Dry Run (Lehigh River tributary)

Dry Run
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	flat area west of Sauerkraut Hill in Allen Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania
• elevation	459 ft (140 m)
Mouth
• location	Lehigh River in Northampton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania
• coordinates	40°40′18″N 75°29′06″W
• elevation	282 ft (86 m)
Length	2.6 mi (4.2 km)
Basin size	2.46 sq mi (6.4 km^2)
Basin features
Progression	Lehigh River → Delaware River → Delaware Bay

Dry Run is a tributary of the Lehigh River in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 2.6 miles (4.2 km) long and flows through Allen Township and Northampton.^[1] The stream is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. It is often dry.

Course

Dry Run begins in a flat area west of Sauerkraut Hill in Allen Township. It flows south for several tenths of a mile before crossing Pennsylvania Route 329 and continuing to flow south. The stream eventually begins to gradually turn southwest and enters Northampton. Here, it flows west-southwest for a few tenths of a mile before turning southwest for several tenths of a mile. The stream then reaches its confluence with the Lehigh River.^[1]

Dry Run joins the Lehigh River 22.14 miles (35.63 km) upstream of its mouth.^[2]

Geography and geology

The elevation near the mouth of Dry Run is 282 feet (86 m) above sea level.^[3] The elevation near the stream's source is 459 feet (140 m) above sea level.^[1]

Watershed

The watershed of Dry Run has an area of 2.46 square miles (6.4 km²).^[2] The stream is entirely within the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Catasauqua.^[3]

Polluted stormwater in Allen Township has the potential to impact Dry Run.^[4] However, an NPDES permit was once issued for discharge of stormwater into the stream, associated with construction activities.^[5] The stream frequently is dry.^[6]

History

Dry Run was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1173531.^[3]

In 1787, Christian Schwartz constructed a large stone house at the mouth of Dry Run.^[7]

A lost Pratt through truss bridge was once built over Dry Run for the Lehigh Valley Transit Co.^[8] Historically, a trolley bridge crossed the stream and a school was located near this bridge.^[7] In 2014, the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor received $217,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to replace a pedestrian bridge over the stream.^[9]

Biology

The drainage basin of Dry Run is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery.^[10]

See also

• Coplay Creek, next tributary of the Lehigh River going downriver
• Hokendauqua Creek, next tributary of the Lehigh River going upriver
• List of rivers of Pennsylvania

References

1. United States Geological Survey, The National Map Viewer, retrieved March 20, 2017
2. Pennsylvania Gazetteer of Streams (PDF), November 2, 2001, p. 57, retrieved March 20, 2017
3. Geographic Names Information System, Feature Detail Report for: Dry Run, retrieved March 20, 2017
4. Storm Water, retrieved March 24, 2017
5. "[43 Pa.B. 6528]", Pennsylvania Bulletin, retrieved March 24, 2017
6. Browsing Northampton County, NC p.062, retrieved March 24, 2017
7. James Franklin Lambert, Henry J. Reinhard (1914), A History of Catasauqua in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, pp. 124, 256, retrieved March 24, 2017
8. LVT - Dry Run Bridge, retrieved March 24, 2017
9. Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Annual Report 2014 (PDF), p. 5, retrieved March 24, 2017
10. "§ 93.9d. Drainage List D. Delaware River Basin in Pennsylvania Lehigh River", Pennsylvania Code, retrieved March 20, 2017