Chillisquaque Creek
Chillisquaque Creek is a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River in Montour County and Northumberland County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 20.2 miles (32.5 km) long and flows through Derry Township, Washingtonville, and Liberty Township in Montour County and East Chillisquaque Township and West Chillisquaque Township in Northumberland County. The watershed of the creek has an area of 112 square miles (290 km2). Agricultural impacts have caused most of the streams in the watershed of the creek (including the main stem) to be impaired. Causes of impairment include sedimentation/siltation and habitat alteration. The average annual discharge of the creek between 1980 and 2014 ranged from 48.2 to 146.0 cubic feet per second (1.36 to 4.13 m3/s). Its watershed mainly consists of rolling agricultural land. The creek's channel flows through rock formations consisting of sandstone and shale. It is a warmwater stream.
| Chillisquaque Creek Chilisquaque Creek | |
|---|---|
Chillisquaque Creek looking downstream above Washingtonville | |
| Etymology | probably "place of the snow-birds", but possibly "flight of the wild goose", "frozen duck", or "man made perfect" |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | confluence of Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek and East Branch Chillisquaque Creek in Derry Township, Montour County, Pennsylvania |
| • elevation | 520 ft (160 m) |
| Mouth | |
• location | West Branch Susquehanna River in West Chillisquaque Township, Pennsylvania |
• coordinates | 40°55′59″N 76°51′37″W |
• elevation | 430 ft (130 m) |
| Length | 20.2 mi (32.5 km) |
| Basin size | 112 sq mi (290 km2) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | West Branch Susquehanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | East Branch Chillisquaque Creek, Mud Creek, Beaver Run |
| • right | Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek, West Branch Chillisquaque Creek |
The watershed of Chillisquaque Creek occupies parts of four counties: Columbia County, Montour County, Northumberland County, and Lycoming County. There is a gauging station along the creek near Washingtonville. A Shawnee village had been established at the confluence with the West Branch Susquehanna River by 1728. A fort known as Fort Bosley also historically existed on the creek near Washingtonville. Numerous bridges were built over the creek in the 19th and 20th centuries, two of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. The creek is designated as a Warmwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. It lacks trout, but has in the past been stocked with various other fish species. A tract of the creek's floodplain is known as the Chillisquaque Creek Natural Area and is owned by Bucknell University. Various bird species have been observed near it and woodland wildflowers inhabit the creek's vicinity. Recreational opportunities in the watershed include canoeing and fishing.