Many of the upper tributaries of Shamokin Creek are in the Western Middle Anthracite Coalfield, and nearly all of the streams in this part of the watershed are impacted by mining, except for Furnace Run. Various mine drainage sites occur in the watersheds of all other streams in the upper Shamokin Creek watershed. None of the tributaries in the lower reaches of the Shamokin Creek watershed are affected by mining.[2] Four tributaries of Shamokin Creek—Lick Creek, Millers Run, Bennys Run, and Trout Run—are not designated as impaired waterbodies by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Another five tributaries—North Branch Shamokin Creek, Locust Creek, Quaker Run, Coal Run, and Carbon Run— are impaired by metals due to abandoned mine drainage. Furnace Run is impaired by channelization and habitat alteration, while Little Shamokin Creek and its tributary Plum Creek are impaired by siltation, organic enrichment, and low levels of dissolved oxygen.[3]
Although the main stem of Shamokin Creek is designated as a Warmwater Fishery, all of its tributaries are designated as Coldwater Fisheries.[4][a] Some tributaries, such as North Branch Shamokin Creek and Quaker Run, lack fish life. However, several fish species have been observed in Carbon Run, and downstream tributaries such as Trout Run, Bennys Run, Millers Run, and Lick Creek have supported healthy communities of aquatic life.[2] Additionally, a small fish hatchery is maintained at the mouth of Trout Run by local sportsmen.[3]
^Coldwater Fishery and Warmwater Fishery are both official designations. The first means that a stream supports fish from the family Salmonidae and other cold-water fauna and flora and the second means that a stream supports warm-water fauna and flora.[5]
