Towanda Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately long and flows through Canton Township, Canton, Leroy Township, Franklin Township, and Monroe Township.
Course
Towanda Creek begins on a hill in southwestern Canton Township, near the border between Bradford County and Lycoming County. The creek flows northwest off the hill and then turns north, flowing parallel to Pennsylvania Route 14. After several miles, it turns east and passes through the community of Canton and continues east. The creek then receives the tributary Mill Creek and shortly afterwards receives Alba Creek and Beech Flats Creek. It then enters Leroy Township, where it continues flowing east and slightly north parallel to Pennsylvania Route 50. In this township, the creek receives Wallace Brook and Gulf Brook. It eventually enters Franklin Township. In this township, the creek picks up North Branch Towanda Creek. Several miles downstream, it passes to the north of Naglee Mountain and enters Monroe Township. In this township, the creek picks up the tributary South Branch Towanda Creek and turns north. A short distance later, it turns northeast and enters the Towanda Flats. A few miles later, the creek reaches its confluence with the Susquehanna River.
Towanda Creek joins the Susquehanna River upstream of its mouth.
Tributaries
The major tributaries of Towanda Creek include Schrader Creek and South Branch Towanda Creek.
Hydrology
Near Monroeton, the average monthly discharge of Towanda Creek ranges from 80.6 and 96.9 cubic feet per second in August and July, respectively to 611 and 655 cubic feet per second in April and March, respectively. The minimum monthly discharge ranges between 1.76 cubic feet per second in September to 110 cubic feet per second in April. The maximum monthly discharge ranges between 986 cubic feet per second in August to 2287 cubic feet per second in March. Near Franklindale, the average monthly discharge of the creek ranges from 8.46 to 414 cubic feet per second, in August and April, respectively. The minimum monthly discharge ranges between 4.55 cubic feet per second in August to 231 cubic feet per second in December. The maximum monthly discharge ranges between 17.5 cubic feet per second in August to 1000cubic feet per second in March.
The pH of Towanda Creek at Monroeton ranges from 7.4 to 8.2. The creek's specific conductance in this location ranges from 89 to 125 micro-siemens per centimeter at . The creek's temperature ranges between and . The water hardness in terms of the concentration of calcium carbonate ranges from 30 to 47 milligrams per liter. The total suspended solids concentration ranges from less than 5 to 452 milligrams per liter.
There are between 8.2 and 14.2 milligrams per liter of calcium in the waters of Towanda Creek and between 2.0 and 3.9 milligrams per liter of magnesium. The concentration of strontium ranges from 40 to 60 micrograms per liter, and there is an unknown concentration of barium. The concentration of sodium ranges between 3.0 and 5.5 milligrams per liter. The concentration of manganese in the waters of the creek ranges between 20 and 450 milligrams per liter and the iron concentration ranges from 40 to 18,500 micrograms per liter. The creek's nickel concentration is less than 50 micrograms per liter and the concentration of copper ranges from less than 4 to 10 micrograms per liter. The zinc concentration ranges from less than 10 to 50 micrograms per liter.
The concentration of boron in the waters of Towanda Creek is less than 200 milligrams per liter. The aluminum concentration ranges from less than 200 to 8500 milligrams per liter. The lead concentration is less than 1 microgram per liter. The concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the creek range from less than 0.25 to 1.3 milligrams per liter and 0.014 to 0.313 milligrams per liter, respectively. The concentration of selenium in the creek is less than 7 micrograms per liter.
Geography, geology, and climate
The elevation near the mouth of Towanda Creek is above sea level. The elevation of the creek at its source is approximately above sea level.
There are a number of strainers and fallen trees on Towanda Creek in its upper reaches. The creek has fairly high mud banks and flows between forested mountains. Its valley becomes flat and wide downstream of Schrader Creek. There are some riffles on the creek and a few rocky patches near Franklindale.
The topography of the watershed of Towanda Creek is described as "rough and hilly" in a 1921 book. Most of the watershed consists of narrow valleys and steep hills that are rounded by glaciation.