Scranton and Dunmore

Municipalities in this section include: the City of Scranton and the Borough of Dunmore.  The listed recommendations are related to the protection of and potential projects along the Lackawanna River and its tributary streams, including:  Keyser Creek, Stafford Meadow Brook, Roaring Brook, Pine Brook, Meadow Brook, Carter Creek, Leggetts Creek, Greenbush Run and the I-81 Channel.

City of Scranton

An approximately 8.1-mile stretch of the Lackawanna River lies within the City of Scranton; the 2.3-mile downstream reach of this stretch serves as the municipal boundary between Scranton and the Borough of Taylor.  The confluence and lower reaches of three of the larger tributary streams to the Lackawanna River also lie within Scranton, including, Stafford Meadow Brook, Roaring Brook, and Leggetts Creek.  A fourth tributary stream, Keyser Creek, has a large part of its lower and middle portions in Scranton.  Several tributary streams to these streams also have portions of their course within Scranton:  Lucky Run and Lindy Creek to Keyser Creek, and Leach Creek and Bell Mountain Run to Leggetts Creek.  In addition, smaller tributary streams to the Lackawanna River which have been severely impacted by urban development or past mining activity and are not generally recognizable as a stream, such as Pine Brook, Meadow Brook, Carter Creek and Greenbush Run, also have their confluence with the Lackawanna River in Scranton.  Finally, the I-81 Channel, a large, constructed storm water channel, also flows into the Lackawanna in Scranton.

 General Recommendations:

1.     The City of Scranton should include the protection of the Lackawanna River, Keyser Creek, Stafford Meadow Brook, Roaring Brook, and Leggetts Creek and their tributary streams, and technical requirements for that protection, in their zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans.  The City should also include the protection/restoration of Pine Brook, Meadow Brook, Carter Creek, Greenbush Run and the I-81 Channel in its comprehensive plans.

2.     The City of Scranton 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.

3.     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 the Lackawanna River:  

1.     This plan recommends that the Lackawanna Valley Conservancy (LVC) work with property owners to develop or acquire easements or fee interest in properties along the river in Scranton. 

2.     This plan recommends development of a trail link to South Washington Avenue in Scranton from the CNJ, using the existing rail bridge at the Valley Storage site.  This could provide a loop trail using the Elm Street bridge. 

3.     This plan recommends development of an educational/interpretive program for the South Works site and its slag dump, now owned by LVC, along the CNJ on the Taylor side of the river.  Presently, there is a cut stone title block from the steel company office building covered in overgrown shrubbery at the Washington Avenue entrance to the Valley Storage site.  The educational/interpretive program could also address the war production and SLIBCO history at the site.

4.     This plan recommends developing a river access point along the CNJ across from the Stafford Meadow Brook confluence. 

5.     A major cleanup of urban debris is needed along South Washington Avenue, off the entrance driveway to Valley Storage. 

6.     Acquisition of the Danny’s Garage site could provide an enhanced trailhead at Elm Street, an interpretive site for a reuse development of the Baker Colliery site and a maintenance station for the trail. 

7.     A pedestrian loop trail on the flood works along the east bank between Elm Street and Hickory Street could compliment the CNJ trail and the recreational uses at Schmidt Field.  A footbridge over the Roaring Brook confluence would be an element in this implementation project. 

8.     Canoe-a-thon and recreational paddle uses of the river would be enhanced with an improved canoe access and landing beach at Schmidt Field.  This plan recommends an improved canoe access site at this location. 

9.     Installation of a new pedestrian bridge at Cliff Street would offer opportunities for historical interpretation of the original 1794 log bridge between Slocum Hollow and Hyde park, the railroad development of 1850 and the gas works of 1854.  This pedestrian bridge would also serve as a greenway link from the CNJ trail to Steamtown. 

10.  Engineering, acquisition and construction funding for the Bridge 60 to Lackawanna Ave. reach of the CNJ trail is recommended for implementation with River Conservation Program funding and other sources of funding.  Trailhead links to Lackawanna Avenue and the river would help in integrating this segment of CNJ trail and river corridor into the Downtown Scranton River Greenway.  

11.  This plan recommends a major debris removal and community cleanup along the banks of the Lackawanna in Scranton.  The USACOE levee project will address several sub-reaches, the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail (LRHT) will address several other reaches, however other reaches will need program attention; particularly the Boulevard Avenue sub-reach, from Sanderson Avenue to Parker Street.  The LRHT program will need assistance within the Greenridge Street to East Market Street sub-reach, with building debris, auto parts and junkyard soil removal.  Therefore this plan recommends a variety of cleanup projects in Scranton be developed with River Conservation program implementation grant support. 

12.  As recommended in the Trails Alternative Report, a Scranton greenway area is proposed from Cliff Street through Lackawanna Avenue, the Mulberry Street/Expressway area to Olive Street, on both sides of the river.  This would include the Gas Works, the Verrastro site, the CNJ station site, the LCRA’ Carbondale line, Diamond and Strawberry Hill lines, the Redners site, the new Scranton High School campus and adjacent recreation facilities to Olive Street.  An appropriate historic, cultural, retail and public access/commercial reuse for the Sprague and Henwood site on Olive Street is suggested. 

13.  River access improvements for water access and water contact are recommended throughout this sub-reach.  A canoe/paddle sport put-in and take out beach (constructed point bar) is a requirement, with interface to the school district site and the CNJ site.  Foot bridges to access east bank activity locations and uplinks to the street grade at Mifflin and Spruce Streets are suggested. 

14.  This plan recommends that an Urban River Greenway, or Heritage Gateway facility be created along both sides of the River from Cliff Street/Steamtown NHS site, through Lackawanna Avenue, the CNJ station site, Linden and Mulberry Streets, including the Strawberry Hill area, to Olive Street.  This area would be developed as a waterfront similar to the San Antonio, Texas waterfront.  This should include multiple river access sites, a flow control lock with fish and canoe passage and multiple commercial and public open space opportunities.  This plan recommends a feasibility/design study and a development partnership involving LRCA, LHVA, and  private and municipal interests. 

15.  This plan recommends that an upgrade of the USACOE levee project is needed to integrate managed recreational trail and public access use along the entire levee alignment in Scranton.  This will require a reexamination of the fee and easement acquisition pattern along the levee to fund the acquisition of remaining residual fee interest of adjacent property owners.  An integrated physical, structural and public use management plan is necessary as well as physical facilities, trail heads, parking access, signage, landscaping, public informational materials, and a promotional, public involvement and volunteer utilization program.  These needs may be meet through the intermunicipal agreements for the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail Commission.  This plan recommends a River Conservation implementation program to develop a levee trail system and integrate it into the LRHT program. 

16.  This plan recommends acquisition of a portion of the former New York, Ontario and Western railway from the upstream termination of the Weston Field levee at Diamond Avenue, through to the TEA 21 funded LRHT acquisition of NYO&W parcels north of Greenridge Street.  The property is a strategic trail link and will insure safe access and passage for trail users under Greenridge Street and East Market Street, to avoid pedestrian crossings of these busy streets. 

17.  This plan recommends canoe/paddle sport and fishing access, put-in and take-out points along the R4 reach at Mulberry-Linden Street, Olive Street, Albright Avenue, Diamond Avenue, Nay Aug Avenue, East Market Street, Amelia Avenue, Sanderson Avenue and Parker Street.  The development of these points should include acquisition of fee or easement integration with levee projects, parking, signage and provisions for public safety, river access and physical management.

 Recommendations for Keyser Creek:

  1. Major stream channel restoration project on main stem from confluence in Taylor to Fawnwood Estates in Scranton.

  2. Complete restoration of Lucky Run channel from McDade Park through Keyser Terrace to confluence with Keyser Creek adjacent to Kane Truck yard in the Stauffer Industrial Park.

