Wiconisco Creek

Wiconisco Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Schuylkill and Dauphin counties, Pennsylvania, in the United States.

[1] Wiconisco Creek begins on a bend on a mountain in Porter Township, Schuylkill County.

The creek passes near Tower City, where the southern border of its valley is defined by Berry Mountain, and shortly afterwards leaves Schuylkill County.

In this township, the creek continues in a westward direction, crossing U.S. Route 209 and passing Williamstown.

The creek then reaches the end of its valley and turns abruptly north, crossing U.S. Route 209 again.

It crosses U.S. Route 209 again and enters Upper Paxton Township, where it begins to meander parallel to Berry Mountain.

[1] Wiconisco Creek reaches its confluence with the Susquehanna River 97.99 miles (157.70 km) upstream of its mouth.

The smallest tributary of Wiconisco Creek is Big Run, whose watershed has an area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2).

[3] Wiconisco Creek is considered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to be impaired by abandoned mine drainage, wastewater, and agriculture.

Approximately half of the main stem and large parts of Little Wiconisco Creek are considered to be impaired.

[4] The concentration of iron in the waters of Wiconisco Creek ranges from 0.41 to 1.7 milligrams per liter (where detected), depending on the site.

The concentration of manganese in the waters of the creek ranges from 0.23 to 0.94 milligrams per liter (where detected), depending on the site.

[4] The Pocono Formation occurs in the southern part of the Wiconisco Creek watershed and also on the northwestern edge.

[4] The Hazleton-Dekalb-Lehew soil association occurs in the southern, northeastern, and northwestern parts of the Wiconisco Creek watershed.

[4] The name of Wiconisco Creek comes from a Native American word meaning "wet and dirty camp".

[4] It is possible to canoe on 34 miles (55 km) of Wiconisco Creek during snowmelt in late winter and spring or several days after heavy rains.