| Leggetts Creek Legget Creek, Leggett's Gap Creek, Leggits Creek, Liggett's Creek | |
|---|---|
 Leggetts Creek 4,300 feet (1,300 m) upstream of its mouth | |
| Etymology | James Leggett, an early settler in the area |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | wetland in Scott Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania |
| • elevation | between 1,600 and 1,620 feet (490 and 490 m) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Lackawanna River in Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania |
• coordinates | 41°26′41″N 75°38′36″W / 41.44482°N 75.64331°W |
• elevation | 715 ft (218 m) |
| Length | 9.0 mi (14.5 km) |
| Basin size | 18.5 sq mi (48 km2) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Lackawanna River → Susquehanna River → Chesapeake Bay |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Clover Hill Creek |
| • right | Summit Lake Creek, Leach Creek |
Leggetts Creek (also known as Legget Creek, Leggett's Gap Creek, Leggits Creek and originally as Liggett's Creek) is a tributary of the Lackawanna River in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 9.0 miles (14.5 km) long and flows through Scott Township, South Abington Township, and Scranton.[1] The watershed of the creek has an area of 18.5 square miles (48 km2). The creek has three named tributaries: Leach Creek, Clover Hill Creek, and Summit Lake Creek. Leggetts Creek is considered to be impaired due to urban development problems, but is not affected by acid mine drainage. The creek is fairly alkaline and is a perennial stream. Its headwaters are in wetlands outside of the Lackawanna Valley and it flows through a water gap known as Leggetts Gap or The Notch. Major lakes in the watershed include the Griffin Reservoir (which is used as a water supply), Summit Lake, and Maple Lake. The creek is a source of flooding in South Abington Township.
A historic Native American path used to pass through the water gap of Leggetts Creek on its way from the headwaters of the Lehigh River to the Great Bend on the Susquehanna River near the Pennsylvania/New York border. Some mining and quarrying operations have been done in the watershed and the Liggett's Gap Railroad was built and was opened, through what was called Liggett's Gap at the time, on April 15, 1851.[2] In the late 19th, 20th, and early 21st centuries, numerous bridges were constructed across the creek. Wild trout naturally reproduce within the creek and several other species have been observed in its waters as well. Some reaches of the creek have a riparian buffer consisting of old growth forests. In other places, there are grasslands or invasive plants. A greenway/connecting trail along the creek was proposed in the Lackawanna River Watershed Conservation Plan.
- ^ United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, archived from the original on March 29, 2012, retrieved April 20, 2015
- ^ The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad in the 19th Century, Thomas T. Taber III, 1977, Lycoming Printing Company, Williamsport, PA.