  3. Develop a trail and greenway link along the Keyser Creek-Lucky Run corridor to join the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail with McDade Park.

  4. Conserve and reconstruct Lindy Creek and the ice pond dam site on it, along Frink Street, and the water works at Fawnwood Estates for public access, if appropriate.

Recommendations for Stafford Meadow Brook:

  1. The SMB corridor between Lake Scranton, No. 5 Reservoir, Little Virginia and McNichols School in South Scranton has potential for a recreational, cultural and educational interpretive trail.  The LRCA recommends development of a trail program along Stafford Meadow Brook, to integrate with urban Scranton neighborhoods, the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, Montage and Glen Maura, the Lackawanna Trolley Tour and the Lackawanna County Open Space Plan.

  2. The culvert system through South Scranton may soon require significant reconstruction.  City and state agencies should consider designs for culvert replacement which utilize naturally analogous designs.  A capital funding program will be needed for this work.

Recommendations for Roaring Brook: 

1.     The Lackawanna Valley Heritage Authority, LRCA and appropriate partners should develop the Roaring Brook Greenway Trail.  This trial would serve as a link from the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail to Steamtown and the Iron Furnaces, and on to the Nay Aug Gorge area.  It could then continue up the Roaring Brook corridor to access the 12-mile, county owned Erie and Wyoming Valley rail corridor between Dunmore, Cobbs Gap and Elmhurst. 

2.     The Nay Aug Gorge and Falls of Roaring Brook is an extremely important natural resource feature recognized as a National Geological Landmark.  The approaches to the site through Nay Aug Park and along the Lackawanna Railroad offer many opportunities for public access, natural and cultural interpretation, education, and ecotourism development.  The Nay Aug Gorge contains significant old-growth forest with a mixture of oaks, pine and hemlock.  Remnant access pathways dating from the development of Nay Aug Park can be restored to provide access to The Gorge area.  This plan recommends development of public access, public safety improvements, interpretive and educational programs and facilities in Nay Aug Park to focus on the Gorge Area and the examples of Natural History and native ecosystems still present at the site.  More immediate action is recommended to control an infestation of Hemlock wooly adelgid (HWD).  The loss of these 100+ year-old hemlocks can be prevented with concerted action by the City.  LRCA recommends treatment of the entire grove by an arborist skilled in the control of HWD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  Other actions are required to control invasive exotic vegetation such as Japanese Knotweed and green briar.  The hill slopes along Lynnwood Park from Hannon Grove to Myrtle Street are remnants of the City dump from circa 1930.  The toe of this dump slope is mobilized by high storm flows in Roaring Brook.  The dump slope is completely covered by invasive vegetation.  Many of these recommendations could be implemented through a Master Plan for restoration of Nay Aug Park. 

Recommendations for Leggetts Creek:  

1.     The recently developed South Abington Park and Leggetts Creek trail in Chinchilla, can serve as a greenway and trail system base for links through the Leggetts Notch to the  Lackawanna River Heritage Trail in Scranton.  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. 

2.     The Scranton portion of a Leggetts Creek trail can utilize existing City of Scranton owned riparian lands, neighborhood streets and existing recreation areas.  The Leggetts Creek/North Scranton greenway can be based at the Leggetts Creek subdivision project, between Rockwell Avenue and the Dutch Gap Little League field.

3.     The Lackawanna River Watershed 2000 program can address a number of mine drainage problems in the Rockwell Avenue and Charles Street reach of Leggetts Creek.  LRCA recommends using River Conservation Implementation Program funds to match Watershed 2000 program funds where appropriate.

 Recommendations for Pine Brook:

There are no easy River Conservation Recommendations for Pine Brook.  It serves as an example of the total destruction of natural stream habitat related to the historical practices of coal mining and urbanization.  Some of these practices continue in the actions of private and public projects:  private developers or municipal and state agencies often culvertize or channelize portions of natural streams in the interests of flood control or maximizing use of private property. Pine Brook survives today primarily as a sewer shed; all remnants of the natural creek have been replaced with storm and sanitary sewer culvert systems.

