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Slippery Rock Creek

Summary

Slippery Rock Creek[1] is a stream in western Pennsylvania, a tributary of Connoquenessing Creek.

Slippery Rock Creek
Shoreline view looking upstream from McConnell's Mill
Slippery Rock Creek is located in Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock Creek
Location of Slippery Rock Creek mouth
Slippery Rock Creek is located in the United States
Slippery Rock Creek
Slippery Rock Creek (the United States)
Location
CountryUnited States of America
StatePennsylvania
CountyButler
Lawrence
CitiesSlippery Rock, Ellwood City
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationHilliards, Butler County, Pennsylvania
 • coordinates41°06′51″N 79°48′15″W / 41.11417°N 79.80417°W / 41.11417; -79.80417[1]
 • elevation1,400 ft (430 m)[2]
MouthConnoquenessing Creek
 • location
Ellwood City, Beaver County, Pennsylvania
 • coordinates
40°51′31″N 80°15′24″W / 40.85861°N 80.25667°W / 40.85861; -80.25667
 • elevation
810 ft (250 m)[1]
Length50.17 mi (80.74 km)[3]
Basin size409.79 square miles (1,061.4 km2)[4]
Discharge 
 • average611.19 cu ft/s (17.307 m3/s) at mouth with Connoquenessing Creek[5]
Basin features
ProgressionConnoquenessing Creek → Beaver River → Ohio River → Mississippi River → Gulf of Mexico
River systemBeaver River
Tributaries 
 • leftSouth Branch
Glade Run
Big Run
Hogue Run
Black Run
Muddy Creek
Cheeseman Run
Grindstone Run
 • rightSeaton Creek
Blacks Creek
North Branch
McMurray Run
McDonald Run
Long Run
Wolf Creek
Jamison Run
Taylor Run
Hell Run
Skunk Run

Course and history edit

From its source in Hilliards in Butler County, it flows through McConnells Mill State Park before flowing into the Connoquenessing in Ellwood City. Then, the Connoquenessing flows into the Beaver River just three miles south from the mouth of Slippery Rock.

There are multiple stories about the origin of the creek's name. In one story, the indigenous Seneca Indians called the creek Wechachapohka or "Slippery Rock", denoting the rocks at the bottom of the stream that could be easily crossed by natives wearing moccasins but not by soldiers wearing heavy boots.[6] In another more prosaic story, the Native Americans coined the name due to natural oil seeps in and around the present-day McConnells Mill State Park that made the rocks slippery; those seeps were later eliminated by fossil fuel extraction.[7]

Recreation edit

Slippery Rock Creek is a favorite for whitewater kayakers and canoeists from the region. With Class-II and -III rapids and engaging beauty, it attracts regular paddlers from novice to advanced level. Slippery Rock Creek, however, can be very dangerous. The rocks are indeed deceptively slippery, and throughout the year, there are numerous reports of drowning incidents, mostly near the McConnells Mill State Park.[8] In and around that state park, the creek formed a rugged gorge that is popular with hikers, and the Slippery Rock Gorge Trail along the creek and its Hell Run tributary has been named as one of the best hiking trails in Pennsylvania.[9]

