower reaches of Rock Creek mainly consists of alluvial terrace and alluvial fan, with some alluvium. Further upstream, the surficial geology near the creek mainly consists of a till known as Wisconsinan Till, with bedrock consisting of sandstone and shale on nearby hills, a patch of alluvium, a small patch of fill, and a couple of lakes.{{citation|author = Duane D. Braun|url = http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_015784.zip|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140524162327/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_015784.zip|url-status = dead|archive-date = May 24, 2014|title = Surficial geology of the Thompson 7.5-minute quadrangle, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania|page = 11|year = 2010|accessdate = August 1, 2016}}

The watershed of Rock Creek has an area of {{convert|3.76|sqmi|km2}}. The creek is entirely within the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Thompson. Its mouth is located within {{convert|1|mi|km}} of Smiley.

A lake known as Willis Lake at the headwaters of an unnamed tributary to Rock Creek. It has a surface area of {{convert|25.3|acre|ha}}, a typical depth of {{convert|21|ft|m}} (sometimes reaching up to {{convert|30|ft|m}}) and a volume of {{convert|113000000|gal|m3}}.{{citation|author = Pennsylvania Water Supply Commission|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=nONAAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Willis+Lake%22+%22susquehanna+county%22+pa&pg=PA152|title = Water Resources Inventory Report ...: Act of July 25, 1913, Part 4|page = 152|year = 1917|accessdate = August 1, 2016}}

Wild trout naturally reproduce in Rock Creek from its headwaters downstream to its mouth.{{citation|author = Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission|url = http://fishandboat.com/trout_repro.pdf|title = Pennsylvania Wild Trout Waters (Natural Reproduction) - July 2016|page = 87|date = July 2016|accessdate = August 1, 2016}} The creek is designated as Class A Wild Trout Waters from its headwaters downstream to its mouth.

The designated use for Rock Creek is aquatic life.

Rock Creek was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1185249. The creek is also known as Chipmunk Hollow in a 1932 United States Geological Survey map. However, in 1968, David G. Lappin unsuccessfully attempted to verify this name, but all residents who were asked referred to it as Rock Creek.

A farm known as Rock Creek Farm has existed on Rock Creek since at least the 1960s.

A concrete culvert bridge carrying State Route 2036 across Rock Creek was constructed in Gibson Township in 1980 and is {{convert|22.0|ft|m}} long.{{citation|url = http://uglybridges.com/pa/susquehanna/|title = Susquehanna County|accessdate = August 1, 2016}}

• Bear Swamp Creek, next tributary of Tunkhannock Creek going downstream
• List of rivers of Pennsylvania

{{Reflist}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Rivers of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania

Category:Tributaries of Tunkhannock Creek

Category:Rivers of Pennsylvania