The Bushkill Creek watershed (map) encompasses 80 square miles of Northampton County, PA, stretching from Blue Mountain at its northeastern end to the Delaware River in Easton, PA (not to be confused with the other Bushkill Creek of neighboring Monroe County). Most of the creek is classified by the PA Department of Environmental Protection as High-Quality Cold Water Fishery (HQ-CWF) waters. As a result of work completed by BSC and its partners, the status of parts of Sobers Run in Bushkill Township have been upgraded to Exceptional Value (EV), that is, their existing quality is to be protected.
Groundwater recharge along the wooded slopes of Blue Mountain provides a crucial source of high-quality baseflow to the headwaters of the creek in Bushkill, Plainfield, and Moore townships. Wetlands along the foot of the mountain also help to buffer these headwater streams from stormwater runoff while providing important wildlife habitat. Most of the northern half of the basin is located in shale and slate geology, and is dominated by woodlands, agriculture, and low-density residential development. The wooded areas generally follow the streams (mainstem, Sobers Run, Engler Run, and Little Bushkill Creek), forming “greenways” from Blue Mountain to Jacobsburg State Park. These riparian corridors absorb rainfall and runoff, keep the streams shaded and cool, and provide important habitat for flora and fauna. It is critical that these areas are not over-developed.
The southern half of the basin has a decidedly different character, consisting of gently undulating hills underlain by carbonate geology (limestone and dolomite). The many carbonate springs help to maintain cool water temperatures throughout the summer, providing an excellent brown trout fishery. Schoeneck Creek drains the western portion of the watershed from Nazareth, and a small, unnamed tributary follows Route 22 and joins the Bushkill in Easton. Agricultural areas in the lower watershed are experiencing rapid commercial and residential development, while the southernmost area of the watershed in and around Easton has been suburban/urban/industrial for over a century. Several large cement rock quarries are located near the center of the watershed in the Nazareth/Stockertown area, and several abandoned dams from former water-powered mills have been removed along the southernmost 3 miles of the stream. More dams are slated to be removed in the future.
