The 107-square-mile (280 km2) White Clay Creek watershed is home to nearly 100,000 people and includes parts of Chester County, Pennsylvania and New Castle County, Delaware. The Pennsylvania portion still retains a rural character while the Delaware portion is more suburbanized. Sediment eroded from the rolling hills of Chester County is carried into the White Clay, probably accounting for the creek's name.
The majority of the stream is in the Piedmont region which is characterized by rolling hills, plateaus, and stream valleys. The southern portion of the stream, near Newark is in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, a relatively flat area that is dotted with large tidal wetlands. The White Clay Creek empties into the Christina River at Churchman's Marsh.
The East Branch, 13.5 miles (21.7 km) long,[2] arises near the hamlet of Upland in West Marlborough Township. Flowing southward, it passes through Avondale, where it is joined by Trout Run. From Avondale, the former Pomeroy and Newark Railroad, abandoned in 1939, follows the creek southward. Further south, after the confluence of Egypt Run, the creek begins to turn and meander in a narrow gorge, passing through Landenberg, formerly a mill town and the junction of the Pomeroy & Newark with the Wilmington and Western Railroad. Exiting the gorge into a broader valley, the creek receives Broad Run shortly after entering the White Clay Creek Preserve. It joins the main body of the White Clay Creek in the Preserve, at the lost community of Yeatman.
Middle Branchedit
The Middle Branch, 11.4 miles (18.3 km) long,[2] originates in Londonderry Township. Flowing southward along the western edge of West Grove, it turns east, south again, and then east again to meet Indian Run. Turning south, it cuts sharply through the hills near Chesterville and meets the West Branch to form the main stem.
West Branchedit
The West Branch, 8.0 miles (12.9 km) long,[2] rises near Kelton and flows south and east through New London Township, gradually turning to the east where it meets the Middle Branch to form the main stem.
Main stemedit
The main stem of White Clay Creek is formed by the junction of the West and Middle branches. From here, it enters a narrow valley and then the White Clay Creek Preserve, meeting the East Branch at Yeatman. It flows south through the White Clay Creek Preserve and enters New Castle County, Delaware and White Clay Creek State Park approximately 12 miles (19 km) west of Wilmington. Trails parallel the creek, some of them using parts of the Pomeroy & Newark roadbed, which follows the creek to the outskirts of Newark. The creek then turns away to the east, receiving Middle Run and Pike Creek. As it approaches the Christina estuary, the valley opens up, and it passes Delaware Park. Mill Creek flows into it, shortly followed by its largest tributary, Red Clay Creek. The conjoined streams turn southwest and then back to the east as they loop around Bread and Cheese Island, formed between the Red Clay, White Clay, and Hershey Run by a backchannel now filled. Just after passing the island, White Clay Creek enters the Christina approximately 5 miles (8 km) southwest of Wilmington at Churchman's Marsh.
History and ecologyedit
The river's historical sites include limekilns and 19th-century mills. Its lower course includes the most extensive Piedmont forests remaining in Delaware that are home to several key species, including the federally listed endangered bog turtle. In 2000, the United States Congress designated 190 miles (310 km) of White Clay Creek and its tributaries as part of the National Wild and Scenic River program.[3]
^"ArcGIS Web Application". epa.maps.arcgis.com. US EPA. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
^ abcdU.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed April 1, 2011
^"White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic River Program". udel.edu.
