Municipalities in this section
include: the Boroughs of Clarks Summit and Clarks Green, and Newton, South
Abington and Scott Townships. The
listed recommendations are related to the protection of and potential projects
along tributary streams of the Lackawanna River, including:
Keyser Creek, Leggetts Creek, Hull Creek, and Rush Brook.
Newton Township
The very upper headwaters of
Keyser Creek lie within the eastern corner of Newton Township.
General Recommendations:
Newton Township should include the protection of Keyser Creek, and technical requirements for that protection, in their zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans.
Newton Township may consider enhancements to its zoning, land development and subdivision plans to improve the management of small lot subdivisions, especially relative to slope, soil and drainage conditions. This plan recommends the participation with other local municipalities and county agencies in programs to better manage minor subdivision development.
This plan further recommends the enhancement of municipal zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans to further define and protect: open space, natural areas, wetlands, woodlands, greenway and stream corridors, recreational corridors, ridge lines, escarpments, scenic view sheds, and historical and cultural resources.
Recommendations for Keyser Creek:
Develop conservation easements, acquisition or other protection for headwaters of Keyser Creek.
Locate, assess and manage farm dumps and similar sites within the headwaters area.
South Abington
Township
The middle reaches of Leggetts
Creek flow through South Abington Township.
A number of the tributary streams to Leggetts Creek also lie within the
municipality, including: the entire lengths of Summit Lake and Edella Creeks,
lower reaches of Landsdowne Creek and Layton Run, and the headwaters of Leach
Creek.
General Recommendations:
South Abington Township should include the protection of Leggetts Creek and its tributary streams, and technical requirements for that protection, in their zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans.
South Abington Township may consider enhancements to its zoning, land development and subdivision plans to improve the management of small lot subdivisions, especially relative to slope, soil and drainage conditions. This plan recommends the participation with other local municipalities and county agencies in programs to better manage minor subdivision development.
This plan further recommends the enhancement of municipal zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans to further define and protect: open space, natural areas, wetlands, woodlands, greenway and stream corridors, recreational corridors, ridge lines, escarpments, scenic view sheds, and historical and cultural resources.
Recommendations for Leggetts Creek:
A majority of Theta Company lands in the Leggetts Creek watershed, including property around Griffin Reservoir and downstream along the creek and Maple Lake, should be acquired by public or private conservation agencies for long-term preservation.
The Griffin Glen reach of Leggetts Creek, between Griffin Reservoir and I-81, contains exceptional cultural, historic and natural resources: mill foundations and groves of old growth pine, hemlock and tulip poplar. This reach, which is included on the LRCA’s List of Special Places and Natural Areas, is a priority for preservation and acquisition. Most of this reach is owned by PAWC.
The recently developed South Abington Park and Leggetts Creek trail in Chinchilla, can serve as a greenway and trail system base for links to Clarks Summit and connections with the Northern Electric Trail into the Tunkhannock watershed to the west, and through the Leggetts Notch to the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail to the east. A trail alignment along Leggetts Creek through Chinchilla, past the water and sewage treatment plants and along the Fountain Springs water works is physically accessible. The Fountain Springs to Scranton Expressway reach has significant engineering challenges. A Leggetts Creek greenway trail feasibility study is recommended by LRCA as an outcome of this watershed plan to advance these greenway links.
Clarks Summit
Borough
A middle portion of Landsdowne
Creek, a tributary stream to Leggetts Creek, flows though the Borough of Clarks
Summit.
General Recommendations:
The Borough of Clarks Summit should include the protection of Landsdowne Creek, and technical requirements for that protection, in their zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans.
The Borough of Clarks Summit may consider enhancements to its zoning, land development and subdivision plans to improve the management of small lot subdivisions, especially relative to slope, soil and drainage conditions. This plan recommends the participation with other local municipalities and county agencies in programs to better manage minor subdivision development.
This plan further recommends the enhancement of municipal zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans to further define and protect: open space, natural areas, wetlands, woodlands, greenway and stream corridors, recreational corridors, ridge lines, escarpments, scenic view sheds, and historical and cultural resources.
The recently developed South Abington Park and Leggetts Creek trail in Chinchilla, can serve as a greenway and trail system base for links to Clarks Summit and connections with the Northern Electric Trail into the Tunkhannock watershed to the west.
The headwaters of Landsdowne
Creek, a tributary stream to Leggetts Creek, lie within the Borough of Clarks
Green.
General Recommendations:
The Borough of Clarks Green should include the protection of Landsdowne Creek, and technical requirements for that protection, in their zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans.
The Borough of Clarks Green may consider enhancements to its zoning, land development and subdivision plans to improve the management of small lot subdivisions, especially relative to slope, soil and drainage conditions. This plan recommends the participation with other local municipalities and county agencies in programs to better manage minor subdivision development.
This plan further recommends the enhancement of municipal zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans to further define and protect: open space, natural areas, wetlands, woodlands, greenway and stream corridors, recreational corridors, ridge lines, escarpments, scenic view sheds, and historical and cultural resources.
Scott Township
Portions of three tributary
streams to the Lackawanna River lie within Scott Township.
They include headwater reaches and tributaries to Leggetts Creek and the
headwaters of Hull Creek in the southeast portion of the municipality, and the
headwaters and tributaries to Rush Brook in the northeast corner.
General Recommendations:
Scott Township should include the protection of Leggetts Creek, Hull Creek and Rush Brook and their tributary streams, and technical requirements for that protection, in their zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans.
Scott Township may consider enhancements to its zoning, land development and subdivision plans to improve the management of small lot subdivisions, especially relative to slope, soil and drainage conditions. This plan recommends the participation with other local municipalities and county agencies in programs to better manage minor subdivision development.
This plan further recommends the enhancement of municipal zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans to further define and protect: open space, natural areas, wetlands, woodlands, greenway and stream corridors, recreational corridors, ridge lines, escarpments, scenic view sheds, and historical and cultural resources.
Recommendations for Leggetts Creek:
A majority of Theta Company lands in the Leggetts Creek watershed, including property around Griffin Reservoir, should be acquired by public or private conservation agencies for long-term preservation. These and related lands should be included in consideration through the pending Lackawanna County Open Space Plan.
Recommendations for Hull Creek:
The acquisition of conservation easements by gift or purchase from property owners along headwater reaches of Hull Creek is recommended.
Recommendations
for Rush Brook: