Water Quality and 

Discharge of Streams in 

the Lehigh River Basin, 

Pennsylvania

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1879-H

Prepared in cooperation with the 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

Department of Forests and fFaters
Water Quality and 

Discharge of Streams in 

the Lehigh River Basin, 

Pennsylvania

By EDWARD F. McCARREN and WALTER B. KEIGHTON

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1879-H

Prepared in cooperation with the 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

Department of Forests and Waters

1 JNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1969
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

WALTER J. HIGKEL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

William T. Pecora, Director

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government P-inting Office 

Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 35 cents (paper cover)
CONTENTS

Page

Abstract_ _______________________________________________________ Hi

Introduction._ ____________________________________________________ 1

Purpose and scope_____________________________________________ 3

Acknowledgments. ____________________________________________ 3

General features of the Lehigh River basin___________________________ 3

Location _____________________________________________________ 3

Physiography _________________________________________________ 4

Geology._ ____________________________________________________ 5

Climate_ _____________________________________________________ 5

Population. ___________________________________________________ 6

Coal mining._____________________________________________________ 7

Reservoirs._______________________________________________________ 8

Water quality of streams___________________________________________ 12

Chemical quality of headwater streams draining the Appalachian

Plateaus _ _________________________________________________ 12

Lehigh River at Stoddartsville______________________________ 13

Tobyhanna and Tunkhannock Creeks________________________ 13

Bear Creek_______________________________________________ 13

Lehigh River at White Haven and Lehigh Tannery..__________ 14

Dilldown Creek___________________________________________ 14

Chemical quality of streams draining the Valley and Ridge province. _ _ 14 

Acid-bearing streams Sandy and Indian Runs and Pond,

Quakake, Black, and Nesquehoning Creeks_________________ 14

Alkaline-type streams Mahoning, Pohopoco, Lizard, and 

Aquashicola Creeks______________________________________

Lehigh River at Walnutport_______________________________ 15

Other streams in the Valley and Ridge province Little Lehigh, 15

Monocacy, Coplay, Cedar, and Jordan Creeks______________ 16

Lehigh River at Catasauqua________________________________ 16

Chemical quality of streams draining the New England province_ _____ 17

Saucon Creek_____________________________________________ 17

Lehigh River at Bethlehem and Glendon.____________________ 19

Lehigh River at Easton___________________________________- 19

Summary _ ______________________________________________________ 21

References_ _____________________________________________________ 27

ILLUSTEATIONS

Page 

FIGURE 1. Map showing physiographic provinces and location of

water-quality samplingsites_________________________ 114

2. Map showing geology and stream quality__-___-___-__--_ 6 

3-11. Graphs:

3. Water-temperature variations with depth, Francis

E. Walter Reservoir, June 16 and 29, 1966 .-- 10

in
IV CONTENTS

FIGUKES 3-11. Graphs Continued

4. Dilution effects of water released from Francis E. 

Walter Reservoir, Lehigh River at Easton, 

June20-30, 1966____._._________._ Hll

5. Relation of dissolved solids and calcium and magnesium hardness to specific conductance, Lehigh 

River at Catasauqua, 1944-53______________ 18

6. Relation of dissolved solids, calcium, bicarbonate, 

and sulfate to specific conductance, Lehigh 

River at Bethlehem, 1959-66____ _ ____ _ 20

7. Cumulative frequency curve of specific conductance, Lehigh River at Glen don, 1956-58. ______ 22

8. Cumulative frequency curve of specific conductance, Lehigh River at Easton, October 1962 to 

September 1966________________ 22

9. Graph showing relationship between dissolved 

solids and specific conductance, Lehigh River at 

Easton, 1961-66-.._________________ 24

10. Cumulative frequency curve of water temperature, 

Lehigh River at Easton, October 1962 to 

September 1965________.____.____ 25

11. Graph showing daily maximum and minimum, 

and monthly averages of, water temperature, 

Lehigh River at Easton, October 1962 to 

September 1966__________________._ 26

TABLES

Page 

TABLE 1. Water quality data, Lehigh River at Easton, June 1-30,

1966_________________-_-___---__._______. H12

2. Maximum and minimum values of physical and chemical

properties, Lehigh River at Catasauqua, 1944-53-______ 17

3. Given values of physical and chemical properties that 

were equaled or exceeded for indicated percent of days, 

Lehigh River at Catasauqua, 1945-52_______________ 17

4. Daily specific conductance, Lehigh River rt Easton,

October 1965 to September 1966-__._____________ 23

5. Continuous recording of water quality by instrument,

Lehigh River at Easton, May 1966 to April 1967___ __ 24

6. Chemical analyses of streams in the Lehigh River basin,

7_____________-__-______________-________-_ 30
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

WATER QUALITY AND DISCHARGE OF STREAMS IN 

THE LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA

By EDWARD F. MCCARREN and WALTER B. KEIGHTON

ABSTRACT

The Lehigh River, 100 miles long, is the second largest tributary to the Delaware 

River. It drains 1,364 square miles in four physiographic provinces. The Lehigh 

River basin includes mountainous and forested areas, broad agricultural valleys 

and areas of urban and industrial development. In the headwaters the v^ater is 

of good quality and has a low concentration of solutes. Downstream, some 

tributaries receive coal-mine drainage and become acidic; others drain areas 

underlain by limestone and acquire alkaline characteristics. The alkaline streams 

neutralize and dilute the acid mine water where they mix. The dissolved-oxygen 

content of river water, which is high in the upper reaches of the stream, is 

reduced in the lower reaches because of lower turbulence, higher temperature, 

and the respiration of organisms. The Lehigh is used for public supply, recreation, 

waterpower, irrigation, and mining and other industrial purposes.

Because the river is shallow in its upper reaches, most of the water comes in 

contact with the atmosphere as it churns over rocks and around islets ard large 

boulders. Aeration of the water is rapid. When water that was low in diirsolvedoxygen concentration was released from the lower strata of the Francis E. Walter 

Reservoir in June 1966, it quickly became aerated in the Lehigh River, and for 

40 miles downstream from the dam the water was nearly saturated with oxygen.

Most of the river water requires only moderate treatment for industrial use 

and public distribution throughout the Lehigh River valley. At times, however, 

some segments of the main river and its tributaries transport industrial wastes 

and acid coal-mine drainage. Usually the relatively high concentrations of solutes 

in water and the ensuing damage caused to quality by such waste discharges 

are more extensive and prolonged during droughts and other periods of low 

streamflow.

For many years the Lehigh River flow has been continuously measured and 

its waters chemically analyzed. Since May 1966 an instrument installed by the 

U.S. Geological Survey at Easton, Pa., has continuously recorded such waterquality parameters as specific conductance, temperature, and dissolved oxygen 

content.

INTRODUCTION

The chemical characteristics of perennial streams that drain the 

Lehigh River basin in eastern Pennsylvania are described in this 

report. From selected locations throughout the drainage basin, 

samples of surface water have been taken systematically since 1944 

and analyzed for the minerals that most commonly dissolve in water. 

Samples from some places were taken intermittently, sometimes 

only during high or low streamflow. At several selected locations

Hi
H2 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

samples were taken on consecutive days for durations of 1 year or 

more, and it was thus possible to observe those conditions that 

cause variations in water quality in terms of time and place.

Water is an indispensable ingredient of life. In its liquid and 

mobile state it is nature's most common solvent. As precipitation 

falling through the atmosphere it absorbs gases and picks up salt, 

dust, bacteria, spores, and other particles. Water flowing over and 

into the earth acquires materials in solution or suspension and transports them from place to place. In the atmosphere water is relatively 

low in solute content, and when it reaches the earth as precipitation 

in some form, it normally dilutes the water flowing in surface streams 

or that which lies in reservoirs, lakes, and ponds.

When there has been no precipitation, the water that maintains 

flow in streams issues from the ground. Ground water normally has 

more materials in solution than does surface water because it has 

been in contact with soluble rock longer. Consequently, additional 

solutes are introduced to streams by ground-water seepages, and 

during low flow streams reach their maximum concentration of 

dissolved solids.

Under normal conditions the quality of streams in the basin 

represents a mixture of ground water and runoff. In most streams 

domination of one source over the other is obvious during high and 

low discharges. The chemical composition of streams in the Lehigh 

River basin is also influenced by the particular geologic formations 

through which ground water has moved.

Civilization has also affected the quality of some streams in the 

basin by allowing industrial wastes to enter them. Particularly 

damaging are those that come from coal mines because they are 

usually acid and contain high concentrations of dissolved solids.

In the present study quantitative determination? by chemical 

analysis were made for silica, aluminum, iron, manganese, calcium, 

magnesium, sodium, potassium, carbonate, bicarbonate, sulfate, 

chloride, fluoride, nitrate, and dissolved solids as residue on evaporation at 180° C. Color, pH, and specific conductance were also determined. Acidity (as H2SO4) was determined on water samples with a 

pH below 4.5 and on those that were suspected of bearing coal-mine 

wastes.

Specific conductance (the ability of water to conduct electricity) is 

a characteristic of water that is used extensively in this study as the 

criterion of the quality of stream water at selected places. Pure water 

does not conduct electricity well. The resistance of pure water to the 

flow of an electric current diminishes with increasing concentrations of 

dissolved salts in water. The unit used to measure this resistance is 

the ohm; the unit of measure for the specific conductance is the 

reciprocal ohm, or mho. Most natural waters have dissociated ions in
WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA H3

concentrations of less than 1 mho; therefore specific conductance is 

usually reported in micromhos (millionths of a mho).

The pH indicates the acidity or alkalinity of the water. A pH value 

of 7.0 indicates a neutral water; lower pH values are acid and higher 

pH values are alkaline. Most stream waters have a pH betweer 5 and 

8, but acid mine waters frequently have a pH of 2-4. Acid waters are 

often corrosive and costly to treat for general usage.

This study was carried out jointly by the Pennsylvania Department 

of Forests and Waters and the U.S. Geological Survey. Many of the 

data on the chemical quality of water in the Lehigh River basin interpreted here appear in table 6. Some of the analytical data have been 

published previously in U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Papers 

"Quality of Surface Waters of the United States," Parts 1-4, and some 

have been published in "Water Quality Records in Pennsylvania," 

which was prepared in cooperation with the Commonwealth of 

Pennsylvania and other agencies.

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The purpose of this investigation is to present a useful organization 

of the chemical analyses of stream waters in the Lehigh River drainage 

system. Wherever possible, the environmental factors that significantly influence stream quality at different places throughout the 

basin are also identified. This quality appraisal relies solely on the 

basic data obtained from the continuing studies conducted cooperatively by State and Federal agencies.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This report was written under the general supervision of Norman H. 

Beamer, district chief, of Pennsylvania Water Resources D; vision, 

U.S. Geological Survey. The authors acknowledge with appreciation 

the cooperation of the U.S. Weather Bureau and the U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia district, during the quality investigations of the impounded water in the Francis E. Walter Reservoir. 

They also especially acknowledge the significant contributions made 

by Peter W. Anderson, chemist, during the initial stages of this study.