Watershed edit

Tributaries edit

Tributaries of Slippery Rock Creek
Name, bank[10] River mile (km)[11] Watershed area in square miles (km2)[12] Average discharge[12] Mouth coordinates[13] Mouth elevation[10] Source coordinates[13] Source elevation[10] Remarks
Mouth 409.79 square miles (1,061.4 km2) 611.19 cu ft/s (17.307 m3/s) 40°51′31″N 80°15′24″W / 40.85861°N 80.25667°W / 40.85861; -80.25667 810 ft (250 m) 41°06′51″N 79°48′15″W / 41.11417°N 79.80417°W / 41.11417; -79.80417 1,400 ft (430 m) Slippery Rock Creek enters Connoquenessing Creek at Wurtemburg, Pennsylvania, in Wayne and Perry townships (Lawrence County).
Skunk Run, right bank 4.42 mi (7.11 km) 1.86 square miles (4.8 km2) 2.35 cu ft/s (0.067 m3/s) 40°54′11″N 80°13′31″W / 40.90306°N 80.22528°W / 40.90306; -80.22528 870 ft (270 m) 40°55′21″N 80°15′53″W / 40.92250°N 80.26472°W / 40.92250; -80.26472 1,260 ft (380 m) Skunk Run enters Slippery Rock Creek in Wayne Township, Lawrence County.
Hell Run, right bank 5.52 mi (8.88 km) 5.78 square miles (15.0 km2) 7.24 cu ft/s (0.205 m3/s) 40°54′57″N 80°12′55″W / 40.91583°N 80.21528°W / 40.91583; -80.21528 880 ft (270 m) 40°56′02″N 80°15′48″W / 40.93389°N 80.26333°W / 40.93389; -80.26333 1,220 ft (370 m) Hell Run enters Slippery Rock Creek in Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, within McConnells Mill State Park. It is the only Exceptional Value (EV) classified stream in Lawrence County.
Grindstone Run, left bank 6.44 mi (10.36 km) 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) 1.32 cu ft/s (0.037 m3/s) 40°55′13″N 80°12′01″W / 40.92028°N 80.20028°W / 40.92028; -80.20028 920 ft (280 m) 40°54′28″N 80°10′49″W / 40.90778°N 80.18028°W / 40.90778; -80.18028 1,260 ft (380 m) Grindstone Run enters Slippery Rock Creek in Perry Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, within McConnells Mill State Park.
Cheeseman Run, left bank 8.4 mi (13.5 km) 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) 3.20 cu ft/s (0.091 m3/s) 40°56′19″N 80°10′43″W / 40.93861°N 80.17861°W / 40.93861; -80.17861 940 ft (290 m) 40°55′22″N 80°08′52″W / 40.92278°N 80.14778°W / 40.92278; -80.14778 1,275 ft (389 m) Cheeseman Run rises in Muddy Creek Township of Butler County and flows west into Perry Township of Lawrence County.
Muddy Creek, left bank 11.82 mi (19.02 km) 80.66 square miles (208.9 km2) 80.66 cu ft/s (2.284 m3/s) 40°58′48″N 80°10′46″W / 40.98000°N 80.17944°W / 40.98000; -80.17944 1,040 ft (320 m) 40°59′29″N 79°52′31″W / 40.99139°N 79.87528°W / 40.99139; -79.87528 1,370 ft (420 m) Muddy Creek rises in western Butler County and flows west into eastern Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. Lake Arthur is a prominent impoundment of this stream. Muddy Creek is the second largest tributary by average discharge.
Taylor Run, right bank 16.66 mi (26.81 km) 12.96 square miles (33.6 km2) 17.9 cu ft/s (0.51 m3/s) 41°01′44″N 80°09′28″W / 41.02889°N 80.15778°W / 41.02889; -80.15778 1,075 ft (328 m) 41°07′15″N 80°10′24″W / 41.12083°N 80.17333°W / 41.12083; -80.17333 1,340 ft (410 m) Taylor Run rises in southwestern Mercer County and flows south to Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, where it joins Slippery Rock Creek.
Jamison Run, right bank 18.06 mi (29.06 km) 12.76 square miles (33.0 km2) 18.01 cu ft/s (0.510 m3/s) 41°01′58″N 80°08′26″W / 41.03278°N 80.14056°W / 41.03278; -80.14056 1,085 ft (331 m) 41°06′34″N 80°09′28″W / 41.10944°N 80.15778°W / 41.10944; -80.15778 1,250 ft (380 m) Jamison Run rises in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and flows south into Slippery Rock Creek.
