Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek is a tributary of Chillisquaque Creek in Columbia County and Montour County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately long and flows through Madison Township in Columbia County and Anthony and Derry Townships in Montour County. The creek's watershed has an area of. There are of streams in the watershed. Lake Chillisquaque is also in the creek. There are 122 features classified as "disturbances" on Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek. Two bridges more than long cross the creek.
Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek is ranked 6th in priority on the 305B Stream Listings in the watershed of Chillisquaque Creek. It experiences siltation and has been subjected to hydromodifcation and flow alterations. The water temperature of Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek ranges from approximately. The concentration of alkalinity in Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek ranges from under 10 to over 70 milligrams per liter. The concentrations of nitrates and phosphates are both high.
Geology and geography
The depth of Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek near Pennsylvania Route 44 typically ranges between a few inches and a foot, but is occasionally over. There are 122 features classified as "disturbances" on Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek. 96 of these are erosion sites, 45 of which are on the creek's and 51 of which are on the creek's. 14 of the "disturbances" are gravel bars, 7 are bridges, 3 are riprap, and 2 are pipes. There are nearly 30stream banks on East Branch Chillisquaque Creek that area between and long. Slightly more than 20 are less than high, 5 are high, and approximately two are over high. There are slightly over 30 banks on the creek that are long. Between 15 and 20 are under high, slightly more than 10 are high, and approximately three are over high. The creek has 25 banks that are long. Of these, there are approximately equal numbers of banks less than high and high and none higher than. There are several stream banks on East Branch Chillisquaque Creek that are between and. Five are less than high and two are over hingh. The creek also has several banks over long, all of which are less than high. The streambed of Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek is publicly owned. The elevation of the creek near its mouth is above sea level. Near its source, the creek's elevation is between and.
Watershed
The watershed of Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek has an area of. There are of streams in the watershed of Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek., or 89.6 percent, are classified as "not attaining". Lake Chillisquaque is a reservoir located on Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek and is the largest lake in Montour County. It has an area of 165 acres. The lake is dammed by an earth-fill dam that is long and high. Middle Branch Chillisqauque Creek is the most significant tributary of Lake Chillisqauque.
History, recreation, and etymology
Lake Chillisquaque was created on Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek in 1972. Its original purpose was as a supply of cooling water for a nearby power plant. Two bridges more than long cross the creek. One was built in 1923 and is long and the other was built in 1932 and is long. Both bridges are made of concrete. The Chillisquagi Trail in the Montour Preserve crosses Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek. The word chillisquaque in Middle Branch Chillisquaque Creek's name comes from either the Native American word chilisuagi, which refers to a place commonly visited by snowbirds or the Native American word for "frozen duck".
