GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 174 

WATER RESOURCES OF THE 

LAKE ERIE SHORE REGION 

IN PENNSYLVANIA 

By John W. Mangan, Donald W. VanTuyl, and Walter F. White, Jr. 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Oscar L. Chapman, Secretary 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. E. Wrather, Director 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CffiCULAR 174 

WATER RESOURCES OF THE LAKE ERIE SHORE REGION 

IN PENNSYLVANIA 

By John W. Mangan, Donald W. VanTuyl, and Walter F. White, Jr. 

Based on data collected in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Forests 

and Waters, Pennsylvania Department of Internal Affairs, and Pennsylvania State 

Planning Board, Department of Commerce 

Washington, D. C., 1952 

Free on application to the Geological Survey, Washington 25, D. C. 
Introduction .................................. , ......... .. 

Definition of terms ............................... .. 

Population and land area ........•................. 

Physical features, ................................. . 

Transportation ...................... ~ ............... . 

Climate ............................................... . 

Sources of water ...................................... . 

Surface water .......................................... . 

Lake Erie ................................... •H• ..... . 

Streams ............................................... . 

Conneaut Creek .................................... .. 

Crooked Creek .................................... .. 

Elk Creek ............................................ . 

Little Elk Creek .................................... . 

Walnut Creek ........................................ . 

Mill Creek ........................................... . 

Sixmile Creek ....................................... . 

CONTENTS 

Page 

1 

3 

3 

5 

5 

5 

7 

8 

10 

13 

14 

16 

17 

20 

Page 

Surface water-Continued 

Sevenmile Creek...................................... 22 

Twelvemile Creek.................................... 24 

Sixteenmile Creek.................................... 26 

Ground water .......................................... -... 28 

Geology and hydrology... .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. •. .. .. .. .. 28 

Location and yield of wells........................ 31 

Chemical quality..................................... 32 

Present water use...................................... 33 

Lake Erie. .. .. . .. . .. . . .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . . .. . .. .. .. .. . .. . 33 

Small streams......................................... 34 

Ground water.......................................... 34 

Potentialities............................................ 34 

Water laws................................................ 35 

Summary ............. ,................................... 35 

References cited ...................................... -. 35 

Sources of additional information................... 35 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

Figure 1. Map showing sources of water for the Lake Erie Shore region in Pennsylvania ........................ .. 

Page 

2 

6 

9 

2. Average maximum and minimum monthly elevations of Lake Erie at Cleveland, Ohio ................ . 

3. Flow-duration curve for Conneaut Creek at Cherry Hill ...................................................... .. 

4. Discharge available without storage in Conneaut Creek at Cherry Hill ................................... .. 

5. Flow-duration curve for Crooked Creek at North Springfield ................................................ .. 

6. Discharge available without storage in Crooked Creek at North Springfield ............................. .. 

7. Flow-duration curve for Elk Creek at North Girard ................................................ -............. . 

8. Discharge available without storage in Elk Creek at North Girard .......................................... . 

9. Flow-duration curve for Little Elk Creek near Platea .......................................................... . 

10. Discharge available without storage in Little Elk Creek near Platea ....................................... . 

11. Flow-duration curve for Walnut Creek at Weis Library ....................................................... .. 

12. Discharge available without storage in Walnut Creek at Weis Library ..................................... . 

13 Flow-duration curve for Mill Creek at Erie ....................................................................... . 

10 

11 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

14. Discharge available without storage in Mill Creek at Erie.................... ............ .................... 22 

15. Flow-duration curve for Sixmile Creek near Harborcreek..................................................... 23 

16. Discharge available without storage in Sixmile Creek near Harborcreek.................................. 24 

17. Flow-duration curve for Sevenmile Creek at Harborcreek..................................................... 25 

18. Discharge available without storl?.ge in Sevenmile Creek at Harborcreek.................................. 26 

19. Flow-duration curve for Twelvemile Creek near Moorheadville.............................................. 27 

20. Discharge available without storage in Twelvemile Creek near Moorheadville........................... 28 

21. Geologic section along west side of Mill Creek Township....................................................... 29 

22. Distribution graph showing hardness and chloride content of ground water in the Lake Erie 

Shore .region............................................................................................................... 30 

23. Map of a section east of Wesleyville showing wells sampled and chloride content of water........... 31 

II 
WATER RESOURCES OF THE LAKE ERIE SHORE REGION 

IN PENNSYLVANIA 

INTRODUCTION 

An abundant supply of water is available to the Lake 

Erie Shore region in Pennsylvania. Lake i£rie furnishes an almost inexhaustible supply of water of satisfactory chemical quality. Small quantities of water 

are available from small streams in the area and from 

the ground. 

A satisfactory water supply is one of the factors that 

affect the economic growth of a region. Cities and 

towns must have adequate amounts of pure water for 

human consumption. Industries must have suitable 

water ih sufficient quantities for all purposes. In order to assure. success and economy, the development 

of water resources should be based on adequate knowledge of the quantity and quality of the water. As a 

nation, we can not afford to run the risk of dissipating 

our resources, especially in times of national emergency, by building projects that are not founded on 

sound engineering and adequate water-resources 

information. 

The purpose of this report is to summarize and interpret all available water-resources information for 

the Lake Erie Shore region in Pennsylvania. The report will be useful for initial guidance in the location 

or expansion of water facilities for defense and nondefense industries and the municipalities upon which 

they are dependent. It will also be useful in evaluating 

the adequacy of the Geological Survey's part of the 

basic research necessary to plan the orderly development of the water resources of the Lake Erie Shore 

region. 

Most of the data contained inthis report have been 

obtained'by the U. S. Geological Survey in cooperation 

with the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and 

Waters, the Pennsylvania Department of Internal 

Affairs, and the Pennsylvania State Planning Board, 

Department of Commerce. The Pennsylv~nia Department of Health furnished information on water 

pollution. 

The report was prepared in the Water Resources 

Division of the U. S. Geological Survey b:y John W. 

Mangan (Surface Water). Donald W. VanTuyl (Ground 

Water). and Walter F. White, Jr. (Quality of Water), 

under the general direction of C. G. Paulsen, chief 

hydraulic engineer. 

Definition of Terms 

The records for quantities of water as presented in 

this report are in units of both million gallons per day 

(mgd) and cubic feet per second (cfs). Second-feet 

was formerly used in Geological Survey reports as an 

abbreviation of cubic feet per second. 

A cubic foot per second. is the rate of discharge 

equivalent to that of a stream whose channel is 1 sq 

ft in cross-sectional area and whose average velocity. 

is 1 cfs. 

Cubic feet per second per square mile (csm) is the 

average number of cubic feet of water flowing per 

second from each square mile of area drained, on the 

assumption that the runoff is d.istributed uniformly 

as regards time and area. 

1 cfs = 646,317 gpd. 

1 mgd = 1. 55 cfs. 

The results of chemical analyses are reported in 

parts per million (ppm). One part per million is·a 

unit weight of a constituent present in a millio~ units 

weight of water. 

Population and Land Area 

The area covered by this report is a 46-mile strip 

along Lake Erie averaging about 6 miles in depth 

(see fig. i). It lies in Erie County, Pa., extending 

from the New York border to the Ohio border and 

contains the highly industrialized city of EirePennsylvania's third largest city. It also contains the 

rich agricultural lake shore belt which is noted principally for its vineyards and orchards. Seven townships and seven boroughs are included in the area. 

Data for these political subdivisions are given in 

table 1. 

Physical Features 

The region is distinct from others found in Pennsylvania. A steep bluff composed mainly of glacial till 

overlying bedrock rises abruptly at the shore of. Lake 

Erie to as much as 150 ft above the lake. For a distance of about 2 miles inland from the lake, the surface 
. ..;; 

Q 

:r 

0 

~!It 

\.; 

f.. -. ~ 

\ ~ 

~ ~ 

Presque 

Isle 

aoo 

EXPLANATION 

• Well sampled for chemical 

analysis of ground water 

See toble 6 

0 \M Jkb Zf!M! Ill at; r s':t:~i~n gaging and sampling 

j I See table 4 

I 

Area shown • on map in figure 23 

0 5M~" 

Figure 1. -Map showing sources of water for the Lake Erie Shore region in Pennsylvania. 
Table 1. -Area and population of political subdivisions 

Population Land Area 

Employed Rural Total Percent 

Subdivision 1940a 1950a in farm a square forestedc 

industrvb 1940 m_ilesa 

Springfield Township ..••••..•••••. 1, 394 1,775 0 850 0 34.4 } 25 East Springfield Borough ..•..... 415 499 3 160 d 3.6 

Girard Township •.......•......•.•. 1, 552 2, 149 9 985 d 34. 1 

} Girard Borough .................... 1, 732 2, 141 1, 395 44 1. 4 24 

North Girard Borough ..•......... 1, 108 1, 369 475 51 1.3 

Platea Borough •.............•...•.. 281 290 3 146 d 3.4 

Fairview Township ...•............ 1, 479 2, 328 1 838 d 28.2 } :w Fairview Borough ..•............... 555 697 33 37 d 1.2 

Mill Creek Township .............. 7-,444 17,037 160 687 40.5 24 

City of Erie ..........••.............. 116, 955 130,80::5 40,377 0 18.0 15 

Lawrence Park Township .. ~ ..... 3, 120 4, 154 53 8 1. 7 } e Wesleyville Borough .............. 2, 918 3, 411 0 0 • 4 

Harborcreek Township ........... 3,602 7, 475 7 647 34.6 23 

North East Township ..•.......•.•. 2,400 3,083 0 1, 900 42.9 

North East Borough ............... 3,704 4,247 967 } 0 1.2 21 

Total. ............... 148,659 180,675 43,483 6,353 246.9 22 

a U. S. Census Bureau. 

b Thirteenth Industrial Directory of Pennsylvania ( 1949); Dept. of Internal Affairs. 

c Pennsylvania Dept. of Forests and Waters. 

d Areas obtained by map measurement in three instances where census data listed area of two civil divisions 

combined. 

is a relatively flat plain. The flatness of the plain is 

broken by successions of terraces and beach ridges 

that were formed during the last glacial epoch when 

the lake stood at higher levels. A steep slope begins 

from 3 to 4 miles from the lake beyond which the land 

rises gradually into rolling hills which extend to the 

watershed divide. 

Presque Isle. -Presque Isle peninsula is worthy of 

special note because it has played and always will 

play a significant role in the development of the region. 

Erie Harbor is landlocked by Presque Isle peninsula, 

thereby making the harbor an important lake port. 

The peninsula is a sandy formation 7 miles long and 

about 1 mile wide. It was formed by sand and gravel 

washed from the bluffs and accumulated at this point 

in a recurved sandspit. Sand and gravel washed eastward by waves resulting from the prevailing west wind 

are extending the shore line of the peninsula eastward 

at a rate estimated as 1 mile every 200 yr. 

Pennsylvania acquired title to the peninsula in 1921 

for use as a State park. Presque Isle is used primarily for recreation. It consists of 3, 200 acres, much 

of which is in virgin timber. It contains 11 miles of 

concrete highways, 15 miles of trails for hiking and 

horseback riding, and 7 miles of lake shore for 

bathing, fishing, and boating. 

Natural resources. -Except for water, the region is 

not rich in mineral resources. Although some rock 

formations that produce oil in countie-s to the east and 

south are known to underlie the glacial drift of the 

region, no oil has been produced from them in Erie 

County. In a belt about 4 miles wide adjoining the 

lake front, small natural-gas wells producing 10,000 

to 100,000 cu ft per day provide fuel for many farms 

and households and a few small industries. Extensive 

3 

deposits of sand and gravel in the old lake terraces 

have been worked for many years and large reserves 

still remain. A small amount of sandstone is quarried 

for building purposes. Some shales have been used 

successfully for making brick and tile. 

Transportation 

Erie is noted primarily for its lake commerce. Erie 

Harbor handled 6, 390, 612 gross tons of lake shipping 

in 1949. The commerce consisted principally of iron 

ore, coke, wheat, and pulpwood. The lake is usually 

icebound each winter from mid-December to the end 

of March. 

There are good railroad facilities. The east-west 

main lines of the New York Central and the New York, 

Chicago, and St. Louis Railroads follow closely along 

the Lake Erie shore, and traverse the entire region. 

The Bessemer and Lake Erie and the Pennsylvania 

Railroads are connecting links with Pittsburgh and the 

South. Of these railroads, only the Pennsylvania Railroad serves Erie Harbor directly. 

U. S. Highway 20 and Pennsylvania State Highway 5 

parallel the shore line and cross the region. A good 

network of improved highways connects all parts of 

the region to the South. 

Although the city of Erie is not served by major 

transcontinental air routes, daily passenger service is 

maintained by American and Capital Airlines. 

Climate 

The climate of the region is greatly influenced by 

Lake Erie. The temperature of the air during the fall 
and winter is moderated as the air moves over the 

warmer waters of the lake (see table 2}. This warming effect is most noticeable within 5 miles of the 

shore line and disappears entirely 10 to 15 miles inland. For this reason vineyards and orchards are 

concentrated along this narrow strip of lake shore. 

The slow warming of the lake water surface during 

the spring delays the start of the growing season, and 

the warmer water of the lake in late summer prolongs 

the normal growing season for this latitude. The 

average date of the first killing frost in autumn is 

November 1 and the average date of the last killing 

frost in spring is April 20. 

The lake not only retards the beginning and ending of 

the growing season and moderates extremes of heat 

and cold throughout the year, but also is responsible 

for the small daily temperature range. Days with less 

than 5 degrees temperature range are common during 

winter. The daily temperature range is seldom more 

than 10 or 15 degrees during summer. Low cloud 

formations from late autumn through early spring aid 

in keeping daily temperature range to a minimum. 

During periods of clear or partly cloudy weather when 

wind velocity is light, a northerly lake breeze builds 

up during the day and prevents high afternoon temperatures. Under such conditions, the highest temperature 

of the day usually occurs before noon. 

The supply of fresh water available to a region determines the degree of cultural and economic development of that region. Fortunately, the water supply of 

the Lake Erie Shore region is independent of local 

precipitation owing to adjacent Lake Erie. The average 

annual precipitation over the Erie region is 3 7. 21 in. 

compared with 42. 16 in. over Pennsylvania as a 

whole. The average distribution of precipitation and 

snowfall during the average year is given in table 2. 

Excesses and deficiencies in precipitation can be expected to occur from time to time in any region. The 

unusual conditions create floods and droughts. They 

have occurred in the Lake grie Shore region but are 

rarely as severe or as frequent as in many other parts 

of Pennsylvania. 

Floods. -Three major floods have occurred in this 

area. 

August 3, 1915: The most destructive flood of record 

on Mill Creek at Erie occurred on this date. Twentythree lives were lost and property damage was estimated at more than two million dollars. The total rainfall was 5. 40 in. in less than 24 hr. Elaborate protective structures have been built as a result of this 

flood. Mill Creek waters are now carried through 

Erie in closed conduits. The peak discharge during 

this flood was measured at two sites by the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters. The results 

are given with the records of Mill Creek on page 18. 

March 16, 1942: A local storm occurred in the 

vicinity of North East. The result of a slope-area 

measurement of the peak flow of Sixteenmile Creek 

is given on page 2 6. 

July 22, 1947: The U. S. Weather Bureau reported 

that 10.42 in. of rain fell in a 19-hr period at their 

Erie city office. Of this amount, 6. 32 in. fell in 3 hr 

and 8. 90 in. in 5 hr. Although the official records 

show that the total was by far the greatest ever recorded in a 24-hr period at this place, unofficial records indicate that the Weather Bureau office was outside the focal point of the storm. A maximum of 24 

in. was measured in a 50-gal oil drum located in 

Lawrence Park Township on U. S. Highway 20 between 

Parker Drive and Maple Ro~d. The storm was concentrated over a relatively small area. The rainfall 

at Port Erie airport 6 miles from the center of Erie 

was only 3. 70 in. and less than 2 in. was recorded 

beyond a 20-mile radius. 

No lives were lost. The severe flooding was confined to the vicinity of lower Sixteenth and. Frank.iin 

Streets and caused property damage estimated at 

$250,000. The greatest damages resulted where 

sewers and drainage structures could not carry the 

flow. About 6 in. of rain fell on the Mill Creek area 

near the entrance to the conduit. However, water was 

confined within the conduit and no damage in that area 

Table 2. -Precipitation and temperature at Erie, Pa. 

(U. S. Weather Bureau} 

Precipitation (1874-1950} Average Average air 

Month Precipitation depth temperature 

Maximum Minimum Average 1951 of snow 1874-1950 

(inches) (inches) (inches) (inches) (inches} (oF) 

January ............ 6.25 0.85 2.77 3.59 12.4 ~lj 

February .•....•... 8.50 . 33 2.48 3.09 10.5 27 

March .............. 7.36 .53 2.74 4. 10 7. 9 34 

April ............... 8.88 . 74 2.95 4.28 2.8 45 

May ................. 8.05 .55 3.38 2.78 . 1 57 

June ................ 6.84 . 99 3.29 4. 17 0 67 

July ................. 13.27 .39 3.29 2. 13 0 72 

August ............. 9.28 .07 3. 10 1. 26 0 70 

September ........ 8.45 .54 3.51 2.93 T 64 

October ............ 8. 17 .02 3.60 2.25 1.3 54 

November ....•.... 8.93 . 40 3,36 4.61 7. 2 42 

December ......... 6.44 .66 2,74 4.75 12.0 32 

Annual ............. a 55.04 b 23.84 37.21 39.94 54.2 49 

a In 1878 b In 1934 T Trace 

4 
was reported. The discharge of Mill Creek during 

this flood was not measured. 

Droughts. -A deficiency in precipitation of about 

24 in. accumulated between June 1932 and the summer of 1934. This resulted in serious drought conditions in 1934. Many of the small streams were dry 

and the ground-water supply was badly depleted. 

Some crops were seriously damaged or failed 

completely. 

Long periods without rainfall over the region are 

rare. Usually a heavy shower may be expected every 

few days. Past records indicate that during the critical growing season protracted dry spells about 3 weeks' 

duration occur about every 5 yr. On these occasions 

some crops will suffer and some inconvenience may 

be caused to the rural population for short periods. 

SOURCES OF WATER 

The supply of fresh water available is dependent 

upon precipitation. Water in the lakes, streams and 

beneath the land surface is moving through a phase of 

the hydrologic cycle - the path of water from the atmosphere to land and water bodies and back to the 

atmosphere - mainly from the ocean, through 

evaporation. 

The weathered zone of the earth's surface constitutes a vast regulating reservoir for the water that 

falls on the land. At times the rate of precipitation 

exceeds the rate at which water can enter the soil, 

and a part of the precipitation flows over the ground 

into the streams. The water that percolates into the 

ground replenishes the shallow zone of soil water that 

supports vegetation, and the water not held in this 

zone continues to move by gravity to the zone of saturation, the upper surface of which is the water table. 

The ground-water reservoir is not static, but inflow 

and outflow constantly seek to reach equilibrium -

adding more flow to the streams when storage is high, 

and less flow after periods of little or no infiltration 

from precipitation. 

The water resources available to the region consist 

of adjacent Lake Erie, several small streams, and 

ground water. Because of the great volume of water 

stored in Lake Erie, local precipitation is of less importance in the water supply of the region than in . 

many other localities. 

SURF ACE WATER 

Lake Erie is the major source of water supply for 

the area and will be the dominant factor in any largescale water utilization in the future. For practical 

planning, the lake may be considered an inexhaustible 

supply of fresh water independent of local precipitation. Many small streams are distributed throughout 

the region, all tributary to Lake Erie. In contrast to 

the lake supply, the flow of the streams varies greatly, as the flow is directly related to local precipitation and ground-water discharge. 

5 

Lake Erie 

In preglacial time a great river flowed east through 

what is now the Lake Erie basin. When the glaciers 

came into the area they pushed their w2y up this valley. They gouged deeply into the soft shales to the 

east and carved deep grooves in the hard limestone at 

Sandusky Bay and Kellys Island to the west. Lake 

Erie and the other Great Lakes were formed by the 

melting of these continental ice sheets late in the geologic history of North America. Billions of tons of 

rock and gravel were released and left piled in terminal moraines as much as 500 ft high. As the icefront retreated from northeastern United States the 

meltwater ponded against the ice-front, escaping 

first to the west along the edge of the ice to the Mississippi River and later across New York State to the 

Hudson River. Lake Erie then began its slow transformation to its present shore lines. 

Of the five Great Lakes, Lake Erie is fourth in 

size. Only Lake Ontario is smaller. Lake Erie is 241 

miles long and is 57 miles wide at its widest point. It 

has a water-surface area of 9, 940 sq mi-about the 

same size as the State of Maryland. It is the shallowest 

of the Great Lakes, having a maximum depth of 210 ft 

as compared with a depth of 1, 290 ft in Lake Superior. 

The runoff from 34, 680 sq mi of its bordering land 

drains directly into Lake Erie and at its head it receives the flow of the Detroit River which drains 

Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron. The total 

drainage area above the head is 230,415 sq mi. Lake 

Erie is the one dominating factor in the agricultural 

and industrial development of the region, its use restricted only by the costly intake and pumping facilities 

which must be provided. . 

Erie harbor. -The harbor is located in the bay 

formed by Presque Isle peninsula and the mainland, 

with the entrance opening to the east. At ':he present 

time, there is an authorized Federal deep-draft navigation project for the maintenance of Erie Harbor. It 

provides for depth and anchorage facilities for lake 

carriers loaded to drafts of 24 ft. Complete information on navigation facilities at Erie may be obtained 

from the Buffalo District, Corps of Engineers. 

Beach erosion. -For centuries the waters of Lake 

Erie have been continually undermining the steep cliffs 

overlooking almost its entire shore line causing valuable land to crumble into the lake. Erosion as related 

to Erie Harbor, however, is a particularly serious 

problem. Within recent years, the harbor has required 

considerable improvement and maintenance owing to 

shore erosion processes which have threa ted to cause 

a breach in the narrow neck at the west end of Presque 

Isle peninsula. If this did occur the entrance channel 

on the eastern end of the peninsula would fill up and 

result in prohibitive costs for channel maintenance. 

The Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, is now 

making a beach erosion-control study wit~ recommendations for the permanent protection of Presque 

Isle. The report when completed will be submitted to 

Congress with recommendations for or against a Federal-State cooperative project. In the meantime, the 
Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters is 

taking emergency measures. During the fall of 1951 

it began riprapping 1, 700 ft of shore along the· neck of 

the peninsula. 

Elevations. -Lake Erie has gone through many stages 

and has been at various levels since the glacial era. 

The general trend in level has been a gradual decline. 

The earliest level may have been 300 ft or more higher 

than it is today. 

Continuous long-term records of the lake elevation 

at Erie are not available. Records obtained at Cleveland over the 91-yr period (1860-1950) have been 

576 

~ 

furnished by the Buffalo District, Corps of Engineers 

(see fig. 2). 

The maximum monthly elevation recorded was. 

574. 51 ft in June 1876; the minimum monthly elevation 

was 569.43 ft in February 1936. Normally, the annual 

fluctuation in lake elevation is about 2 ft. The mean 

elevation during the period 1860-1950 was 572.30 ft. 

Elevations are in feet above mean sea level, Sandy 

Hook datum. 

Pollution. -Industrial growth in the Erie area during 

the past few years has presented a waste-disposal 

problem. At the present time, waste-treatment 

::::> 

t-

<( 

The mox imum and mini mum monthly elevation occurred 

during the year Indicated 

0 

~ 

0 575 

0 

J: 

>-

0 

z 

<( 

(/) 574 .. ...J 

w 

> MAXIMUM 

w 

...J 

<( 573 

w 

(/) 

z 

<( 

w 

:E 

572 

w 

> AVERAGE 

0 

m 

<( 

tw 571 

w 

LL 

z 

.. 

~ 570 

t-

<( 

> w 

_J 

w 

MINIMUM 

569 

10 

rt) 

(]') 

z 

<( 

-, 

al 

LLJ 

LL 

..J 

0:: 

a.. 

<( 

LLJ 

z 

::> 

-, 

>- ...J 

::> 

-, 

...,: 

a. 

LLJ 

Cl) 

....,: 

0 

0 

> 0 

z 

568L------------------------------------------------------------------------------~ 

Figure 2. -Average maximum and minimum monthly elevations of Lake Erie at Cleveland, Ohio. 

6 
facilities provided by the city of Erie are not adapted 

to this increased load. Investigations are under way 

to work out plans for improving the existing system. 

The city of Erie has a plant for the partial treatment 

of its sewage and of some received from outside areas. 

The outfall from the plant extends about 4, 800 ft into 

the lake to the east of Presque Isle Bay. The sewage 

is chlorinated before being discharged into the lake. 

This precaution was found necessary because of extensive use now made of the north side of the Presque 

Isle lake front for bathing purposes. 

Three large industries along the lake front in the 

northeastern section of Erie discharge their wastes 

into the lake. The treatment now provided by two of 

the industries is satisfactory. The other plant is now 

under orders from the Pennsylvania Sanitary Water 

Board to improve its treatment of waste. 

Silica ·(Si06) 

Iron (Fe) 

Calcium (Ca) 

Magnesium (Mg) 

Sodium (Na) 

Potassium (K) 

Carbonate (C03) 

Bicarbonate (HC03) 

Sulfate (S04) 

Chloride (Cl) 

Fluoride (F) 

Nitrate (N03) 

Dissolved solids 

Hardness as CaC03: 

Total 

Noncarbonate 

Color 

pH 

Specific conductance 

(micromhos at 25 C) 

Temperature (°F) 

March 18, 1934 

1.0 

. 01 

34 

8.0 

5.7 

1.1 

0 

109 

19 

14 

1.0 

147 

118 

28 

Water temperature. -The following monthly and 

annual mean temperatures of water from Lake Erie 

were obtained by the city of Erie Burt:tau of Water at 

the Chestnut Street pumping station (1918-50). The 

water enters the intake about 3 miles from the pumping station, at depths ranging from 20 to 46 ft. The 

maximum monthly mean recorded was 77 Fin August 

1938. Maximum daily temperatures of 79 F were observed on July 25, 26, 1935, August 16, 1938, August 12, 1940, and August 11, 1949. The mean annual 

temperature is 52 F. 

Table 3. -Average monthly temperature of raw water 

from Erie public supply 

Month Temperature Month Temperature 

(F) (F) 

January 36 July 70 

February 35 August 73 

March 36 September 69 

April 42 October 60 

May 51 November 50 

June 62 December 40 

According to the April 195-1 interim report of the 

'Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the waters 

along the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio, notably in the 

:Cleveland area, are seriously contaminated by sewage 

pollution. Conditions in Ohio at present appear to 

create no major pollution problems along the lake 

shore in Pennsylvania although the prevailing movement of the lake water is toward Pennsylvania. 

Chemical quality. -Chemical analyses of water from 

Lake Erie indicate that the chemical character of 

water is relatively constant. Although increases in 

concentrations shown for such constituents as sulfate 

and chloride appear to indicate a slight upward trend, 

the three analyses are too few for confirmation. See 

the following tabulation. 

Chemical analyses (ppm) on date indicated 

7 

July 5, 1945 

1.0 

,01 

34 

7.9 

7.2 

1; 1 

0 

107 

:w 

18 

• 1 

1. 0 

160 

117 

30 

7.9 

271 

Streams 

July 26, 1951 

1.5 

37 

8.9 

9.4 

• 6 

0 

108 

24 

20 

• 0 

• 4 

177 

129 

40 

2 

7.8 

300 

73 

The streams in the region rise in gently rolling 

hills, flow through valleys cut in glacial drift and 

alluvial deposits and empty into Lake Erie. Channels 

become narrow in their lower cours~s. as they cut 

through the high cliff near the lake, changing to deep 

ravines through shale and sandstone as they approach 

the lake. 

A complete list of the streams, tributaries to Lake 

Erie, with their respective drainage areas within 

Pennsylvania is shown in table 4. 

No permanent gaging stations have been maintained 

in the area covered by this report. One discharge 

measurement each year since 1944 has been obtained 

on Mill and Walnut Creeks. Discharge measurements 

were obtained at regular intervals at selected sites on 

ten streams within the region· during the summer and 

fall of 1951. Temporary gages were installed, the 

stage-discharge relationships established, and daily 
Table 4. -Drainage area of streams in the Lake Erie Shore region of Pennsylvania 

Stream 

Lake Erie basin: 

Ashtabula River .•..........•.•...•..•..•.•..••..•.••••.........•.....•.•.. 

Conneaut Creek .....•...•...•..•...........••..•..............•.•......... 

West Branch Conneaut Creek ......•................................ 

Turkey Creek ...................•..........•.............................. 

Raccoon Creek ••.....•.••............•.••.•...•..•.•..•..............•.... 

Crooked Creek .••.••••..•..••...•••.•.••.•....••.....................•..... 

Elk Creek .••...•. ~ .•............••. ~ .............. ; ........•....••.•....... 

Little Elk Creek ................•.................................•.... 

Brandy Run ............................................................ . 

Trout Run~ ............................................................... .. 

Walnut Creek ....................................... : .. ~ ................... . 

Cascade Creek ........................................................... . 

Mill Creek .......................................................... : ...... . 

Fourmile Creek .......................................................... . 

Sixmile Creek ............................................................ . 

Sevenmile (Ellicott) Creek ........................................... . 

Eightmile Creek ......................................................... . 

Twelvemile Creek ...................................................... . 

Sixteenmile Creek ....................................................... . 

Twentymile Creek ........................................................ . 

*Total drainage area lies within Pennsylvania. 

records of discharge computed for the period June to 

September 1951 on four of the most important of these 

streams. 

The probable variation in flow during times of low 

discharge for nine of the ten streams was computed 

by correlating the miscellaneous discharge measurements or records of daily flow with continuous dis-

~harge records for stations on Conneaut Creek at 

Amboy, Ohio, Cattaraugus Creek at Gowanda, N. Y., 

or Sugar Creek at Sugarcreek, Pa. The stations at 

Amboy, Ohio and Gowanda, N. Y. are on streams 

that also drain the Lake Erie Shore region. Although~ 

Sugar Creek is in the Allegheny River basin, the record compares relatively well with many of the records 

for the Erie region streams. The probable variation 

In Pennsylvania 

_(s_q mi) 

512 

8.5 

153 

30.4 

8.99 

8.95 

21.2 

101 

22.0 

4.48 

5.88 

36.1 

8.0 

13.6 

11. 5 

18.2 

8.70 

7.49 

16.9 

18.4 

1.4 

Draina~ e area 

Total 

(sq mi) 

136 

191 

31.4 

9. 71 

* * * * // 

* * * 

* 

* * 

* 

* * 

18.9 

36.9 

streams were sampled at regular intervals at selected 

sites and chemically analyzed. Temperature readings 

have been made whenever a discharge measurement 

was made or a water sample collected. 

Pertinent data for each of the ten streams follow: 

Conneaut Creek 

Eight discharge measurements were made during 

1946 and 1951, at double-span concrete highway bridge 

on U. S. Highway 6N, 0. 5 mile northwest of Cherry 

Hill, Erie County, Pa. (lat 41°55'00 11 , long 80°27'15"). 

The drainage area at this point is 149 sq mi. 

in low flow are shown by flow-duration curves (figures 

3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19) and curves showing 

discharge available without storage (figures 4, 6, 8, 

10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20). The flow-duration 

Discharge. -The average discharge for the period 

1922-35 was 186 cfs (1. 25 csm) estimated from discharge measurements and records for Conneaut 

Creek at Amboy, Ohio. 

curves show the percent of time that a specified daily 

discharge may be expected to be equalled or exceeded. 

The curves showing discharge available without 

storage show the longest period of time that the daily 

discharge may be expected to remain less than a 

specified amount. 

Data for Sixteenmile Creek at North East, Pa., do 

not correlate well with those for Conneaut Creek, 

Cattaraugus Creek, or Sugar Creek. This may be 

caused by diversion from and into the headwaters of 

this stream for the municipal water-supply system 

of the borough of North East. 

No permanent stations· for the collection of temperatures or chemical quality data have been maintained in 

the area. Complete chemical analyses were made of 

samples of water obtained from Mill and Conneaut 

Creeks in February and August 1946. During the summer and fall of 1951 the waters of ten of the region's 

8 

No data concerning floods at this site are ·available. 

During the period 1922-35 a maximum discharge of 

6, 160 cfs or 25 csm occurred December 1, 1927 and 

January 19, 1929 at Amboy, Ohio. The drainage area 

at Amboy is 178 sq mi. 

Minimum discharge measured was 4. 68 cfs or 

0. 031 csm on September 7, 1951. (At Amboy, Ohio, 

during period 1922-35, a minimum discharge of 0. 2 

cfs or 0. 001 csm occurred on July 31, August 1, 1933; 

August 1, 2, 1934). Figures 3 and 4 show the low-flow 

characteristics of the stream. 

Chemical quality. -Seven chemical analyses of water 

were made, two in 1946 and five in 1951. Maximum 

and minimum concentrations in parts per million are 

given on page 10. 
.01 --

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0.05 0.1 0.2 0.5 1 2 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 98 99 99.5 99.8 99.9 

PERCENT OF TIME DISCHARGE EQUALED OR EXCEEDED THAT. SHOWN 

Figure 3 . ..:..Flow-duration curve for Conneaut Creek at Cherry Hill. 

. 

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Maximum Minimum 

Specific conductance 461 142 

(micromhos at 25 C) 

pH 7.8 6,7 

Color 13 4 

Hardness as CaC03 142 56 

Bicarbonate 132 32 

Sulfate '41 28 

Chloride 53 4,6 

Nitrate 2.7 . 5 

Two complete analyses are given in table 5. 

Temperature. -The maximum temperature measured was 83 F on July 25, 1951; the minimum was 

32 F on February 27, 1946. 

Pollution. -There is some pollution caused by the 

effluent from a pickle plant at Springboro, Crawford 

County, near the headwaters of Conneaut Creek. A 

milk plant at Crawford provides complete treatment 

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of its effiuent, The borough of Albion, Erie County, 

discharges partially treated sewage into East Branch 

Conneaut Creek. 

Crooked Creek 

Sij{ discharge measurements were made during 

1951, at the single-span concrete bridge on Pennsylvania Highway 5, at North Springfield, Erie County 

(lat 41°59'35", long 80°25'15"). The drainage area is 

17. 3 sq mi at this point. 

Discharge. -The average discharge for the period 

1932-50 was 26 cfs (1. 5 csm) estimated from 6 discharge measurements and records for Sugar Creek at 

Sugarcreek, Pa. Figures 5 and 6 show the low-flow 

characteristics of the stream. 

Chemical quality. -Five chemical analyses of water 

were made in 1951. Maximum and minimum concentrations in parts per million are given on page 13, 

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CONSECUTIVE MONTHS 

Figure 4. -Discharge available without storage in Conneaut Creek at Cherry Hill. 

10 
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PERCENT OF TIME DISCHARGE EQUALED OR EXCEEDED THAT. SHOWN 

Figure 5. -Flow-duration curve for Crooked Creek at North Springfield. 
Table 5. -Chemical analyses of selected surface waters. in Lake Erie Shore region,l951 

(parts per million) 

Conneaut Creek Crooked Creek Elk Creek Little Elk Creek 

at at at near 

Cherry Hill, Pa. N. Sprin~ field Pa. North Girard Pa. Platea Pa. 

June 14 Aug. 13 June 14 Aug. 13 June 14 Aug. 13 June 14 Aug. 13 

- Silica (Si02) 4,4 2. (. 8.2 7. 1 3.9 5.3 3.~ 1.6 

Iron (Fe) .03 ,04 .37 ,04 .02 .06 .05 • 08 

Calcium (Ca) 36 38 37 47 19 58 12 35 

Magnesium (Mg) . 8.2 9.9 6,8 8.7 4,0 13 

{ 

2.6 

} 

8.5 

Sodium (Na) 15 } { 2.8 } { 3,0 } 1, 0 

Potassium (K) 2. 1 11 1.1 6,0 1.6 16 1.4 8.9 

Bicarbonate (HC03) 111 123 101 118 43 152 25 60 

Sulfate (S04) 34 41 35 50 27 68 20 69 

Chloride (Cl) 24 9.5 5,0 7,5 3.8 24 1.8 14 

Fluoride (F) . 1 . 1 . 1 • 1 • 1 . 1 . 1 • 1 

Nitrate (N03) 1.2 1.5 2.4 1.9 2.4 3.2 1. 6 . 9 

Dissolved solids 190 183 168 :no 100 287 72 194 

Hardness as CaC03: 

Total 124 136 120 153 64 198 41 122 

Non carbonate 33 35 38 51 29 72 20 73 

Color 4 6 3 5 7 0 4 5 

pH 7.8 7.8 8,0 8.2 7.5 8.0 7.2 7.7 

Specific conductance 

(micromhos at 25 C) 331 . 307 262 324 153 459 97.9 298 

Temperature (°F) 67 79 60 75 66 77 63 71 

Mean discharge (cfs) 177 5. 18 26.0 2.94 200 3.01 35.0 .05 

Walnut Creek Raccoon Creek Trout Run Fourmile Creek 

at near at at 

Weis Library, Pa. W. Springfield, Pa. Avonia, Pa. Wesleyville, Pa. 

June 14 Aug. 13 Sept. 5 Sept. 5 Sept. 5 

Silica (Si02) 4.8 2.6 6.8 6,2 2.4 

Iron (Fe) • 07 ,06 . 10 . 10 .08 

Calcium (Ca) 31 42 49 53 47 

Magnesium (Mg) 6. 6 10 9.4 11 11 

Sodium (Na) 3,9 } 6. 1 3.4 2.3 6.0 Potassium (K) 1.5 

Bicarbonate (HC03) 83 123 127 141 103 

Sulfate (S04) 31 45 53 48 69 

Chloride (Cl) 8.8 6.8 5,5 8,0 10 

Fluoride (F) . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 

Nitrate (N03) 1.4 2,0 1.5 6, 7 1.9 

Dissolved solids 146 192 208 240 224 

Hardness as CaC03: 

Total 104 146 161 178 162 

Noncarbonate 36 45 57 62 75 

Color 6 4 7 5 7 

pH 7. 7 7.9 7.8 7.8 8,0 

Specific conductance 

(micromhos at 25 C) 236 308 319 359 343 

Temperature (°F) 64 71 65 64 68 

Mean discharge (cfs) 18.6 1. 56 ,45 2.30 . 48 
Table 5. -Chemical analyses of selected surface waters in Lake Erie Shore region-Continued 

Silica (Si02) 

Iron (Fe) 

Calcium (Ca) 

Magnesium (Mg) 

Sodium (Na) 

Potassium (K) 

Bicarbonate (HC03) 

Sulfate (S04) 

Chloride (Cl) 

Fluoride (F) 

Nitrate (N03) 

Dissolved solids 

Hardness as CaC03: 

Total 

Noncarbonate 

Color 

pH 

Specific conductance 

(micromhos at 25 C) 

Temperature (°F) 

Mean discharge (cfs) 

Silica (Si02) 

Iron (Fe) 

Calcium (Ca} 

Magnesium (Mg) 

Sodium (Na} 

Potassium (K} 

Bicarbonate (HC03

} 

Sulfate (SOc!) 

Chloride ( 1) 

Fluoride (F) 

Nitrate (N03) 

Dissolved solids 

Hardness as CaC03: 

Total 

Noncarbonate 

Color 

pH 

Specific conductance 

(micromhos at 25 C) 

Temperature (°F) 

Mean discharge (cfs) 

Specific conductance 

(micramhos at 25 C) 

pH 

Color 

Hardness as CaC03 

Bicarbonate 

Sulfate 

Chloride 

Nitrate 

} 

Mill Creek 

at 

Erie, Pa. 