Black Run, left bank 18.90 mi (30.42 km) 7.67 square miles (19.9 km2) 10.83 cu ft/s (0.307 m3/s) 41°01′29″N 80°07′55″W / 41.02472°N 80.13194°W / 41.02472; -80.13194 1,090 ft (330 m) 40°00′26″N 80°04′48″W / 40.00722°N 80.08000°W / 40.00722; -80.08000 1,195 ft (364 m) Black Run originates in a wetland upstream of Tamarack Lake and then flows northwest to meet Slippery Rock Creek at Elliotts Mills, Pennsylvania.
Wolf Creek, right bank 21.28 mi (34.25 km) 102.86 square miles (266.4 km2) 145.08 cu ft/s (4.108 m3/s) 41°02′28″N 80°06′06″W / 41.04111°N 80.10167°W / 41.04111; -80.10167 1,100 ft (340 m) 41°17′43″N 80°05′12″W / 41.29528°N 80.08667°W / 41.29528; -80.08667 1,360 ft (410 m) Wolf Creek originates in Pine Swamp in Mercer County and then flows south to meet Slippery Rock Creek at Moores Corners, Pennsylvania. Wolf Creek is the largest tributary by average discharge.
Hogue Run, left bank 23.76 mi (38.24 km) 7.41 square miles (19.2 km2) 10.70 cu ft/s (0.303 m3/s) 41°01′44″N 80°04′20″W / 41.02889°N 80.07222°W / 41.02889; -80.07222 1,100 ft (340 m) 40°59′04″N 80°05′51″W / 40.98444°N 80.09750°W / 40.98444; -80.09750 1,320 ft (400 m) Hogue Run rises near Shawood Park, Pennsylvania, and then flows north to meet Slippery Rock Creek near Camp Crestview.
Big Run, left bank 26.94 mi (43.36 km) 7.14 square miles (18.5 km2) 10.36 cu ft/s (0.293 m3/s) 41°01′14″N 80°02′07″W / 41.02056°N 80.03528°W / 41.02056; -80.03528 1,130 ft (340 m) 40°59′14″N 79°59′14″W / 40.98722°N 79.98722°W / 40.98722; -79.98722 1,370 ft (420 m) Big Run rises near Elora, Pennsylvania, and then flows northwest to meet Slippery Rock Creek near Crolls Mills.
Glade Run, left bank 30.32 mi (48.80 km) 7.62 square miles (19.7 km2) 11.12 cu ft/s (0.315 m3/s) 41°01′30″N 80°00′50″W / 41.02500°N 80.01389°W / 41.02500; -80.01389 1,148 ft (350 m) 40°59′04″N 79°56′42″W / 40.98444°N 79.94500°W / 40.98444; -79.94500 1,370 ft (420 m) Glade Run rises near Euclid, Pennsylvania, and then flows northwest to meet Slippery Rock Creek at Slippery Rock Park.
Long Run, right bank 32.40 mi (52.14 km) 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) 5.77 cu ft/s (0.163 m3/s) 41°02′59″N 80°00′15″W / 41.04972°N 80.00417°W / 41.04972; -80.00417 1,150 ft (350 m) 41°06′03″N 80°01′16″W / 41.10083°N 80.02111°W / 41.10083; -80.02111 1,350 ft (410 m) Long Run rises near Adams Corners, Pennsylvania, and then flows south to meet Slippery Rock Creek at Camp Bucoco.
McDonald Run, right bank 34.78 mi (55.97 km) 4.02 square miles (10.4 km2) 6.07 cu ft/s (0.172 m3/s) 41°03′39″N 79°59′16″W / 41.06083°N 79.98778°W / 41.06083; -79.98778 1,160 ft (350 m) 41°06′29″N 80°00′40″W / 41.10806°N 80.01111°W / 41.10806; -80.01111 1,330 ft (410 m) McDonald Run rises in Forestville, Pennsylvania, and then flows south to meet Slippery Rock Creek south of Branchton.
South Branch Slippery Rock Creek, left bank 35.32 mi (56.84 km) 39.49 square miles (102.3 km2) 55.78 cu ft/s (1.580 m3/s) 41°03′33″N 79°58′47″W / 41.05917°N 79.97972°W / 41.05917; -79.97972 1,165 ft (355 m) 40°59′58″N 79°48′58″W / 40.99944°N 79.81611°W / 40.99944; -79.81611 1,320 ft (400 m) Suth Branch of Slippery Rock Creek rises east of Hooker, Pennsylvania, and then flows northwest to meet Slippery Rock Creek south of Bovard, Pennsylvania.
McMurray Run, right bank 37.58 mi (60.48 km) 13.29 square miles (34.4 km2) 19.60 cu ft/s (0.555 m3/s) 41°04′38″N 79°57′55″W / 41.07722°N 79.96528°W / 41.07722; -79.96528 1,175 ft (358 m) 41°09′32″N 80°00′23″W / 41.15889°N 80.00639°W / 41.15889; -80.00639 1,390 ft (420 m) McMurray Run rises north of Harrisville, Pennsylvania and flows south to meet Slippery Rock Creek at Rock Hill Camp. This run drains most of Harrisville.
North Branch Slippery Rock Creek, right bank 40.74 mi (65.56 km) 16.17 square miles (41.9 km2) 24.28 cu ft/s (0.688 m3/s) 41°05′53″N 79°55′49″W / 41.09806°N 79.93028°W / 41.09806; -79.93028 1,180 ft (360 m) 41°11′53″N 79°58′57″W / 41.19806°N 79.98250°W / 41.19806; -79.98250 1,378 ft (420 m) North Branch Slippery Rock Creek rises in Barkeyville, Pennsylvania, and then flows south to meet Slippery Rock Creek near Atwells Crossing, Pennsylvania.
Blacks Creek, right bank 42.26 mi (68.01 km) 8.75 square miles (22.7 km2) 13.42 cu ft/s (0.380 m3/s) 41°06′41″N 79°54′56″W / 41.11139°N 79.91556°W / 41.11139; -79.91556 1,190 ft (360 m) 41°10′33″N 79°55′17″W / 41.17583°N 79.92139°W / 41.17583; -79.92139 1,420 ft (430 m) Blacks Creek rises south of Nectarine, Pennsylvania, and then flows south to meet Slippery Rock Creek west of Boyers, Pennsylvania.
Seaton Creek, right bank 43.90 mi (70.65 km) 10.42 square miles (27.0 km2) 16.16 cu ft/s (0.458 m3/s) 41°06′43″N 79°53′26″W / 41.11194°N 79.89056°W / 41.11194; -79.89056 1,195 ft (364 m) 41°08′05″N 79°48′40″W / 41.13472°N 79.81111°W / 41.13472; -79.81111 1,480 ft (450 m) Seaton Creek rises west of Eau Claire, Pennsylvania, and then flows southwest to meet Slippery Rock Creek at Boyers, Pennsylvania.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Slippery Rock Creek
  2. ^ "Whiskerville Topo Map, Butler County PA (Hilliards Area)". TopoZone. Locality, LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  3. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". epa.maps.arcgis.com. US EPA. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  4. ^ "Slippery Rock Watershed Report". Waters Geoviewer. US EPA. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  5. ^ "Slippery Rock Creek Watershed Report". Waters Geoviewer. US EPA. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  6. ^ "The Story Behind the Name | Slippery Rock Heritage Association". srheritage.org. March 24, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  7. ^ Energy Information Administration. Office of Oil and Gas (1999). Petroleum, an Energy Profile, 1999. Washington, DC: Energy Information Administration. pp. 11, n2. ISBN 9781428953628.
  8. ^ Watson, Wyndle (November 13, 1996). "Dream stream". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. C4. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  9. ^ Cramer, Ben, ed. (2008). Pennsylvania Hiking Trails (13th ed.). Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. p. 118. ISBN 9780811734776.
  10. ^ a b c "Slippery Rock Creek Topo Map, Lawrence County PA (Beaver Falls Area)". TopoZone. Locality, LLC. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  11. ^ "Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams" (PDF). PA DEP and US Geological Survey. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  12. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". epa.maps.arcgis.com. US EPA. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  13. ^ a b "GNIS Feature Search". geonames.usgs.gov. US Geological Survey. Retrieved August 24, 2019.

External links edit

  • U.S. Geological Survey: PA stream gaging stations
  • National Whitewater River Inventory: Slippery Rock Creek (Upper)
  • National Whitewater River Inventory: Slippery Rock Creek (Lower)
  • Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition