Little Lehigh Creek

Little Lehigh Creek
Name	Little Lehigh Creek
Country	United States
State	Pennsylvania
Region	Lehigh Valley
Length	24.0 mi
Source	Blue Mountain foothills
Mouth	Lehigh River
Basin size	88.5 sq mi

Little Lehigh Creek is a tributary of the Lehigh River in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. Rising near the foothills of Blue Mountain and flowing through Lehigh County and Berks County, it joins the Lehigh River at Allentown and contributes to the Delaware River watershed. The creek passes through urban, suburban, and rural landscapes, intersecting notable corridors such as Interstate 78, U.S. Route 222, and the Lehigh Valley Transit routes, and has been central to regional development, ecology, and recreation.

Course and Geography

The creek originates in the ridge-and-valley province near Lehigh Gap in the Kittatinny Ridge system, descending from springs and seeps in the foothills near Weisenberg Township and Lowhill Township. It flows generally southeast through townships and boroughs including Alburtis, Emmaus, and Salisbury Township before entering Allentown and joining the Lehigh River near Jordan Creek confluence areas. Along its course it is joined by tributaries such as Jordan Creek (tributary), Cedar Creek, and multiple unnamed streams that drain catchments in Upper Milford Township and Lower Macungie Township. The creek’s valley is defined by floodplains, ridge outcrops, and glacially influenced soils that support a mosaic of wetlands, riparian forest, and agricultural lands near Danielsville and Trexlertown.

Hydrology and Water Quality

Hydrologic regimes are influenced by precipitation patterns documented across Eastern Pennsylvania, baseflow from groundwater in the Lehigh County groundwater basin, and stormwater inputs from urbanized areas like Allentown and Emmaus. Historical gauging by agencies such as the United States Geological Survey has recorded variable discharge with seasonal peaks during spring snowmelt and storm events influenced by Hurricane Agnes-era flooding paradigms and modern Nor’easter impacts. Water quality metrics reflect nutrient loading from agricultural runoff in the Lehigh County agricultural areas, fecal coliform inputs from failing septic systems in older neighborhoods, and elevated turbidity associated with construction corridors near Interstate 78 and Pennsylvania Route 309. Monitoring programs run by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and local watershed groups compare parameters against criteria in the Clean Water Act and state water quality standards, documenting issues with temperature, dissolved oxygen, and episodic contamination from combined sewer overflows in historic urban centers like Allentown.

Ecology and Wildlife

Riparian corridors along the creek support assemblages of northeastern flora and fauna tied to habitats found in Lehigh County and adjacent counties. Native trees such as American sycamore, Sugar maple, and Eastern hemlock occur alongside understory species associated with Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests. Aquatic habitat supports coldwater and coolwater fisheries including populations of brown trout, rainbow trout, and native brook trout where groundwater-fed reaches maintain lower temperatures. Macroinvertebrate communities mirror conservation gradients studied in the Northeastern United States and are affected by sedimentation and nutrient enrichment. Riparian zones host birds like great blue heron, belted kingfisher, and migratory songbirds that utilize stopover habitat during autumn and spring migrations documented by observers from organizations such as Audubon Society chapters in the region. Mammals including white-tailed deer, North American beaver, and occasional river otter use the creek corridor as a movement and foraging route, while invasive species such as Japanese knotweed and common reed challenge native plant assemblages.

History and Human Use

Indigenous peoples of the region including groups associated with the Lenape utilized the creek’s resources prior to European settlement. Colonial-era land use saw mills and forges established along the creek during the industrialization of the Lehigh Valley, and the watercourse supplied power to early industries referenced in regional histories of Allentown and Bethlehem. Transportation corridors developed nearby, with turnpikes and later rail lines such as the Lehigh Valley Railroad paralleling portions of the watershed. Twentieth-century urbanization expanded impervious surfaces in Salisbury Township and Lower Macungie Township, altering hydrology and prompting early water regulation measures under state frameworks like the Clean Streams Law. Flood events such as those associated with Tropical Storm Agnes and other twentieth-century storms influenced floodplain management practices and municipal planning in townships including South Whitehall Township.

Recreation and Parks

The creek corridor features urban and suburban greenways, public parks, and trail systems connecting recreational nodes including Lehigh Parkway, Cedar Creek Park, and municipal parks in Emmaus and Allentown. Angling is a popular activity, with trout stocking programs managed by Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission supporting recreational fisheries that attract fly fishers from the Northeast fly fishing community and regional clubs such as local chapters of the Trout Unlimited. Trails parallel sections of the creek for hiking, birdwatching, and cross-country running events hosted by entities including Muhlenberg College and community organizations in Allentown and Emmaus. Canoeing and kayaking occur on select reaches during adequate flow, and interpretive signage at sites managed by Lehigh County Conservancy and municipal parks offers historical and ecological context to visitors.

Conservation and Management

Conservation of the watershed is led by partnerships among municipal governments, watershed organizations, academic institutions like Lehigh University, and state agencies including the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Initiatives emphasize riparian buffer restoration, stormwater best management practices inspired by models in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, invasive species control, and streambank stabilization funded through grants from foundations and programs administered by the Environmental Protection Agency and state grant sources. Citizen science and volunteer monitoring organized by local chapters of Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy volunteers, and university research teams supplement regulatory monitoring. Land use planning incorporates floodplain ordinances and green infrastructure investments promoted by regional planning bodies such as the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and municipal conservation commissions to enhance resilience to climate-driven hydrologic changes and protect aquatic habitat.

Category:Rivers of Pennsylvania Category:Tributaries of the Lehigh River Category:Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Category:Allentown, Pennsylvania