The City of Scranton may consider restoring portions of the Pine Brook channel when storm water drainage programs are developed to address neighborhood drainage and nuisance flooding problems.  Partially restoring the former channel, day lighting underground culverts in places where the stream once was and retrofitting storm water basins to restore natural hydrological functions of the stream can be accomplished.

Recommendations for Meadow Brook:

The condition of Meadow Brook mirrors that of its neighbor Pine Brook; essentially non-existent. It cannot be practically restored but some measures can be taken to preserve the remnant habitat along the Dunmore cemeteries and Marywood University reaches.  A program to retrofit existing and integrate new storm water management systems in this reach has the potential to restore some perennial hydrology to Meadow Brook.

The LRCA suggests that the habitat and hydrologic values of Meadow Brook can be enhanced with a partnership effort to develop a watershed restoration plan for Meadow Brook.  Due to the presence of several cemeteries and institutions in the middle portion of the Meadow Brook watershed, the following partnership is suggested:

Marywood University

State School for the Deaf

Dunmore School District

Dunmore Borough

Dunmore Shade Tree Commission

St. Joseph Center

Holy Family Residence

    Forest Hill Cemetery Association

Dunmore Cemetery Association

Temple Israel Cemetery Association

Good Shepard Church

St. Claire's Church

If a sufficient number of partners, including Marywood University and Forest Hill Cemetery, are interested, LRCA suggests that the partnership consider a management plan with two elements:

  1.  Urban Forestry Management

    •   an assessment survey of all trees  and shrub beds as well as unmanaged wooded portions of the campus and cemetery properties needs to be developed.

    • A comprehensive urban forest management program can be developed to enhance collaborative or unified management of the urban forest by the various partners

  2. Water resources

  •   existing and new storm water systems in the watershed can be designed to mimic and restore natural hydrological conditions.

  • the stream channels of Meadow Brook and the “Ravine” area of Marywood Campus can be restored to advance the ecological and hydrological values of the Meadow Brook watershed and restore the capacity of the middle reach of this watershed for flood storage capacity and lower storm and flood flows downstream in the neighborhoods.

LRCA suggests that the collaborative partnership can offer an enhanced capacity to address the many issues related to management of the urban forestry and storm water resources.  Individually the institutions have differing capacities and interests in the resource management necessary to adequately insure that ecological goals as well as economic goals are achieved.

Recommendations for Carter Creek:  

Lackawanna County is presently (2001) working with Marywood University, D&L Realty and others on a site assessment plan for the 500-acre area between the Marywood campus, the former Marvine Colliery, the Lackawanna River, I-81 and Parker Street.  This includes the Carter Creek watershed.

The purpose of the plan is to recommend a reclamation and redevelopment plan for the area.  The plan will include watershed restoration, campus related development of recreation fields and mixed-use development for commercial, institutional and manufacturing on the colliery site.              

Recommendations for Greenbush Run:

Greenbush Run has very little potential for restoration.  The water course should be defined and protected through City ordinance.  The run may have potential as an outlet for storm water management discharge if any of the vacant land near the Lackawanna County Technology Career Center becomes developed.

There are two large bridge structures which cross over the Lackawanna River at its confluence with Greenbush Run.  The bridges were part of the Hudson Coal Company’s Marvin Colliery operations.  These bridges may be historic under Section 204 of the National Historic Preservation Act.  The LRCA recommends that these structures be removed from their present location.  An engineering and cultural resource assessment plan, including a demolition and/or relocation program should be an outcome.  LRCA recommends that the demolition and/or relocation of these bridge structures serve as a River Conservation Implementation Project.

Recommendations for the I-81 Channel:

1.     The Department of Transportation should consider design modifications to this system to mimic natural conditions by storing water in detention wetlands to be released as perennial flow.  The open channel structure may be modified to induce natural morphological behavior.