External linksedit
U.S. Geological Survey: PA stream gaging stations
White Clay Creek Preserve Does not lead to info on White Clay Creek Preserve
National Park Service: White Clay Creek
Christina River Basin
January 01, 1970
white, clay, creek, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, june, 2. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources White Clay Creek news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2014 Learn how and when to remove this message White Clay Creek is an 18 5 mile long 29 8 km 2 tributary of the Christina River in southern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware in the United States It is renowned for its scenic character and is largely federally protected White Clay CreekTributary to Christina RiverWhite Clay Creek running through Newark DelawareLocation of White Clay Creek mouthShow map of DelawareWhite Clay Creek the United States Show map of the United StatesLocationCountryUnited StatesStatePennsylvania DelawareCountiesChester New CastleCityNewark DEPhysical characteristicsSourceWest Branch White Clay Creek locationPenn Township Chester County Pennsylvania coordinates39 48 57 N 75 52 09 W 39 81583 N 75 86917 W 39 81583 75 869172nd sourceMiddle Branch White Clay Creek locationLondonderry Township Chester County Pennsylvania coordinates39 51 40 N 75 52 20 W 39 86111 N 75 87222 W 39 86111 75 87222Source confluence locationLondon Britain Chester County Pennsylvania coordinates39 45 59 N 75 47 41 W 39 76639 N 75 79472 W 39 76639 75 79472 elevation259 ft 79 m MouthChristina River locationNew Castle County Delaware coordinates39 41 51 N 75 37 19 W 39 69750 N 75 62194 W 39 69750 75 62194 elevation0 ft 0 m Length18 5 mi 29 8 km Basin size107 sq mi 280 km2 Basin featuresProgressionChristina River Delaware River Delaware Bay Atlantic Ocean 1 Tributaries leftEast Branch White Clay Creek Bogy Run Middle Run Pike Creek Mill Creek Red Clay CreekNational Wild and Scenic Rivers SystemTypeScenic RecreationalDesignatedOctober 24 2000 The 107 square mile 280 km2 White Clay Creek watershed is home to nearly 100 000 people and includes parts of Chester County Pennsylvania and New Castle County Delaware The Pennsylvania portion still retains a rural character while the Delaware portion is more suburbanized Sediment eroded from the rolling hills of Chester County is carried into the White Clay probably accounting for the creek s name The majority of the stream is in the Piedmont region which is characterized by rolling hills plateaus and stream valleys The southern portion of the stream near Newark is in the Atlantic Coastal Plain a relatively flat area that is dotted with large tidal wetlands The White Clay Creek empties into the Christina River at Churchman s Marsh Contents 1 East Branch 2 Middle Branch 3 West Branch 4 Main stem 5 History and ecology 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEast Branch editThe East Branch 13 5 miles 21 7 km long 2 arises near the hamlet of Upland in West Marlborough Township Flowing southward it passes through Avondale where it is joined by Trout Run From Avondale the former Pomeroy and Newark Railroad abandoned in 1939 follows the creek southward Further south after the confluence of Egypt Run the creek begins to turn and meander in a narrow gorge passing through Landenberg formerly a mill town and the junction of the Pomeroy amp Newark with the Wilmington and Western Railroad Exiting the gorge into a broader valley the creek receives Broad Run shortly after entering the White Clay Creek Preserve It joins the main body of the White Clay Creek in the Preserve at the lost community of Yeatman Middle Branch editThe Middle Branch 11 4 miles 18 3 km long 2 originates in Londonderry Township Flowing southward along the western edge of West Grove it turns east south again and then east again to meet Indian Run Turning south it cuts sharply through the hills near Chesterville and meets the West Branch to form the main stem West Branch editThe West Branch 8 0 miles 12 9 km long 2 rises near Kelton and flows south and east through New London Township gradually turning to the east where it meets the Middle Branch to form the main stem Main stem editThe main stem of White Clay Creek is formed by the junction of the West and Middle branches From here it enters a narrow valley and then the White Clay Creek Preserve meeting the East Branch at Yeatman It flows south through the White Clay Creek Preserve and enters New Castle County Delaware and White Clay Creek State Park approximately 12 miles 19 km west of Wilmington Trails parallel the creek some of them using parts of the Pomeroy amp Newark roadbed which follows the creek to the outskirts of Newark The creek then turns away to the east receiving Middle Run and Pike Creek As it approaches the Christina estuary the valley opens up and it passes Delaware Park Mill Creek flows into it shortly followed by its largest tributary Red Clay Creek The conjoined streams turn southwest and then back to the east as they loop around Bread and Cheese Island formed between the Red Clay White Clay and Hershey Run by a backchannel now filled Just after passing the island White Clay Creek enters the Christina approximately 5 miles 8 km southwest of Wilmington at Churchman s Marsh History and ecology editThe river s historical sites include lime kilns and 19th century mills Its lower course includes the most extensive Piedmont forests remaining in Delaware that are home to several key species including the federally listed endangered bog turtle In 2000 the United States Congress designated 190 miles 310 km of White Clay Creek and its tributaries as part of the National Wild and Scenic River program 3 See also editList of Delaware rivers List of rivers of PennsylvaniaReferences edit ArcGIS Web Application epa maps arcgis com US EPA Retrieved 29 February 2020 a b c d U S Geological Survey National Hydrography Dataset high resolution flowline data The National Map accessed April 1 2011 White Clay Creek Wild and Scenic River Program udel edu External links editU S Geological Survey PA stream gaging stations White Clay Creek Preserve Does not lead to info on White Clay Creek Preserve National Park Service White Clay Creek Christina River Basin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title White Clay Creek amp oldid 1161484483 Middle Branch, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