GENERAL FEATURES OF THE LEHIGH RIVER BASIN

LOCATION

The Lehigh River, in east-central Pennsylvania, flows southeastward into the Delaware River. It rises in Sterling Township in southwestern Wayne County and drains 1,364 square miles in all or parts of 

Wayne, Lackawanna, Monroe, Luzerne, Carbon, Schuylkill, Lehigh, 

Berks, Bucks,and Northampton Counties (fig. 1). It is one of three major tributaries to the Delaware, and its drainage is entirely within the 

boundaries of Pennsylvania. The other two tributaries are the Schuylkill River, the largest, and the Lackawaxen River. The mouth of the
H4 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

Lehigh is at Easton, in Northampton County, whe~e the stream 

contributes approximately 21 percent of the average discharge of the 

Delaware River.

PHYSIO GRAPH Y

The Lehigh River drains four physiographic provinces (Parker and 

others, 1964). In its headwaters above Jim Thorpe and East Mauch 

Chunk, the main river and several of its eastern tributaries drain the

76°00' 45' 75"15'

10

i

15 MILES 

_1

FIGURE 1. Physiographic provinces and location of water-quality sampling sites.
WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA H5

Appalachian Plateaus province (fig. 1). This area is rough, mountainous, and heavily forested, with many lakes, ponds, and swamps of 

glacial origin. Intense Pleistocene glaciation left extensive glacial-drift 

deposits throughout the entire area. The character and thickness of 

deposits differ considerably from place to place (Lohman, 1937).

Between White Haven and Allentown the western tributaries of the 

Lehigh, and some of those on the east, drain mostly the Valley and 

Ridge province. This province is also rough, mountainous, and well 

wooded. However, the ridges are lower and the intervening valleys 

broader. This area is more populated than the Appalachian Plateaus 

area, and there is more industrial and agricultural activity.

Below Allentown the Lehigh River and its southern tributaries drain 

the New England province and a very small part of the Piedmont 

province. The area consists of broad rounded uplands and deep narrow 

valleys. In the New England province are the industrial cities of 

Bethlehem and Easton; there is also considerable agricultural activity

in the general area.

GEOLOGY

The Lehigh basin above Jim Thorpe is underlain by the Catskill 

Formation and the Pocono and Mauch Chunk Formations, which 

consist of shale, sandstone, and conglomerate (fig. 2). Most of the 

consolidated rocks are covered by glacial deposits of nonuniform 

thickness. Several small tributaries in the northwestern part of the 

basin drain the area underlain by the Pottsville and Allegheny 

Formations, which also consist of shale, sandstone, and conglomerate 

but contain coal deposits. The lower half of the basin, in the Valley and 

Ridge, New England, and Piedmont provinces, is underlain by shale, 

slate, sandstone, and limestone and other carbonate rocks. The 

ground water that seeps into streams from the carbonate rocks is 

alkaline and capable of neutralizing some of the acid coal-mine waste 

that enters the Lehigh above Lehighton.

CLIMATE ............. » *

Mean annual precipitation in the Lehigh River basin ranges from 

42 inches at Bethlehem to 48 inches at East Mauch Chunk and averages about 45 inches for the basin (1931-60). The lowest monthly 

average, 2.6 inches, normally occurs in February, and the highest 

monthly average, 4.9 inches, in July. Mean annual air temperature is 

8° Celsius in the headwaters and 11° C near Allentown and ranges from 

an average low of 2° C in winter to an average high of 22° C in 

summer (U.S. Weather Bureau, 1964).

The combination of lakes, forests, cool summer temperatures, and 

proximity to the heavily populated cities of New York and Philadelphia makes this area a very popular tourist and recreation attraction. 

Mountainous terrain and heavy snowfalls also make it an attractive 

winter resort.

351-256 69 2
H6 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES 

76°00' 45' 30' 75" 15'

SO'

FIGURE 2. Geology and stream quality. Geology from Parker and others (1964).

POPULATION

At the time of the 1960 census slightly more than 434,000 persons 

lived in the Lehigh River drainage area. Almost 60 percent of them 

lived in the industrial Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton complex near the 

river mouth. The remainder resided either in small communities 

centered around coal mining or light industries, in trading centers, or 

in rural areas. In 1964 population for the same area was estimated at
WATER, LEHIGH EIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA H7

EXPLANATION

Hamilton Group 

Shale, sandy shale, flaggy 

sandstone,.and impure 

limestone

Gneissic rocks

Granite gneiss, crystalline arid unnamed rocks

Contact

Dashed where approximately 

located

446,000. By 1970 it is expected to increase to 465,000 (Delaware River 

Basin Commission, oral commun., 1965).

COAL MINING

Several streams, such as Sandy Run, Pond Creek, Indian Run, 

and Quakake, Black, and Nesquehoning Creeks, are affected by 

acidic wastes that issue from both active and abandoned coal mines. 

Some acid mine water also flows into the Lehigh River from abandoned 

mines in the adjoining Schuylkill River basin by way of the Nesquehoning drainage tunnel. In March 1965 this drainage tunnel 

discharged wastes into the Lehigh that contained 965 mg/1 (milligrams 

per liter) sulfate (table 6, p. H33). The tunnel discharge enters the 

Lehigh below Nesquehoning Creek and between East Mauch Chunk 

and Jim Thorpe.
H8 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

Mine water usually contains sulfuric acid because of reactions of 

water and air with sulfur compounds associated with coal deposits. 

Pyrite (FeS2), the most common sulfide mineral, has an approximate 

chemical composition of 46 percent iron and 53 percent sulfur. Oxidation of pyrite, and its unstable isomer marcasite, is the underlying 

cause of acid mine drainage pollution of affected streams in Pennsylvania. Some streambeds in the Lehigh River basin, such as a tributary 

to Quakake Creek and Indian Run, are coated with deposits of iron 

compounds introduced by mine water.

Sulfuric acid in some tributary streams excludes many forms of 

aquatic plant life and makes the water corrosive to metals and concrete. In contact with rocks, acid-bearing water takes into solution 

more dissolved solids, including such generally undesirable metal 

ions as aluminum, iron, and manganese. These metal ions impart 

objectionable taste and staining to water and commonly add to the 

cost of water treatment. Mine water may also kill fish and many of 

the aquatic organisms on which fish feed (California State Water 

Pollution Control Board, 1963).

Unaffected natural water from other streams, mostly from the east, 

is either low in solute concentration or has alkaline characteristics 

that help to dilute or neutralize the waste-bearing streams where the 

two streams mix. Although fish kills caused by mine water and other 

industrial discharges into the river have been reported on numerous 

occasions, pollution by acid-mine drainage into the Lehigh has had 

negligible effects on fish populations at Easton. In the lower basin, 

near Allentown and Bethlehem, the following species of fish are 

reported to be in the river: Channel catfish, smallmouth and largemouth bass, sucker, bullhead, eel, and fallfish. In the headwaters 

above Lehigh Tannery to the mouth of Choke Creek, the Lehigh is 

also stocked with brown and rainbow trout, as are several other 

tributary streams in the Pocono Mountain regions of Monroe and 

Carbon Counties (Pennsylvania Fish Commission 1969).

RESERVOIRS

The Lehigh River valley has experienced many severe floods that 

have cost lives and millions of dollars in property damage. The rugged 

terrain and steep slopes in the headwaters of the basin direct rapid 

runoff into the mainstream. The most recent damaging flood, in August 

1955, was caused by the tropical storms Connie and Diane. At 10:00 

a.m. August 19, 1955, the Lehigh River at Bethlehem was discharging 

water at 91,300 cfs (cubic feet per second) (Busch and Shaw, 1960). 

This is 40 times the average flow of the river and eight times the 

average flow of the Delaware River at Trenton, N.J.

To help protect the valley from future flood damage, the Francis 

E. Walter Reservoir was built on the main river a short distance 

below the mouth of Bear Creek. The reservoir was completed in 1961
WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA H9

and was designed primarily for flood control, but proposed structural 

modifications will make it serviceable for long-term storage, recreation, 

and water supply.

A multiple-purpose reservoir will be built on Aquashicola Creek, 

which drains parts of Monroe and Carbon Counties. The df,m site 

will be 4.5 miles upstream from the confluence of the creek with the 

Lehigh River. The Beltzville Reservoir will be built for multiple 

purposes on Pohopoco Creek about 4 miles east of Lehighton. The 

Beltzville Reservoir and a reservoir to be built on Jordan C~eek in 

Lehigh County will be designed to prevent flood damage and to provide 

storage of water for recreation and supply.

On Wild Creek, tributary to Pohopoco Creek in Carbon County, 

the Penn Forest Reservoir, 0.7 mile upstream from Hatchery, is used 

as a municipal water supply for the city of Bethlehem. Wild Creek 

Reservoir, 2.4 miles south of Hatchery, is also used as a water supply 

for Bethlehem. Levels and other projects for flood protection have 

been completed on the river at Allentown and Bethlehem (U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers, 1967).

The Francis E. Walter Reservoir is in the headwaters of the Lehigh 

River and impounds natural water of excellent quality (McCarren 

and Keighton, 1967). In June 1966 the Delaware River Basin Commission requested the release of water from the reservoir so that more 

space could be made available for the storage of excessive runoff 

resulting from potentially severe seasonal storms. Accordingly, the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released approximately 11 billion 

gallons of impounded water to the Lehigh June 20-27 at a rate of 

approximately 3,000 cfs, or 1.3 million gallons per minute. Observations of the quality of water in the reservoir and in the river at selected 

locations were made before, during, and after the release.

Water temperature in the reservoir decreased with depth; before 

the releases the water temperature in the upper 5 feet of the reservoir 

was 19°C, at 50-foot depth 15°C, and at 100-foot depth 14°C (fig. 3). 

Since oxygen is consumed by chemical reactions in stored water and is 

commonly replaced by aeration at the surface, it is likely that there 

was a deficiency in dissolved oxygen at depth, although this was not 

verified. The water entering the reservoir from Bear and Tobyhanna 

Creeks and from the Lehigh River was of excellent quality pH 

5.3-7.1 and specific conductance22-57 micromhos (table 6, p.H30-H31). 

Water was released from the reservoir June 20-27 from an outlet 140 

feet below the surface. The relatively cool water released through this 

outlet reduced stream temperatures. Cooling effects on river v^ater at 

Easton were as much as 2°C. The water became warmer downstream 

from the reservoir as it came in contact with warm air; on June 21 

river water at White Haven was 4°C warmer (17°C) than the water 

released from the reservoir June 20.
H10 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES 

0

25

50

75

100

-6-16-66

10 13 16 18 21 24 27

WATER TEMPERATURE, IN DEGREES CELSIUS

FIGURE 3. Water-temperature variations with depth, Francis E. Walter 

Reservoir, June 16 and 29, 1966.

River water was diluted by the reservoir water, and its quality was 

improved, as shown by the decrease in specific conductance as far as 

Easton. Within 2 days specific conductance at Easton dropped from 

232 to 100 micromhos (fig. 4 and table 1).

Although the water at depth in the reservoir probably was deficient 

in oxygen, the dissolved-oxygen concentration of the river water did 

not decrease when the reservoir water was released. This was probably 

because the Lehigh River is shallow and rockstrewn for some miles 

below the reservoir. The increased flow resulted in turbulence which 

provided an opportunity for mechanical aeration of the water. Since 

the temperature was lower, the water had a greater capacity to dissolve 

oxygen. Consequently, the dissolved-oxygen concentration of river 

water at Easton actually increased. For the 5 days preceding the release 

the average dissolved-oxygen concentration at Easton was 5.3 mg/1, 

and for 5 days during the release (June 22-26) it was 6.5 mg/1 (table 1).
WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA Hll

QNOOHS yaa 133d oiano
H12 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES 

TABLE 1. Water quality data, Lehigh River at Easton, June 1-80, 1966

Date 

(June 

1966)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Dissolved oxygen

Temperature (°C)

Max

18

18

20

21

22

24

24

25

26

26

26

26

26

27

26

27

26

24

24

26

25

23

23

23

24

24

26

28

29

30

Min

16

15

16

18

20

22

23

23

24

24

23

23

23

23

24

24

23

23

23

23

23

21

21

22

22

23

23

26

27

27

Milligrams per liter

Max

9.4

9.3

9.2

8.8

8.3

8.2

7.6

6.9

8.1

8.0

9.3

9.9

8.9

7.7

6.1

5.0

6.4

6.2

6.6

6.9

6.5

7.3

7.2

6.8

6.7

6.5

6.2

5.5

4.5

4.7

Min

8.7

8.8

8.6

7.9

7.4

6.9

5.7

5.1

5.7

5.6

6.3

6.6

6.6

4.7

3.5

3.6

3.6

4.3

4.2

4.5

4.2

6.3

6.6

6.3

6.0

5.9

5.5

4.2

3.2

2.6

Percent saturation

Max

99

93

94

94

94

96

89

82

99

96

112

119

106

90

73

60

75

73

78

83

77

84

83

79

79

77

75

69

58

62

Min

87

87

92

83

81

79

66

59

68

67

73

76

76

57

41

42

43

49

49

52

49

72

75

72

69

69

64

51

40

33

- Specific conductance 

(micromhos at 25°C)

Max

140

145

153

170

167

157

185

207

220

220

217

215

207

223

232

232

240

244

244

230

232

110

100

100

100

98

128

152

238

253

Min

120

130

130

140

150

147

157

187

200

210

210

200

200

200

216

222

228

234

231

212

110

89

90

92

91

88

100

126

152

228

WATER QUALITY OF STREAMS

In the present report the descriptions of stream quality at selected 

places in the Lehigh River drainage system are presented in downstream sequence. The chemical character, dissolved-solids concentration, and hardness of Lehigh River water change in varying degrees 

throughout the river length (fig. 2).

CHEMICAL QUALITY OP HEADWATER STREAMS DRAINING THE 

APPALACHIAN PLATEAUS

Streams draining the Appalachian Plateaus are of similar chemical 

character. The predominant ions in the water are calcium and sulf ate. 

Dissolved solids range from 14 to 40 mg/1; the lower concentrations 

occur near the sources of tributaries. The waters are soft; they rarely 

exceed 25 mg/1 of calcium and magnesium hardness. Calcium and 

magnesium, as milliequivalents per liter, constitute about 35-45 

percent of the ions; sodium and potassium constitute about 5-15 

percent. Low concentrations, less than 1 mg/1, of iron and manganese 

are also found in these streams. Sulfate ions approximate 20-30 

percent, bicarbonate 10-20 percent, and chloride and nitrate, 10-15 

percent of the total; fluoride occurs in trace amount?. Silica rarely 

exceeds 5 mg/1.
WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA H13

The pH of streams draining the Appalachian Plateaus ranges from 

5.0 to 7.0. Acidity in these streams is usually due to carbonic acid and 

other organic acids that are products of decaying plant matter in 

swamps. The relatively high color of water in some streams also 

reflects the influence of decomposed vegetation.

1EHIGH RIVER AT STODDARTSVII1E

At Stoddartsville, in Luzerne County, the Lehigh River drains 

91.7 square miles. The average discharge for 23 years (1944-66) was 

178 cfs, or about 115 mgd (million gallons per day). The broken, 

mountainous country and general topography of the basin headwaters cause rapid overland flow during storms. The maximum 

discharge of 31,900 cfs occurred during the tropical storms of August 

1955; a minimum flow of 7.0 cfs was observed September 26-27, 1964. 

Between 30 and 40 percent of the time the daily flow equaled or 

exceeded the average flow (Busch and Shaw, 1966).

The predominant ions, expressed as milliequivalents per liter, in 

water at Stoddartsville were calcium and sulfate except at low 

flow, when the bicarbonate concentration exceeded that of sulfate. 

The water is soft and of excellent quality (table 6, p. H30) and supports 

several varieties of game fish, including brown and rainbow trout.

TOBYHANNA AND TUNKHANNOCK CREEKS

Tobyhanna Creek flows into the Francis E. Walter Reservoir near 

Stoddartsville. It drains 139 square miles of northwestern Monroe 

and northeastern Carbon Counties. Between October 19?! and 

September 1966 the average discharge was 170 cfs, or 110 mgd. The 

maximum discharge of Tobyhanna Creek measured near Blakeslee 

was 2,250 cfs on March 27, 1963, and the minimum was 22 cfs September 24-25, 1964. However, during the flood of August 19, 1£55, the 

discharge was estimated at 35,300 cfs. The water of Tobyhanna 

Creek is of a calcium bicarbonate type, low in solute concentrations, 

that contains traces of iron and manganese. Specific conductance 

ranged from 22 to 37 micromhos, and the pH ranged from 5.7 to 7.1. 

Brown and rainbow trout are in the creek.

The principal tributary to the Tobyhanna is Tunkhannock Creek, 

which drains 50 square miles of western Monroe and northeastern 

Carbon Counties, including a large swamp in Monroe County. The 

creek's mouth is 2 miles southeast of Blakeslee. The water of Tunkhannock Creek near Fernridge is of a mixed calcium sulfate bicarbonate 

type having low concentrations of solutes. The estimated average 

annual minimum discharge at Fernridge for 7 consecutive days 

during a recurrence interval of 10 years was 5.6 cfs, or 3.6 mgd (Busch 

and Shaw, 1966).

BEAR CREEK

Bear Creek merges with the Lehigh River in the Francis E. Walter 

Reservoir. The creek is 13 miles long and drains 55.8 square miles,

351-256 69 ,3
H14 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

most of which is in Luzerne Comity. The water has a low solute 

concentration and is a calcium sulfate type. The estimated average 

annual minimum discharge of Bear Creek near White Haven, above 

the Walter dam, for 7 consecutive days during a recurrence interval 

of 10 years was 1.8 cfs, or 1.1 mgd.

IEHIGH EIVER AT WHITE HAVEN AND LEHIGH TANNERY

Near White Haven, about 6 river miles downstream from the 

Francis E. Walter Reservoir dam, the Lehigh River had a specific 

conductance of 40 micromhos, a pH of 6.5, and a color of 30 units on 

June 16, 1966. At White Haven, river water is a mixed crlcium sulfate 

bicarbonate type. The average discharge at White Haven was 520 

cfs, or 336 mgd, for 9 years (1958-66).

Since 1944, intermittent sampling and analysis of the river at 

Lehigh Tannery, about 2 river miles downstream from White Haven, 

showed negligible changes in type between these places, and regardless of discharge, river water quality has been excellent. At Lehigh 

Tannery, the average discharge for 45 years was 667 cfs. or 431 mgd. 

Daily flow equaled or exceeded the average flow about 35 percent of 

the time.

DILIDOWN CREEK

Dilldown Creek is a tributary of Mud Run, which is e, tributary to 

the Lehigh River in Carbon County. Mud Run drains 36 square miles 

of Monroe and Carbon Counties. Dilldown Creek is a low solute, 

calcium sulfate stream and is slightly acidic; the relatively high color of 

the stream water probably stems from swamp water. The average 

discharge of the creek near Long Pond is 5.15 cfs, or 3.3 mgd. About 35 

percent of the time the daily flow equaled or exceeded the average flow. 

Game fish are plentiful in most parts of Dilldown Creek.

CHEMICAL QUALITY OF STREAMS DRAINING THE VALLEY AND

RIDGE PROVINCE

The chemical character of streams draining the Valley and Ridge 

province ranges widely because of the influence of variable geology. 

The water in streams draining the region of coal deposits is acidic 

and very hard and contains high concentrations of calcium, sulfate, 

aluminum, iron, manganese, and free sulfuric acid. The streams draining limestone and dolomite are alkaline and hard and contain high 

concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate ions. Other 

streams draining shales, conglomerates, and sandstones have low 

concentrations of solutes.

ACID-BEARING STREAMS

The quality of the Lehigh River water changes significantly below 

Lehigh Tannery after the river receives the dischage cf tributaries 

flowing in from the west. In this area of the basin, Sandy and Indian 

Runs and Pond, Quakake, Black, and Nesquehoning Creeks, all
WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA HI5

affected by drainage from coal mines, show a sulfate content ranging 

from 44 to 583 mg/1. Calcium and magnesium hardness, as calcium carbonate, ranges from 29 to 362 mg/1 (table 6, p.H32-33). The metal ions 

and hydrogen ions in mine waste also contribute to the water hariness. 

Calcium and magnesium comprise 65-75 percent of the cations, sodium 

and potassium 5-15 percent, aluminum about 20 percent, and iron and 

manganese about 3 percent. Sulfate comprises about 85-95 percent of 

the anions; chloride, fluoride and nitrate occur in minor percentages; 

and there is little or no bicarbonate. Aluminum concentrations 

were as much as 16 mg/1, iron 2 mg/1, silica 14 mg/1, and manganese 

approximately 5 mg/1 in acidic streams at locations several miles 

downstream from inflowing mine drainage.

ALKALINE-TYPE STREAMS

In the central part of the Lehigh River drainage basin the tributaries Mahoning, Pohopoco, Lizard, and Aquashicola Creeks drain 

a region underalin by shale, sandstone, conglomerate, and some 

limestone. Except for Aquashicola Creek at Palmerton, these streams 

contain a calcium bicarbonate type water which is low in dissolved 

solids.

Aquashicola Creek has a calcium sodium sulfate type of water 

containing relatively high concentrations of dissolved solids. Punoff 

leaches material from the area drained by this stream and accounts for 

most of the dissolved solids in the water at Palmerton. Zinc-recovery 

works in the basin also contribute to the dissolved solids in this stream. 

A sample of water at Palmerton on September 18, 1964, contained 275 

mg/1 dissolved solids (specific conductance 449 micromhos) and a 

calcium magnesium Hardness of 146 mg/1.

LEHIGH RIVER AT WALNTJTPORT

Wamutport is about 40 river miles down river from the Francis E. 

Walter dam, approximately halfway between the source and mouth of 

the Lehigh River. The river drains 889 square miles at Walnutport, 

where during 20 years (1947-66) the average discharge was 1,739 

cfs, or 1,123 mgd. For the period 1947-60 the daily flow equaled or 

exceeded the average flow 30-40 percent of the time.

In this part of the river can be observed the effectiveness of neutralization and dilution by some tributaries to lessen the deleterious 

influence of acid-bearing streams on water quality. River water here 

is a calcium sulfate type and is commonly of good quality for most uses. 

The concentrations of solutes in river water at Walnutport are at their 

highest during the summer months and early autumn, during low flow. 

Only moderate treatment of river water is required for its us?- as a 

public or industrial supply.

Intermittent chemical analyses of the river at Walnutport from 1950 

to 1966 showed that dissolved-solids concentrations ranged from 41 to
H16 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

131 mg/1 and that pH ranged from 4.6 to 7.0. Calcium end magnesium 

hardness ranged from 20 to 86 mg/1. Maximum hariness occurred 

September 18, 1964, when most eastern Pennsylvania streams were 

affected by drought. Minimum hardness of 20 mg/1 occurred June 20, 

1966, when controlled releases of impounded water we~e made to the 

river from the Francis E. Walter Reservior. Normally this section of 

the river is nearly saturated with dissolved oxygen.

OTHER STREAMS IN TEE VALLEY AND RIDGE PROVING"

Streams in the southern part of the Valley and Eidge province, 

notably Little Lehigh, Monocacy, Coplay, Cedar, and Jordan Creeks, 

are underlain by extensive beds of Cambrian and Ordovician limestone 

and dolomite. Such rocks greatly influence the chemical quality of 

the streams that cross them. The limestones are dense, hard, brittle, 

and soluble. Subsurface channels are dissolved out along fractures by 

percolating water charged with carbon dioxide. Water that seeps from 

these rocks into streams contains high concentrations of calcium, 

magnesium, and bicarbonate. Consequently, water in streams of this 

area is a calcium bicarbonate type and alkaline. The dissolved-solids 

concentrations range from 100 to 400 mg/1; pH ranges from about 7.0 

to 8.5. Commonly, calcium and magnesium hardness exceeds 100 mg/1 

and may often exceed 200 mg/1 during periods of low streamflow.

Calcium and magnesium constitute 80-95 percent of the cations, 

and sodium and potassium about 5-20 percent. Iron and manganese 

are present in minor percentages, but, combined, they rarely exceed 

1.0 mg/1. Silica content is usually less than 10 mg/1. Bicarbonate 

constitutes about 60-80 percent of the anions, sulfate 10-35 percent, 

and chloride and nitrate 5-10 percent. Fluoride is present in trace 

amounts.

The average discharge of Little Lehigh Creek near Allentown for 

21 years (1946-66) was 88.3 cfs, or 57 mgd; that for Monocacy Creek 

at Bethlehem for 18 years (1949-66) was 45.5 cfs, or 29.3 mgd; and 

that for Jordan Creek at Allentown for 22 years (1945-66) was 

106 cfs, or 68.5 mgd. The daily flow in Little Lehigh Creek equaled 

or exceeded its average flow 40-50 percent of the time, and daily flow 

in the other two creeks equaled or exceeded average flow 30 40 

percent of the time.

LEHIGH RIVER AT CATASAUQUA

Lehigh River water at Catasauqua was frequently examined for 

quality variations from October 1, 1944, through September 30, 1953. 

During this time more than 2,800 daily samples were taken and composited into sets of 10 samples each. A complete chemical analysis 

was made of each composited set.

Catasauqua is about 9 river miles upstream from Fethlehem and 

is above the confluence of Jordan, Little Lehigh, end Monocacy 

Creeks. River water at Catasauqua is a calcium sulfate type, and
WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA H17

most of the time its quality is good for most purposes after moderate 

treatment. For the period of record, dissolved solids ranged from 

45 to 393 mg/1, pH ranged from 5.3 to 7.6, and calcium and magr gsium 

hardness ranged from 24 to 258 mg/1 (table 2).

The median specific conductance for the same period wrs 119 

micromhos. The cumulative frequency of specific conductance at 

Catasauqua and the concentration levels for some chemical constituents from 1945 to 1952 are presented in table 3.

The concentration of dissolved solids and the calcium and magr Q-sium 

hardness of Lehigh River water at Catasauqua are, respectively, 

about 66 and 42 percent of specific conductance (fig. 5).

CHEMICAL QUALITY OF STREAMS DRAINING THE NEW ENCLAND

PROVINCE

Below Bethlehem the Lehigh River and its tributaries drain the 

New England province. Stream valleys are underlain by limestone 

and dolomite, and the high country is mainly Precambrian crystalline 

rock (Hall, 1934).

SAUCON CREEK

Saucon Creek is 16.5 miles long, and, although its drainage area 

is relatively small (58.2 sq mi), the limestone terrane that it drains 

imparts alkaline characteristics to the stream which can neutralize 

acidic water where the two mix. At Friedensville, 0.3 mile downstream

TABLE 2. Maximum and minimum values of physical and chemical properties, 

Lehigh River at Catasauqua, 1944-53

[Results in milligrams per liter except as indicated]

Property Max Min

pH. ..............................................................

Sulfate (SOi). __ ....................... ...... .............

Iron (Fe) _ ______ ... __ .. ___ . __ ..... _ .. _ ... ...

Manganese (Mn) ______ ...... __ ..... _ .. __ ..........

-. ..---.. 664

.................... 7.6

.................... 59

--.....-..-......... 258

.................... 221

.................... .24

.................... 1.6B

......... ........... 393

70

5.3

6

24

21

0

0

45

' Exceeds U.S. Public Health Service drinking water standards.

TABLE 3. Given values of physical and chemical properties that were equaled or 

exceeded for indicated percent of days, Lehigh River at Catasauqua, 194&-52

[Results in milligrams per liter except as indicated]

Percent of days 

Property

10 25 50 75 90

Specific conductance (micromhos at 25°C) ....-... ............ 200 162 130 107 92

Calcium (Ca).....__............................................ 19 15 12 9.8 8.3

Magnesium (Mg)...........-.....--...... ...-...-.............- 6.6 5.4 4.3 3.6 3.0

Sodium (Na) and potassium (K).................................. 7.4 5.9 4.7 3.8 3.2

Bicarbonate (HCOs) ......................................... 22 17 13 9 7

Sulfate (SO<)._. ........... ...............- ........... 60 48 38 32 27

Chloride (Cl).................................................... 4.0 3.3 2.7 23 2.1

Dissolved solids................................................... 127 104 84 70 60

Hardness (as CaCOs) ~~ -~~-.~--.~-~-. ------ 74 60 47 39 33
300

75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 27

SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE, IN MICROMHOS PE

FIGURE 5. Relation of dissolved solids and calcium and magn

conductance, Lehigh River at Catasau
WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA H19

from South Branch Saucon Creek, the average discharge for 5 years 

(1949-53) was 42.7 cfs, or about 28 mgd. The maximum discharge, 

1,330 cfs, occurred November 25, 1950; the minimum, 6.4 cfs, occurred September 26, 1950. Water pumped from a zinc mine near 

Friedensville flows into this stream. From 1949 to 1953 daily flow in 

Saucon Creek exceeded the average flow 30-40 percent of the time 

(Busch and Shaw, 1966).

LEHIGH RIVER AT BETHLEHEM AND GLENDON

At Bethlehem, about 12 river miles upstream from the mouth of 

the Lehigh, the river drains 1,279 square miles, including the area 

drained by Monocacy Creek. The average discharge of the Lehigh at 

Bethlehem for 60 years (1902-04, 1909-66) was 2,236 cfs, or 1,445 

mgd. The maximum discharge, 92,000 cfs, occurred May 23, 1942; 

the minimum, 125 cfs, occurred June 28, 1965.

Lehigh River water at Bethlehem is a mixed calcium bicarbonate 

sulfate type. During an average or below-average flow, solutes are 

more concentrated than when the flow is above average, and bicarbonate usually predominates in the stream water; when discharge 

is above average, sulfate usually predominates. The relationship of 

dissolved solids and specific conductance in Lehigh River water 

at Bethlehem (1959-66) is shown in figure 6.

About 8.5 miles downstream from Bethlehem, at Glendon, the 

drainage area is 71 square miles larger than at Bethlehem. A comparison of chemical analyses at these locations shows a change of less than 

5 percent in specific conductance, calcium and magnesium hardness, 

and bicarbonate, and sulfate content. During the 1957 and If 58 water 

years, the specific conductance of river water at Glendon did not 

exceed 200 micromhos for 50 percent of the time (fig. 7). Occasional 

fish kills in this part of the river are probably caused by industrial 

waste discharges, which reduce the concentration of oxygen in the 

water. (U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1964).

LEHIGH RIVER AT EASTON

At Easton the Lehigh River drams 1,364 square miles. The average 

discharge of the Lehigh at Easton for 58 years of record was approximately 2,320 cfs, or 1,499 mgd.

The water at Easton is a mixed calcium sulfate bicarbonate type. 

These ions make up about 65-75 percent of the dissolved solids. From 

October 1961 through March 1967, dissolved solids in river water 

ranged from 75 to 243 mg/1. The varying concentrations had e,n inverse 

relationship to stream discharge. The hardness, caused principally by 

calcium and magnesium, ranged from 35 to 150 mg/1; pH ranged from 

6.4 to 7.7. Specific conductance ranged from 82 micromhos March 15, 

1964, to 581 micromhos August 19, 1963. However, 60 percent of the
100 140 180 220 260 

SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE, IN MICROMHOS PER 

FIGURE 6. Relation of dissolved solids, calcium, bicarbonate, and 

River at Bethlehem, 1959-66.
WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA H21

time specific conductance did not exceed 265 micromhos (fig. 8) ; 

during the 1966 water year the median was 174 micromhos. Daily 

specific conductances of the river at Easton during the 1966 water 

year are shown in table 4. The monthly maximum, minimum, and 

mean values for dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, ard temperature of Lehigh River water at Easton are shown in table £ . These 

quality parameters were recorded by instrument from May 1966 to 

April 1967.

The concentration of dissolved solids in river water can be estimated 

by the specific conductance. The relationship between dissolved solids 

(ds) and specific conductance (K] at Easton is illustrated in figure 9. 

The result of the plotting of these variables is:

The river water temperature at Easton from October 1962 to 

September 1965 was equal to or less than 22° C 75 percent of the time 

(fig. 10). Seasonal variations, daily maximum and minimum averages, 

and monthly averages from October 1962 to September 1966 are 

shown in figure 1 1 .

SUMMARY

Because of environmental factors such as climate, geology, and 

land and water use, the quality of water in the Lehigh Rive-r varies 

considerably from the river's source to its mouth.

The headwaters of the main river are fed by streams very low in 

solutes. Some of these streams in the Appalachian Plateaus contain 

drainage from swamps of glacial origin, which imparts a high color 

and acidity to water because of decaying matter. However, the near 

purity of most streams in the Lehigh headwaters is indicated by their 

low specific conductance (less than 50 micromhos). The lowest specific 

conductance of natural water in Pennsylvania ever recorded by the 

Geological Survey was 10 micromhos at Dilldo\vn Creek, a tributary 

that flows through State game and forest lands in the scenic Pocono 

Mountains of Monroe and Carbon Counties. The headwaters of the 

Lehigh River ; Dilldown, Choke, Bear, Tobyhanna, and Tunkhannock 

Creeks; and the main river provide habitat for an abundant population of brown and rainbow trout and other game fish.

In the middle part of the basin, the Lehigh receives the waters of 

several streams that transport acidic coal-mine wastes. Some mine 

water is also transported from abandoned mines in the Schuylkill 

River basin by way of the Nesquehoning drainage tunnel. Sandy, 

Pond, and Indian Runs and Black, Quakake, and Nesquehoning 

Creeks flow from the west to join the Lehigh, bringing mine drainage 

from the eastern Middle anthracite field. However, below the confluence of these streams with the Lehigh, alkaline water from Po.

351-256 69 1
H22 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

IN MICROMHOS SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE, 

AT 25°C CENTIMETER PER 

co jr >- i-. 

cji muo 

o co

*-,

-

! 1

^x

1 1

1 1

\

\

1 1

1 1 '1

V

50 percent 

did no

\

I I I

1 1

of days specific c 

: exceed 200 micr

I

onductance 

omhos'

-

1 I I

512 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 98 99 99

PERCENTAGE OF DAYS SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE WAS 

EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THAT SHOWN

FIGURE 7. Cumulative frequency curve of specific conductance, Lehigh River

at Glendon, 1956-58.

MICROMHOS 

25°C

 * *»GJo cen

C0 

Z < 300

uJ o:

0 UJ

| uj 250 

1*

§| 200

O ^

°s

2 ft- 150 

u.

& 100

50 

9S

,1

-

I

I 1

1 I

1 1

\

1 1

! 1 1 1 I 1 1 1

60 percent of days specific conducta 

^ did nqt exceed 265 rnicromhos

\

V

1 1 1

%

1 1 1 1 1

I

-

ice

r 

99.8 9998 95 90 80 7060504030 20 10 5 2 10.50.2 0.05 O.C 

.9 0.1

PERCENTAGE OF DAYS SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE V'AS 

EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THAT SHOWN

FIGURE 8. Cumulative frequency curve of specific conductance, Lehigh River 

at Easton, October 1962 to September 1966.
WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA H23

rH OS CO O OS !> 1C OS rH rH OS CO 00 rH CO OO OO rH t rH rH CO >O 00 00 rH GO >C rH CO

rH O CO CO C*5 (N CO 1C 1>- CO 1C rH rH rH ?>1 00 CO OS t I>- 00 OO l~- t GO GO t rH jv] O

CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO <N IN C^ <N <N (N (N -N <N 01 IN C<l TC CO CO TO

C^COCdCdCd CO COCOCO COCOCOCOCO COCOCOCOCO <N (N *N (N (N CO CO <N CO CO CO

oor^-^eo® o d o

t~- O5 rH COCOCOCO-*

rH IN rH c^l (N IN CO CO CO COCOCOCOCO COCOCOCOCO COCOCOCOCO CO CO CO CO <N CO

O OS rH t~- OCSrHCOlC

COCOrHCO iCCOOOOO

rHrHrHrH rHrHrHC^IC^

OOiOOOOOOO O5O5O500O5

OCJCO 

O CO O 

iM rH c<)

t^COrt* COCO

O rH C^ i-t CO

C^l (M IM IN IM

CO CO CO CO O

- . . _ _ 1C 1C OS 1C *

GO rH 10 OS OS 00 l>-»O l>-1>- 00 00 !> t~-CO '

(N CO C'lrHrH C^rHrHrHrH

_ CO COCOrHO rHCOCOC-lC^

O rH ^ rH O CO 1C »O 1C IN rH rH rH 00 O

lN(MrH.«-<l .«-«-«.«-« C^C^lNrHC^

GOlNCOCOCO

oooooot^

iCOOrHOOlN OS O (M O O

CO rH CO CO rH O CO rH 1C CO

C^!N-«(N-« C«lNlNiM-<l

GOOOCOOO OOrHOOOOO 

COt^t^OOOO

®cooo»oco ic

t^OOOOOOO 00

COCOrHOl-~ OOOOGOOO1 iCrHrH^COS COCOCO 

C*l C1! C*1 rH rH rH rH rH rH C^ rH rH rH rH rH C^l rH rH

C^OOOSOSrH COlMOSIM

rHQOOOrH rH rH O C«

IN C^ rH C^l C^l IN IN iN IN C^

C^ O CO 1C O CO rH rH CO C^l 00 rH OS 1C CO

(NC«rHrHO OOSOSOSOO CJ O TH 00 GO

C^l IN IN IN lM C^l rH rH rH rH rH rH rH rH rH

IMIMO5COCO 

-*OOCOiO»O 

COCOCOCOlM (N (N (N <N (M

rHOSrHt^rH CO t^ C^l OS rH OS CO rH t^ rH CO CO 1C IN I

t CO CO CO 1C iCCOrHiNlN C^COCOlNCO C^C^IC^OSI

iN(N(N!NiM C^IC^lNlNlN iNC^IlNlNC^ iNC^iNrH,

W <N (N (M !M

...._. COt^

<N rH 1C CO CO CO CO

<N CO C^l !N IN CM IN

rH C<I CO Tf< If5 CO t-» 00 O3 O CO !> 00 OS O rH IN CO rH »C CO !> 00 OS O rH 

rHT-|rHrHlN INCSINCS^N C^^-<)lNrOCO
0 50100525 3004C SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE, INMICROMHOS PERCENT1METF.R AT25°C

FIGURE 9. Relationship between dissolved solidsan specific conductanc

Lehigh Riverat Easton, 1961-66.

DISSOLVED SOLIDS, IN MILLIGRAMS 

PER LITER

>- "-1 N3 K 

Ul O Ul O O 

3 O O O O C

^~

- \

\

\

k

,\

ii N o

63K+10

 

\ .

 4» 

 \ 

\ 

 \

. 

-

-

-

-

-

-

\*

 \ 

\
WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA H25

32

27

21

16

10

/' 5 percent of the time water temperature 

was equal to or less than 22°C

98 95 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10

PERCENTAGE OF TIME WATER TEMPERATURE 

EQUALED OR EXCEEDED THAT SHOWN

FIGUKE 10. Cumulative frequency curve of water temperature, Lehigh River 

at Easton, October 1962 to September 1965.

WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA H27

hopoco, Wild, Lizard, Aquashicola, Buckwheat, and Hokerdaqua 

Creeks dilutes and neutralizes the acidity so that the river if again 

approximately neutral and requires only a moderate amount of treatment for most uses.

Where the Lehigh flows into the Delaware at Easton, its water is a 

mixed type with calcium, sulf ate, and bicarbonate ions predominating. 

Sixty percent of the time from 1962 to 1966, the specific conductance 

did not exceed 265 micromhos; it ranged from 86 to 581 micromhos. 

The median specific conductance during the 1966 water year was 174 

micromhos.

Water temperature at Easton from 1962 to 1965 was equal to or 

less than 22°C 75 percent of the time. Water hardness, caused mostly 

by calcium and magnesium, ranged from 35 to 150 mg/1.

There is a strong public consciousness for protecting the chemical 

and sanitary quality of the Lehigh River because of the river's economic importance as a water supply and because of its latent potential 

for esthetic enjoyment and recreational uses. This report shows that 

river water contains adequate oxygen most of the time for the oxidation of waste loads that may now be entering the stream. At times, 

however, the concentration of oxygen in the lower Lehigh is sufficiently 

low (less than 1.0 mg/1) to cause concern. Oxygen deficits are caused 

by acid mine drainage and other industrial waste discharges. The 

effects are moderate to severe. The most recently reported fish kills in 

the Lehigh River have come from the lower basin areas between Alientown and Easton, where the Pennsylvania Fish Commission reports 

that channel catfish, smallmouth and largemouth bass, suckere, bullheads, eels, and fallfish are in the river.

REFERENCES

Busch, W. F., and Shaw, L. C., 1960, Floods in Pennsylvania, frequercy and 

magnitude: U.S. Geol. Survey open-file rept., 231 p.

 1966, Pennsylvania streamflow characteristics, low-flow frequency and 

flow duration: Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters Water Resources Bull. 1, 289 p.

California State Water Pollution Control Board, 1963, Water quality criteria: 

Pub. 3A, 512 p.

Hall, G. M., 1934, Ground water in southeastern Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania 

Geol. Survey, 4th ser., Bull. W2, 255 p.

Lohman, S. W., 1937, Ground water in northeastern Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania 

Geol. Survey, 4th ser., Bull. W4, 312 p.

McCarren, E. F., and Keighton, W. B., 1967, Effects of released reservoir water 

on quality of the Lehigh River, Pennsjdvania, in Geological Survey Research 1967: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 575-D, p. D262-D266.

Parker, G. G., Hely, A. G., Keighton, W. B., Olmsted, F. H., 1964, Water resources of the Delaware River basin: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 381, 

200 p.

Pennsylvania Fish Commission, 1969, Fisherman's Guide: 41 p.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1967, Water resources development by the U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers in Pennsylvania: U.S. Army Engineer, North 

Atlantic Division, 102 p.
H28 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE TOTTED STATES

U.S. Geological Survey, State Cooperative report 1968, Water resources data for 

Pennsylvania, Part 1, Surface water records, 1967: Basic data, prepared in 

cooperation with the Pennsylvania Dept. Forests and Wf.ters and other 

agencies.

U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1964, Pollution-caused fish 

kills in 1964.

U.S. Weather Bureau, 1964, Climatic summary of the U.S., SuppT ement for 1951 

through 1960, Pennsylvania, Decennial census of U.S. climate.
TABLE 6
TABLE 6. Chemical analyses of streams in the Lehigh 

[Results in milligrams per liter, except as indicat

Date of collection

iff il fc g£ |l fe fa Jl IR

Bicarbonate 

(HC0 3)

~s

CQ

Chloride 

Trout Creek near Thornhurst

July 12, I960.-- ... 2.3 6 7.5 1.0 

Choke Creek near Thornhurst

Sept. 12, 1966 --_ . 1.8 8 4.7 0.8 

1-4475 Lehigh River at Stoddartsville

Oct. 31 

Oct. 26, I960-. -

Julyl2_ ... , ,.

Oct. 23,1963-. 

gnpt Jg JOQ4

June Id,' 1966-.- ... ..

49 2.4 ... 0.02 4.3 1.1 1.7

. 237 2.1 .03- 3.5 .9 1.0

. 138 2.9- - .01 3.5 1.0 1.2 0.3

58 9.4

. 165 1.9- -- 3.3 1.2 1.8 .9

85 1.2

12 ...... ___ ......... __ _ ___ 1.8

10 9.1

3.0

9 

5 

6 

6 

7 

6 

15 

15 

10

8.0 

8.0 

6.8 

12 

9.2 

8.6 

5.6 

7.4 

8.8

2. 0 

1.0 

1.8 

7.5 

1.4 

.5

3.0 

9.0 

2.0 

1-4477 Tunkhannock Creek near Fernridge

Apr. 20, I960..... ... _ ..

July 10, 1962 ...........

Sept. 13, 1966 --- 

. 7.23 1.8

. «38.9 1.2

10 2.3 1.2 0.7 0.4 0.2

1.4

4 

3 

6

5.0 

1.5 

0.8 

1.6

0.5 

1.3 

1.0 
1-4477.20 Tobyhanna Creek near Blakeslee

Oct. 31, 1945- 

Oct. 10,1957-- --

Julyl2, I960... ..

Oct. 23, 1963 - .

Sept. 18, 1964 ....

Sept. 17, 1966 

. 159 1.8 ....

. 93 .

 . 28 - 

. 24

... 0.01 . 2.5 0.8 1.1 0.3 6

.... ... 3.2 10

 1.6 5

. 2.1 10

.... 1.6 10

. 5.5 5

4. 3 1. 6 

4.0 1.7

7.1 1.0 

3.6 2.5 

1 3.8 1.0 

7.4 7.0 

1-4477.5 Bear Creek near White Haven

Oct. 31, 1945-. 

Apr. 20, 1960 _

July 12. .

Oct. 4 . .

July 11, 1962-. .

May 13, 1963. ...

Sept. 16 _ ..

Sept. 23, 1964.. .

 53 2.6 

 "41 ...

 58 

 . "3.5 

... ... 84 ... 

 "2.6 

 0.01 2.0 0.8 0.9 0.4 2

. 3.0 7

. 3.2 4

. .5 2

. 4.6 8

. 1.2 4

..--.-- 3.2 8

. ... 4.4 12

5. 6 1. 2 

8.8 1

6.9 3.0 

4.8 1.5

6.3 5

6.8 1.0

4.8 3.5 

4.8 5.5 

1-4478 Lehigh River below Francis E. Walter Reservoir near 

Oct. 23, 1963..- _

Sept. 18, 1964 

61 ____ ...

41 ------

. 1.4 8

1.6 8

4.8 2

5.6 2.0 

Lehigh River at White Haven

June 16, 1966 4.6 8 9 5.0 

1-4480 Lehigh River at Lehigh Tannery

July 29, 1944, _-_--

Apr. 2, 1945 . 

Oct. 31 -

July 29, 1949_--_ 

Aug. 16-...._- - 

Sept. 20 --.

Oct. 10, 1957- --_-__

Anr. 21, 1059.. ....

Oct. 22 

Apr. 26, 1960. 

July 12 _ ......

----- 141 1.2 -...

----- 660 1.7 .

 403 2.1

 166 1.8 ....

-.--__ 343 2.2 .-_.

-..- 206 1.2

224

.- .. 1,300 2.2 .. ..

 -- 3.0 ....

... ___ 1.1 _-

.... 0.01 ----- 3.3

. .01 ------ 2.9

.... .01 ------ 3.2

.... .04 --.-. 4.2

._-. .19 .. 4.6

.... .03 2.8

. 4.1

.... 1.2 ----- 3.3

 2.4

1.1 0. 9 7

.8 1.5 5

1.0 .9 5

.7 1.9 10

.7 1. 5 8

.9 2. 4 8

... ... 2.1 6

.5 3. 2 4

1.0 2.0 0.5 4

1.2 1.8 .8 6

------- 1.8 8

6. 5 1.0 

7. 4 .8 

7.0 1.4 

6. 6 2. 0 

10 1.5 

6. 0 2. 

7.7 1.5

10 3.0 

11 1.6 

8. 4 1. 

7.1 1.0

"Discharge at time of sampling.
H32 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

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WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA H33

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I
TABLE 6. Chemical analyses of streams in the Lehigh River ba

[Results in milligrams per liter, except as indicated]

Date of collection

s, s s @ ^ 3 & H 3

 H ^ d ^^-*^ Is ^-* 

cSa <*Q '§3 "* £? § -s^ a ^ ass o .209 3"^ £2^ ^S 43 U boS

OJ'O^-' -3^ ~*-^ O'-' S}^ a '~' S^"

S CQ <J M S O S

Sodium (Na)

Potassium 

(K)

Bicarbonate 

(HC0 3)

05

Chloride (Cl)

1-4495 Wild Creek at Hatchery

Nov. 1, 1945- 

Sept. 18, 1964.... _ .....

30 5.3--. _ - 0.01 ------- 1.1 0.7

"1.7 __-. . __ 

1.2 0.2 

2.5

6 

9

1.8 

1.6

1.1

2.0

1-4500 Pohopoco Creek near Parry ville

July 28, 1944...... ........

Apr. 4, 1946.. ............

Nov.l~-.~- - - . Oct. 10, 1957-... ___ ....

Apr.21, 1959......... . Oct. 22, 1959 .......

Apr. 26, I960-.. _ ......

Oct. 23, 1963... ... .......

Sept. 18, 1964 ........

70 4.9 ....... 0.01-- 2.8 1.2

. 230 5.1. .02-. . 3.2 1.3

. 118 - . -_ 

31 ..___ __ _ _ __._._._ 

. 211 3.4 ..................... 4.1 1.0

52 5.4 ... _ ._-_ __ 4.1 1.5

. 169 3.7 _____ ......-- __ 3.3 1.9

. 199 ........ ..................................

"9.5 ._______ 

"2.9 _ _ . _ 

3.2

2.2

5.3 

3. 2 0. 0 

2. 3 0. 8 

2.2 .8 

2.3 

5.5 

2.1

9 

8 

12 .

10 

8 

8 

12 

10 

18 

13

8.4 

6.6

10 

5.1 

11 

6.5 

6.1 

5.6 

6.0

1.0 

1.4 

1.4 -

3 4

4.0 

2.4 

2.2 

1 0

6.0

Buckwheat Creek at Kunkletown

July 13, I960... ........... 3.0 19 9.6 1.5 

Aquashicola Creek at Little Gap

4.1 25 10 1 5 
1-4504 Lizard Creek at Ashfield

Oct. 31, 1945 . .

Nov. I..-- 

July 13, I960 

 "41.2 .

5.8 ........ 0. 03 .... 6.6 2.0 1. 8 0. 6

3 7

22 5.6

24

32 8.6

1. 8 

1.0 

1-4505 Aquashicola Creek at Palmerton

Oct. 31, 1945.. . ....,

Nov. 1_ 

Oct. 10,1957... ..

Apr. 26, I960- 

July 13 ... .... ...

Sept. 18, 1964... - ...

Feb. 21, 1950. .

Mar.8. 

Apr. 19 

May 17------.-.-.

May 31.-- 

June 15 _ _ ......

June 29 . _

July 13 .

July 26 ......

Aug. 8-. ---

Aug. 30..---- ......

Sept. 13.- _ -

Sept. 27.- .....

Oct. 26 . -

Nov. 8- .....

Nov. 22-.. .....

Jan. 9,1951-. _ ...

Feb. IS........ . .

Mar. 19.. _ .

May 29-. _ 

Aug. I.... . ... 

Aug. 22......- _

Sept. 12.. --....-

Oct. 10, 1957.......

Apr. 21, 1959. _

 87

 81

 . 25

- .. 118

... 49

 ... 21

 2,050

 . 1,880

... _ 1,610

 1,280

 . 2,640

 2,030

 _ 713

...... 1,640

 860

 496

 426

 902

- - 408

----- 454

 - 1,140

 1,090

._-- 1,950

.__--_ 3,980

--... 2,760

-. 1,380

..... 1,650

.... .. 850

-. 454

... 522

 2,720

6.3 -- 

4.9 

4.9 --

5. 1 1. 7

4.1 .......

3.9 

4.4 .......

4.8 ......

5.4 .......

5.0

5.4

5.2 ... ....

5.2 .......

6.3

5.5 . 

5.4

4.6 .......

.6 .......

4.6 .......

3.9 .... 

3.7 .. . .

4.8 .0

6.7 .......

6.0 .. . .

5.4 .. . .

4.1 .2

0.23 .

0.02 .

.03

.0.2 .

.02 .

.02 .

.01

.04

.01

.01

.05

.03

.01

.05

.04

.01

.02

.02

.00

.01

.03

.01

.01

.01

....... 23

.. 17

. 7.6

0.3 7.0

.. 7.0

. - 6.8

. - 6.4

.1 6.6

.4 8.0

.2 6.7

.3 8.5

.2 9.2

.4 11

.3 8.6

.7 10

.37 10

.22 7. 6

.22 7. 2

.16 5. 8

.22 5.0

.19 5. 8

.19 7. 0

.16 8. 0

.37 7. 5

. *0 10

...... 5.7

4.7

3.5

1-4510

3.4

1.8

3.1

3.1

2.6

2.6

4.3

2.9

3.7

3.8

4.2

3.4

4.3

5.0

3.2

2.8

2.6

2.1

2.4

2.2

3.6

3.6

4.2

3.4

4.5 1.0

44

3.0 1.2

40

28

28 60

0 195

37 151

34 31

67 114

3.0 

3.0

7.5 

2.6 

fi fi

60 79 49 .

Lehigh River at Walnutport

2.3

3.5

6.0

5.4

6.0

3.5

7.4

4.4

5.4

11

12

13

12

11

6.8

5.6

2.9

3.6

3.7

6.6

4.8

5.8

7. 4 1. 7

9.9

2. 0 1.0

6 29

4 33

8 32

8 33

10 26

6 26

6 45

7 28

5 41

9 48

10 61

11 45

9 56

4 63

6 38

6 35

4 25

4 21

7 23

6 34

6 36

7 39

0 43

2 35

4 27

2. 0 

2.5 

1.5 

1.5 

2.0 

2.0 

1.5 

2.0 

3.0 

3.0 

2.0 

2.5 

3.0 

2.0 

3.0 

2.5 

2.0 

1.5 

1.5 

2.0 

2.5 

2.0 

2.5 

3.0 .

3.0 

Discharge at time of sampling. 
H36 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

3

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O<l5OMSSSS

1

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Lehigh Riyer at Catasauqua

Oct. 1-10, 1944. ..

Nov. 1-10......

Dec. 1-10...

Jan. 1-10,1945............

Feb. 1-10.......... ..

Mar. 1-10. . .

Apr. 1-10...

May 1-10. ...........

June 1-10........ .......

July 1-1 0__._

Aug. 1-10................

Sept. 1-10 ..

Oct. 1-10....

Nov. 1-10... . . . .

Dec. 1-10.................

Jan. 1-10...,

Feb. 1-10..... ..... . . .

Mar. 1-10................

Apr. 1-10_...

May 1-10................

June 1-10...... ...........

July 1-10.................

Aug. 1-10... ........... .

Sept. 1-10................

Oct. 1-10.... .............

Nov. 1-10. ...............

Dec. 1-10.................

Jan. 1-10.... ...

Feb. 1-10.... .............

Mar. 1-10................

Apr. 1-10.................

May 1-10... _ ... .......

June 1-10.... .............

July 1-10.... .............

Aug. 1-10... _ _._........

Sept. 1-10................

Oct. 1-10... . ......

Nov. 1-10................

Dec. 1-10.................

Jan. 1-10... ._._..__._....

"Discharge at time of

448

411

2,245

2,309

660

5,675

2,811

2,809

1,570

1,227

2,408

1,512

2,073

1,262

3,064

3,782

1,255

3,160

1,867

909

4,659

1,489

1,034

595

1,058

1,034

632

869

2,827

1,101

. 3,947

5,122

3,194

3,530

1,553

. 964

. 543

. 1,985

1,323

1,287

sampling.

8.2 ._.___.

8.8 .......

7.4 .......

8.2 .......

9.0 .......

5.2 ...

7.8 .......

7.2 .......

7.8 .......

8.8 .......

8.4 __..__.

8.4 .......

5.0 .......

4.7 .......

4.2

4.1 .......

4.9 .......

4.2 .......

3.4 .......

4.1 .......

4.5 .......

5.5 .......

4.8 .......

5.7 .......

5.2 .......

4.6 .......

4.4 .......

5.4 .......

5.5 .......

4.8 .......

4.7 .......

3.9 .......

5.3 ........

4.2 .......

4.7 .......

4.2 .......

4.6 ..._...

5.4 .......

0.03 ..

.02

.02

.02

.03

.02

.01

.03 ..

.02

.01

.02

.01

.03

.03

.02

.02

.02

.04

.02

.02

.02

.02

.01

.02

.04 ..

.04 ..

.02 ..

.03 ..

.05 ..

.04 ..

.14 .

.08 .

.05 .

.04 ..

.05 .

.02 .

.03 .

.0

0

0

.1

.0

.0

.0

.0

.0

.0

.20

.42

.20

.15

.28

.10

.20

.36

.20

.25

.18

.65

55

51

26

28

46

20

25

24

31

37

34

41

11

12

8.4

9.1

13

9.7

9.6

14

8.3

20

16

22

16

13

17

13

9.7

13

7.3

8.2

9.8

12

11

14

21

12

22

21

10

11

18

7.1

10

10

13

16

15

19

4.0

4.0

3.0

3.1

4.8

2.5

3.4

4.6

3.1

6.4

6.0

7.7

5.0

4.9

5.9

4.9

3.1

4.6

2.4

2.7

3.6

4.6

4.4

5.1

7.5

3.7

16 3.4

15 3.9

7. 1 2. 6

7. 1 2. 6

13 1.8

4.3 .8

6. 8 1. 4

5. 0 1. 8

8. 4 1. 7

8. 6 2. 0

6. 8 1. 9

10 2.9

3.4

3.3

2.5

3.0

4.3

3.8

4.3

5.7

3.3

4.4

6.0

8.2

7.2

4.7

6.8

4.3

4.0

5.4

3.2

2.8

3.5

5.7

5.5

4.8

8.0

6.4

48

56

?4

32

66

22

28

26

20

31

20

34

8

10

7

11

16

10

8

13

6

26

15

23

21

11

14

12

10

14

7

9

9

13

10

14

22

12

14

14

185

171

90

85

136

61

84

82

121

137

128

152

38

32

27

26

40

27

34

48

31

51

55

74

50

46

60

43

30

44

24

25

33

43

42

47

70

46

40

37

12

10

5.8

6.5

10

3.8

4.0

4.2

5.8

5.5

5.2

5.8

2.5

2.1

2.1

2.2

3.2

2.5

2.5

2.9

1.8

2.6

3.8 .

3.6 .

3.0 .

3.0

3.5 . 2.8

2.6 .

2.6

2.0

1.8

2.4

2.5

2.8 .

3.0

3.5

4.0
TABLE 6. Chemical analyses of streams in the Lehigh River b

[Results in milligrams per liter, except as indicated

Date of collection

Feb. 1-10, 1945..........

Mar. l-10-_.............

Apr. 1-10................

May 1-10.. .............

July 1-10................

Aug. 1-10______. __._....

Sept. 1-10.-.-.... ......

Nov. 1-10.....-.--.- .

Dec. 1-10-. . -... ......

May 1-10. _ ....--..-.

July 1-10... ..-__-. -_.-.

Oct. 1-10 - . -.

Oct. ll-20_____-_.. ......

Nov. 11-20.. ------------

1

fi °j3

.. 632

.. 2,281

4,010

.. 2,673

.. 1,886

.. 1,325

. 1,248

.. 682

.. 508

. . 870

.. 1,252

._ 7,230

9 9Q7

.. 1,730

3

1 eri

.. 1,375

.. 571

.. 650

680

._ 758

.- 603

.. 1,020

Silica 

(BiOi) Aluminum 

(Al)

Iron 

(Fe)

3.7 .. ... 0.06 .

6.0 -.._.-. .05 .

6.2 _-..._. .02 .

5.7 _ _ _ 

4.5 __ ._

5.0 .-._... .24 .

4 8

4.5 _- -_. .

6.6 ....... .08 .

7.8 ...............

9 Q

5.1 ....... .02 .

6.3 ....... .03 .

6.1 .. .... .02 ..

5.6 ....... .02 .

0 il & "S'--

ll Is li ll |s 11 II

§ o § M (2 5 St

Lehigh River at Catasauqua Continued

- - ----.-----.---- 18 51 ...

..........._...................... 10 32 ...

...... 8.4 2.8 3.3 7 27

 -. -. 10 29 ...

.................................. 12 33 ...

._._._....__.___._._._._.--___._.. 14 29 ...

.................................. 16 48 ...

...... ..--. ............... 27 67 ...

_.___. 22 8.3 13 23 84

.................................. 15 65

 - . __._. 12 44

...... 9.2 3.3 3.2 8 31

.. - - .--. -.. 17 33

__ - - -_ - -._ 18 32 ...

...... 12 3.9 4.9 19 33

 15 22 ...

11 29

...... 16 5.6 4.1 21 45

.................................. 23 48

...... 12 4.5 6.0 14 41

..____ 15 5.8 3.7 15 47

...... 15 5.7 5.2 17 48

_ - 13 37

 11 4.5 3.9 11 38

Chloride (Cl)

2.4

4.4 

4.0 

3 1

1.5

?, 5

2.6

2 2

3.4

3 ?,

3 ?,

3.6

4.5 

4.5 

3 4

2.5
WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA H39

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£

T 

Tr-i 

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1

42

£

i i

7

ol

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^

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^

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§

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§

Tf

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§

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§ 

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TABLE 6. Chemical analyses of streams in the Lehigh River b

[Results in milligrams per liter, except as indicated

Date of collection

SB

jii « t f fr h 1» 1« fc

Bicarbonate 

(HC0 3)

ID'S

IStf ^^ 

OQ

'S £3 

2B 

O 

Lehigh River at Catasauqua Continued

Nov. 1-10, 1951.. ....

Dec. 1-10...............

Jan. 1-10, 1952.........

Feb. 1-10..............

Mar. 1-10..... ..........

Apr. 1-10... ............

May 1-10. ............

Oct. 1-10 ...........

Dec. 1-10 ............

Jan. 1-10, 1953...... ... .

Feb. 1-10....... ........

 6,582

.. 4,090

..4,043

.. 4,638

.. 1,472

.. 5,653

..3,535

.. 1,380

.. 890

5

OQ1

.. 3,609

.. 3,738

.. 4,625

... . . ....... 2.1

.. .... --. . .--..._.. 3.8

. . - - - - 1.3

 . ... ..................... 3.9

..... ___ 5.1

._..-....--_ . .- 3.8

........ ........ ... .--.. . 2.1

......................................... 3.8

......................................... 5.5

 ..- ..--. - - --- ...... 3.8

 ----- -- - . 1.3

.......... .. . ....... 1.9

. -.-.-.-----.. . .8

 ..... .. . . ............... .5

8 

6 

6 

9 

15

10 

8 

22 

22 

8

13 

10 

13 

10

28 

30 

26 

23 

33

21 

28 

44 

49 

24

28 

28 

24 

24

3.5 

3.0 

4.5 

3.5 

7.0 

3.0 

2.5 

4.5 

6.0 

6.0 

3.5 

5.0 

2.0 

2.0 

Jordon Creek at Guthsville

July 28...... ...........

 -- . 6.0

......................................... 6.9

94 

92

39 

34

4.5 

5.0 
1-4520 Jordon Creek at Allentown

Sept. 6, 1944....... .

Apr. 5, 1945.-.-.... .

Oct. 31............ .

Oct. 10, 1957--_.. 

Apr. 21, 1959... _.

Oct. 22............

Apr. 26,1960....... .

July 28.... ......... .

Oct. 23, 1963.. . ......

Sept. 18, 1964 

.... "4.3 5.8 ....... 0.02 ....

.... 199 6.1 ....... .06 ....

..... 46 5.0 ....... .01 ....

.... "3.9 ...... ............ .......

..... 75 5.6 ....... ...........

..... 16 6.6 ..................

.... 119 5.2 ..................

.... 41 . . ..__. 

.... "4.2 ......... . .............

.... "3.7 .. ..

.-- 47

... 19

... 30

... 29

... 39

... 24

21 6.9 130 93

5.3 5.3 47 29

10 4.2 1.8 90 32

.... .... . 9.7 156 37

7.4 5.0 1.3 70 41

13 6.8 2.0 126 44

7.5 5.0 2.0 64 34

....... 14 184 57

..... .. 22 186 83

3.8 

3.2 

3.0 

4.8 .

6.0 

5.8 

4.8 

7.0 .

7.5 .

Little Lehigh Creek Near Emmaus

Oct. 31, 1945. ........ . ... ............ 135 17 3.8 

1-4515 Little Lehigh Creek Near Allentown

Nov. 1, 1945 ......

Oct. 10, 1957.. .......

Apr. 26, I960........

July 28... ......... ...

Oct. 23, 1963. ........

Sept. 18, 1964. 

..... 91 9.6 ... ... 0.02 ....

.... 39 ....... ....... ._

..... 119 9.0 ..................

60

..... 42 ...... . ........-

.... 32 . ...... .........

... 32

... 33

15 3.5 1.6 143 14

_--_.._. 9.0 183 22

16 4.0 2.0 140 20

...... ... 7.8 148 18

...- 5.5 174 13

......... 9.0 184 22

3.9 

5.6 

5.6 

4.0 .

6.0

8.5 

Cedar Creek at Allentown

Oct. 31, 1945.. ............... 7.8 ....... 0.02.... 42 16 2.8 1.3 170 19 3. 8 0

Little Lehigh Creek at Allentown

Oct. 31, 1945. ......

June 28, 1951.. ------- .... 4.1 ....... 0.69. 34

.. . . . 160 19

17 2.0 1.8 152 18

4.0 .

5. 1 

"Discharge at time of sampling.
H42 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

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WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA H43

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TABLE 6. Chemical analyses of streams in the Lehigh River 

[Results in milligrams per liter, except as indicate

Date of collection

33

S^H §!§. 13 fl & is. ^S i§ ' §§. "& §3 aS-

<D 

2 

Jo 

o~ 

1-4530 Lehigh River at Bethlehem Continued

Apr. 1, 1959-.- -..

Alar 9 IQflfi

A HP 1

Ana- 17

Oct. 20-- ..... ---.

Mar. 1,1967 ..........

A/far 1O

July 31.. .............. ..

\n<* 31

Oct. 25....... ...........

.. 2,040 .......................................... 13 26

.. 1,840 .......................................... .5 24

479 17 66

.. 447 7.6-.---. 0.01 0.00 27 8.8 18 2.8 64

..508 7.3 ....... .00 .00 26 9. 7 13 2. 4 60

 6.2 16

. -- 4.0 . .06 .00 10 3.6 5.7 1.0 24

.......................... ........... .. . . 9.9 45

.... _ 8.1 ....... .00 .00 23 8.6 18 2.8 63

............ 6.9 -... .00 .00 28 8.5 13 2.7 59

..... . 5.5 ....... .00 .00 16 4.8 11 1.5 28

.......... .................. - . . . . ................... 26

. .. 8.4 0.00 .00 .00 17 5.2 8.1 1.6 28

.......... ...... ..... .............. 56

 60

4n m m niio e, ^ 99, 3 n 4g

. .. 4.8 .00 .08 .21 14 5.2 6.6 1.5 28

31 

15 

56 

60 

54

27 

22 

36 

50 

55

36 

38 

33 

43 

53

30 

33

9.0 

6.7 

17 

18 

20 

7 

5.5 

9.0 

16 

12 

12 

10 

12 

12 

10 

1" 

8.5 

Saucon Creek near Bethlehem

Oct. 31, 1945 ..... ....

Oct. 10, 1957..... ....... .

July 28, I960 .........

.....-................... ............ 30 15 4.5 142

.- . 8.5 154

.... ... ............ 6.4 112

18 

27

28

4.0 

3.4 

2.5 
Saucon Creek near Lanark

Oct. 25, 1967........... 13 0. 00 0. 14 0.00 31 10 5. 3 2. 2 122 18 7.0 

South Branch Saucon Creek at Friedensville

Oct. 25, 1967........... 11 0. 00 .06 0. 01 34 6. 7 6. 5 2. 1 116 24 7.0 

Saucon Creek at Friedensville

Oct. 25, 1967........... . 12 ....... 0.10 0. 01 40 19 3.8 1.6 150 43 2.0 

1-4547 Lehigh River at Glendon

Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 1945...

Oct. 9, 1946............

Nov. 4.. ............ ..

Dec. 4.. ._.._..__-. ___.

Jan. 9, 1947............

Feb. 14................

Mar. 19...............

Apr. 25................

May 31. ..............

July 5.... _ ..........

Aug. 11...............

Sept. 15...............

Oct. 19...... ..........

Nov. 25. ..............

Dec. 20... ______ .

Feb. 2, 1948...........

Feb. 27. ..............

Mar. 10...............

Apr. IS...............

May 21. ..............

June 29...... ....... _

Aug. 5.. _ _-_--..-..-

Sept. 10...............

Oct. 15.....-.---...-..

Nov.3. ___ --------

... 959

.-- 1,390

... 801

... 1,110

... 1,850

... 4,220

... 3,020

... 5,370

... 1,330

... 1,960

... 1,020

... 635

... 3,700

... 1,110

... 803

... 4,210

... 2,690

...11,300

... 4,120

... 3,510

... 1,760

... 1,090

... 616

... 557

. 6.0 ....... 0.04

.............. .28.

.............. .29 .

.... . .29 .

 ..-.- .14 .

.............. .18.

.-.---.-. .13 .

.............. .08 .

.. .- -- .28 .

.............. .06.

.............. .16 .

.............. .15 .

.............. .12 .

.............. .22 .

.............. .19 .

.............. .41

.............. .08 .

.............. .10.

' 6

7.2.. ........ ....

0. 20 20

....... 17

....... 12

....... 14

....... 13

....... 23

....... 16

....... 25

....... 31

....... 18

..-.-. 21

....... 23

....... 16

....... 18

....... 9.5

....... 24

....... 27

....... 31

8.0 5.4 1.2

6. 9 6. 1

4.8 1.1

5. 3 2. 1

4.3 1.7

9. 4 4. 1

7.4 3.7

11 9.6

13 ..............

5.3 ..............

9.4 3.4

10 11

6. 1 3. 9

6.4 3.0

4. 9 2. 6

9. 8 6. 6

11 12

15 ..............

--. __ .---28

40 44

65 55

38 39

22 25

26 29

22 29

56 45

34 39

66 57

72 75

32 38

42 41

61 51

34 33

38 31

21 24

28 29

27 31

57 48

69 59

85 72

93 64

5.9

8 .

6 .

3 .

6 .

2 .

5 .

4

6

12 .

3 .

11 .

8 .

4 .

6 .

3 .

3 .

4 .

8 .

9 .

11...

..

..

..

..

..

.

..

..

.

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

.. 

.

.
TABLE 6. Chemical analyses of streams in the Lehigh River bas

[Results in milligrams per liter, except as indicated]

Date of collection o>

s.q^ - 1 I- l~

§

2 P '-' ® -flfi -3 °5 

._0- rt<H ft ft flS rSf

| |

IS Is |@ S 03 PH

Bicarbonate 

(HC0 3)

Sulfate (S04)

|o o"^

1-4547 Lehigh River at Glendon Continued

Nov. 19, 1948. . . 822

Dec. 21... -. - _ 1,610

Mar. 3. -- ---.. 2,790

Apr. 13. ... --_ 2,100

May 18.-.-.. ----- 2,140

June 24, 1949- 824

July 29 885

Jan. 17, 1950 -

July 14 -

Aug. 18.. ........ ... .... .. ..-- .

Oct. 27 _

A r_r 1 Q 1 0^.1

Feb. 14, 1956.---. .... --------

Oct. 1-20, 1957-.. 

Nov. 28-Dec. 6.... ............ -----

Feb. 11-22. .- . . ... . ..-

Mar. 1-21. -..- ._-.-------.

Apr. 1-23- -....._..___........_..__

Aug. 7-26. _._________...______--_-.

July 28, I960--.----..........-...

- . . 0.08 _______ 25

. - - .10 -. ... 17

______________ .10 _.____. 16

.... . .10 _______ 16

5.7 _______ .01 _______ 16

6.0 ....... .01 ____._. 15

6.5 ..._... .01 __.___. 22

3.7 .12 .- -.- 27

9.0 - __-- .02 _______ 30

4.9 ------ .06 __.__.- 10

6.9 _______ .00 _.-__. 29

13 9.0 

6. 6 9. 1 

5. 6 5. 2 

5.2 6.7 

8.4 .__ _.._. 

8.3 ___

11 6.2 

11 3.0 

______ 6.5

______ 4.3

. . ... 6.3

._-._._ 6.5

._-._._ 8.3

__._.- 13

16

. .-. 4.9

11 13 7. 0 

______ 9.0

4. 0 2. 5 1. 8 

8.3

._-.__. 5.5

3. 4 2. 3 1. 5 

. _ . 7.1

.... ... 8.0

._____. 10

13 10 4. 6 

 12

58 61 

38 42 

32 35 

36 34 

39 30

38 26 

65 38 

63 48 

22 30 

17 24

20 32 

28 27 

34 34 

84 54 

62 59

33 29 

40 34

85 60 

38 45 

IS 30

45 39 

30 27 

19 22 

55 40 

62 44

81 49 

84 57 

76 50

11 -.

6 ..

4 ..

6.5 ..

6. 0 ..

9.5 _.

9 ..

3.2 _.

3.5 _.

3.9 ,.

7.0 ..

7.0 ..

14 ..

12 _.

4.0 _.

8.0 _.

14 

9.0 _.

4.2 

7.5 ..

4.5 ,.

2.8 

5.8 _.

7.5 ..

9.8 _.

12 

7.0 _.

.-

..

..

._

..

..

.-

._ 

 

..

..

..

. 

.. 

-

._ 

..

.

._

..

..
WATER, LEHIGH RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA H47

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TABLE 6. Chemical analyses of streams in the Lehigh River ba

[Results in milligrams per liter, except as indicated]

Date of collection «

a

a s-,

a*"' ll 

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1-4547.2 Lehigh River at Easton Continued

Nov. 2-10, 1963--. .... ...

Jan. 1-10, 1966 

Feb. 1 10 ... ---------------

Mar. 1-10 

A r\r 1 1 H

May 1-10 

July 1-10. -------------- -----

Aug. 1-10 

Sept. 1-10 - -- 

Oct. 1-10 

Dec. 1-10 

Jan. 1-10, 1966 ..

Feb. 1-10 . . . ..

Mar. 1-10...-....-. - -----

July 1-10 

Aug. 1-6, 8-10 

Sept. 1-10 

Mar. 1-10, 1967 

"Discharge at time of sampling.

7.9 ..

7.6 ..

7.3 ..

7.9 ..

6.0 ..

5.7 ..

4.9 ..

5.8 ..

7.6 ..

7.6 ..

7.0 .

7.1 ..

7.1 .

6.7 ..

7.0 ..

8.6 ..

5 S

8.2 ..

8.7 ..

9.5 ..

7.3 ..

6.2 ..

 ... 0.00

 .00

 .00

. . .00

. .00

 .01

. . .00

 ... .00

...... .00

. .00

 .01

.... .. .02

. . .00

.... .. .00

. .04

. - .00

. .07

. - .00

...... .00

. .06

...... .01

.... _. .00

0.00 33 

.00 27 

.01 20 

.01 20 

.00 15

.00 17 

.00 16 

.00 20 

.00 28 

.00 32

.01 29 

.00 22 

.00 18 

.00 16 

.00 16

.00 19 

."0 14 

.00 19 

.00 28

.00 30 

.00 24 

.00 20

15 18 

12 14 

8. 3 8. 2 

7. 3 8. 8 

6. 3 6. 0

5. 4 6. 7 

6. 6 7. 8 

7. 5 9. 4 

12 13 

13 17

11 12 

10 13 

8.4 14 

5. 6 8. 0 

5. 5 6. 3

7.7 11 

5. 0 6. 1 

8.6 12 

12 15

12 18 

8.5 12 

7.5 12

5.0 94 

4.1 64 

1.5 36 

2.6 42 

1.8 30

1.2 31 

2.4 35 

2.8 42 

4.6 69 

5.6 78

4.5 64 

3.9 52 

3.5 44 

2.5 28 

2.0 30

2.8 38 

2. 1 ?6 

3.0 48 

4.6 70

5.9 74 

4.1 51 

2.8 38

62 22 

55 16 

44 12 

39 12 

33 8.8

36 10 

36 9.1 

45 12 

59 18 

64 24

61 20 

51 16 

49 15 

35 11 

30 9.2

41 16

31 7.7 

43 12 

53 20

58 20 

50 14 

49 15
Contributions to the 

Hydrology of the 

United States 

1968_________

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1879

This volume was printed 

as separate chapters A-H
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

WALTER J. HICKEL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

William T. Pecora, Director
CONTENTS

[Letters designate the separately published chapters]

(A) Water resources of Clark, Cleveland, and Dallas Counties, Arkansas, by 

R. O. Plebuch and M. S. Hines.

(B) Water resources of Randolph and Lawrence Counties, Arkansas, by A. G. 

Lamonds, M. S. Hines, and R. O. Plebuch.

(C) Ground-water aspects of the lower Henrys Fork region, eastern Idaho, by 

E. G. Crosthwaite, M. J. Mundroff, and E. H. Walker.

(D) Water resources of the Salmon Falls Creek basin, Idaho-Nevada, by E. G. 

Crosthwaite.

(E) Variations in low-water streambed elevations at selected stream-gaging 

stations in northwestern California, by J. J. Hickey.

(F) Hydrologic effects of the 1962-66 drought on Long Island, N.Y., by Philip 

Cohen, O. L. Franke, and N. E. McClymonds.

(G) Dispersal of plating wastes and sewage contaminants in ground water and 

surface water, South Farmingdale-Massapequa area, Nassau County, New 

York, by N. M. Perlmutter and Maxim Lieber.

(H) Water quality and discharge of streams in the Lehigh River basin, Pennsylvania, by E. F. McCarren and W. B. Keighton.