Cherry Creek Watershed
| Cherry Creek is a second order valley stream located at
the north slope base of Kittatinny Mountain in southeastern Monroe County,
Pennsylvania; Northampton County is located just south of that location. The
creek originates from two ponds just east of Route 33 and south of
Saylorsburg, and the flow is substantially increased by large springs
located a short distance downstream from the pond outflow and above the
Cherry Valley Trout Hatchery.
The watershed covers 13,314 acres, about 20.8 square miles in total. The Cherry Valley substrate is primarily gravel, sand and silt with scattered cobble and boulders located in higher gradient riffle areas where scouring occurs. The underlying geology is a complex of limestone, shale and siltstone overlain with unconsolidated glacial deposits of silt, sand and gravel in the valley. Because of the limestone formations, Cherry Creek has a much higher pH, alkalinity and total dissolved solids than is found in most Pocono area streams, which generally are acidic with a low mineral content. Riparian vegetation is well established and stable, varying between trees that provide a thick canopy on the upper and lower stream to woody bushes that create heavy bankside overhang, especially in the mid-valley area. |
The creek meanders for approximately 15 miles through a
narrow, steep-sided valley, eventually emptying into the Delaware River at
Delaware Water Gap. The elevation change from source to mouth is only about
370 feet, and numerous tributaries erupting from Kittatinny Mountain feed
the creek. Cherry Creek is listed as a High Quality Coldwater Fishery
according to the PA Department of Environmental Resources.