2.     The corridor area of the channel can be enhanced by a canopy tree and understory restoration scheme.  An easement on the maintenance road along the channel can be conveyed to an appropriate agency to manage the roadway as a recreational trail, from the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail between the Lackawanna River and Boulevard Avenue, and the Marywood University Campus.

Dunmore Borough

Two tributary streams to the Lackawanna River lie within the Borough of Dunmore.  They include a lower portion of Roaring Brook and middle to headwater reaches of Meadow Brook.  The confluence and lower reach of Little Roaring Brook, a tributary stream to Roaring Brook also lies within the municipality.

General Recommendations:

1.     The Borough of Dunmore should include the protection of Roaring Brook and Little Roaring Brook, and Meadow Brook, and technical requirements for that protection, in their zoning, land use and subdivision ordinances and comprehensive plans.

2.     The Borough of Dunmore 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.

3.   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 Roaring Brook:

1.     The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, LRCA and appropriate partners should develop the Roaring Brook Greenway Trail as a link from the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail through Nay Aug Gorge and continue up corridor to Dunmore along the 12 mile, county owned Erie and Wyoming Valley rail corridor.

2.     County, state and federal agencies should consider the scenic, recreational and cultural importance of the Cobbs Gap reach of Roaring Brook.  This area between Dunmore and Elmhurst includes the Pennsylvania Gravity Railroad Inclines, Moosic Mountain natural areas, the Moosic Lake Trolley corridor, early historic settlement roads, and Scrub Oak Mountain.  The pending Lackawanna County Open Space Plan presents an opportunity to focus on these resources.  This area should be prioritized for acquisition of property, public use easements, public access sites for fishing and trail use and a public use and natural resource management plan.

3.     Community links along the Roaring Brook Greenway include links to educational facilities, residential, commercial and cultural sites and existing or proposed municipal parks and trails.  LRCA recommends that the following community links are eligible for funding:

4.     Roaring Brook contains vital drinking water resources for the Lackawanna Valley.  The protection and conservation of Roaring Brook’s forested watersheds and source water areas is a strategic public interest.  This plan recommends state, county, and local governments prioritize the acquisition, protection and appropriate management of real estate associated with the source waters of the drinking water supply reservoirs.  A management program for these properties should be a key element in the Lackawanna County Open Space Study.  This plan recommends that acquisition of these, and related watershed resource lands, is an outcome eligible for implementation funds under this River Conservation Plan.

Recommendations for Meadow Brook:  

Meadow Brook is essentially a non-existent tributary stream. It cannot be practically restored but some measures can be taken to preserve the remnant habitat along the Dunmore cemeteries and Marywood University reaches.  A program to retrofit existing and integrate new storm water management systems in this reach has the potential to restore some perennial hydrology to Meadow Brook.  

The LRCA suggests that the habitat and hydrologic values of Meadow Brook can be enhanced with a partnership effort to develop a watershed restoration plan for Meadow Brook.  Due to the presence of several cemeteries and institutions in the middle portion of the Meadow Brook watershed, the following partnership is suggested:

Marywood University

State School for the Deaf

Dunmore School District

Dunmore Borough

Dunmore Shade Tree Commission

St. Joseph Center

Holy Family Residence

            Forest Hill Cemetery Association

Dunmore Cemetery Association

Temple Israel Cemetery Association

Good Shepard Church

St. Claire's Church

If a sufficient number of partners, including Marywood University and Forest Hill Cemetery, are interested, LRCA suggests that the partnership consider a management plan with two elements:  

1.     Urban Forestry Management

            2.   Water resources

LRCA suggests that the collaborative partnership can offer an enhanced capacity to address the many issues related to management of the urban forestry and storm water resources.  Individually the institutions have differing capacities and interests in the resource management necessary to adequately insure that ecological goals as well as economic goals are achieved.