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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The French Creek watershed is one of the most significant
watersheds in the northeastern United States. There are very few
streams in Pennsylvania with as much bological diversity as French
Creek. The system begins in Chautauqua County in western New York.
Most of the watershed is in northwest Pennsylvania. The main
channels flows for 117 miles, eventually emptying into the
Allegheny River. The watershed drains an area of about 1235 square
miles, with over 90% in Pennsylvania.
Brief Glacial History:
French Creek and it's tributaries have a generally southernly
flow. The headwaters of the main channel and an important tributary
(French Creek West Branch) are both located in Chatauqua County,
New York. These headwaters are begin approximately 10 miles from
Lake Erie. The ancient waters flowed in a northerly direction into
the St. Lawrence drainage. The late Illinoian glaciers produced
much of the landscape of northwest Pennsylvania. These glaciers
left behind glacial till which blocked the northerly flow, causing
these systems to reverse direction. They began to flow south to
eventually join the Allegheny River system.
Biodiversity
The French Creek watershed contains more species of freshwater
mussels and fish than any other similar sized system in the
northeast United States. For example, the creek is home to over 28
species of freshwater mussels. Some of the mussels living in French
Creek are estimated to be 60-70 years old. Thirteen of thes species
are endangered in Pennsylvania, and two of them (norhtern
riffleshell and clubshell) are on the nationally endangered list.
Among a wide array of fish species are the rare longhead darter and
spotted darter. In Pennsylvania the tippecanoe darter can only be
found in French Creek and the Allegheny river. The hellbender,
Pennsylvanias' largest salamander which grows to up to 29" long
also thrives in the creek. Due to the hard work of several
conservation groups and private landowners the system has been kept
as close to pristine as possible allowing these species to flourish
when they have lost most of their range elsewhere. Besides aquatic
species the watershed is home to numerous species of birds
including ospreys and bald eagles. Plants of special concern are
also present, including Beck's water marigold, vanilla sweet grass
and cuckooflower.
Tributaries:
There are ten major tributaries flowing into French Creek: West
Branch, South Branch, LeBoeuf Creek, Muddy Creek, Conneauttee
Creek, Woodcock Creek, Cussewago Creek, Conneaut Outlet, Little
Sugar Creek and Sugar Creek. This cache brings you to the
confluence of the West Branch with French Creek in Wattsburg, PA.
Both of these creeks originate in New York. They are the only major
creeks in the French Creek watershed that flow through New York.
Both of these creeks wind their way around and through
Wattsburg.
At waypoints 1 and 2 you will see the West Branch. There are
some important differences between the two locations described
below that you will notice. At waypoint 3 you will see a portion of
French Creek a little upstream from the confluence of the two
channels.
Logging Your Find
In order to log this cache you must email your answers to the
following questions to the cache owner. Please email the answers
before you log the cache, but you do not have to wait for a reply
before logging the cache. If I do not receive your answers withing
2 days of your claiming the find I will delete the log.
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