June 15 Aug. 13 

5.8 4.2 

.08 ,06 

41 50 

8,4 11 

5.7 } 7 0 1 1. 4 

114 145 

41 50 

7.8 9.0 

0 1 0 1 

2.5 2.0 

186 220 

137 170 

43 51 

6 6 

8.2 7.8 

300 355 

67 69 

4. 19 1. 06 

Twelvemile Creek 

at 

Moorheadville, Pa. 

June 16 Aug, 13 

4.2 4.8 

.02 .04 

17 26 

3,5 5. 1 

4,9 3,8 

33 46 

33 44 

3.5 6,2 

. 1 . 1 

1, 0 2.0 

93 133 

57 86 

30 48 

4 2 

7. 5 7.5 

144 205 

63 68 

1. 69 o. 14 

Maximum Minimum 

328 ~62 

8.2 7.9 

16 3 

158 120 

132 101 

53 35 

9 4 

2.4 1.8 

Two complete analyses are given m table 5. 

{ 

10 

Sixmile Creek Sevenmile Creek 

near near 

Harborcreek Pa. Harborcreek, Pa. 

June 15 Aug. 13 June 15 Aug. 13 

3.0 2.9 5,7 3.6 

,03 .08 .04 .06 

31 38 30 39 

5.8 7. 5 5.4 7.8 

3.2 6,2 { 2.4 } 3.4 2.0 

89 94 84 108 

29 52 25 36 

3.0 5.0 4.8 6.5 

.1 • 1 0 1 • 1 

• 8 . 7 1. 1 1.6 

128 172 129 165 

101 126 97 129 

28 49 28 41 

4 3 6 4 

8.0 7. 7 7.9 7. 7 

J18 279 215 274 

72 74 65 71 

9.77 0.90 1. 43 0 21 

Public Water Supply 

Sixteenmile Creek Erie, Pa. 

at Treated Water 

Northeast, Pa. from Lake Erie 

June 16 Aug. 13 July 26 

3.3 1.0 1.5 

.Ol .04 - 26 23 37 

5.7 5.6 

{ 

8.9 

3. 9 } 9.4 

2. 1 6,0 . 6 

46 25 108 

50 62 24 

5.8 5.5 20 

. 1 . 1 . 0 

2.2 . 6 . 4 

133 127 177 

88 80 129 

51 60 40 

4 5 l 

7.7 6.6 7.8 

~13 203 300 

73 74 73 

1,36 .69 -

Temperature. -The maximum temperature measured was 75 F on August 13, 1951. 

Pollution. -There is no known pollution in this 

stream. 

Elk Creek 

Six discharge measurements were made and daily 

discharges were computed for the period June 15 to 

September 30, 1951, at single-span steel truss bridge 

on Elk Park Road, 0. 75 mile southwest of North 
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CONSECUTIVE DAYS CONSECUTIVE MONTHS 

Figure 6. -Discharge available without storage in Crooked Creek at North Springfield. 

Girard, Erie County (lat 42°00'20", long 80°21'15"). 

The drainage area is 96. 7 sq mi at this point. 

Discharge. -The average discharge for the period 

1922-35 was 128 cfs (1. 32 csm) estimated by correlating records for period June 15 to September 30, 

1951, with records tor Conneaut Creek at Amboy, 

Ohio, Figures 7 and 8 show the low-flow characteristics of the creek. 

Chemical quality. -Five chemical analyses of water 

were made in 1951. Maximum and minimum concentrations in parts per million are l!iven below: 

Maximum Minimum 

Specific conductance 528 153 

(micromhos at 25 q 

pH 8.4. 7. 5 

Color 12 0 

Hardness as CaC03 210 64 

Bicarbonate 169 43 

Sulfate 73 27 

Chloride 28 3.8 

Nitrate 5.4 1.1 

14 

Two complete analyses are given in ·table 5. 

Temperature. -The maximum temperature measured was 78 F on July 24, 1951. 

Pollution. -There is no known industrial pollution 

upstream from the mauth :)f Brandy Run, which 

enters Elk Creek just upstream from the Girard 

B:)rough limits. There is considerable pollution of 

Brandy Run by tannery waste entering the stream 

0. 5 mile upstream from the mouth. The tannery 

waste is untreated, except for settling of the sludge, 

but studies are being made for plans to remove the 

objectionable color from the effluent. 

The borough of Girard provides complete treatment 

to sewage before it enters Elk Creek. 

Little Elk Creek 

Six discharge measurements were made during 

1951 at the single-span concrete bridge, 2. 5 miles 
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PERCENT OF TIME DISCHARGE EQUALED OR EXCEEDED THAT SHOWN ""2 

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CONSECUTIVE DAYS CONSECUTIVE MONTHS 

Figure 8. -Discharge available without storage in Elk Creel.;: at North Girard, 

northeast of Platea, Erie County (lat 41°57'35 11 , 

long 80°17'10"). The drainage area at this point is 

17.4 sq mi. 

Discharge. -The average discharge for the period 

1932-50 was 21.8 cfs (1. 25 csm) estimated from 6 

discharge measurements and records for Sugar 

Creek at Sugarcreek, Pa. Figures 9 and 10 show 

the low-flow characteristics of the stream. 

Chemical quality. -Five chemical analyses of 

water were made in 1951. Maximum and minimum 

concentrations in parts per million are given below: 

Maximum Minimum 

Specific conductance 353 97.9 

(micromh:.:>s at 25 C) 

pH 7.8 7.2 

Color 15 4 

Hardness as Caco3 136 41 

Bicarbonate 62 25 

Sulfate 85 20 

Chloride 20 1.8 

Nitrate 2.4 . 6 

16 

Two complete analyses are given in table 5. 

Temperature, -The maximum temperature measured was 74 F on July 2, 1951. 

Pollution. -There is no known pollution in this 

stream. 

Walnut Creek 

Fourteen discharge measurements were made during 

period 1944-51, and daily discharges were computed 

for the period June 15'to September 30, 1951 at the 

double-span concrete bridge on State Route 25016, 

0. 4 mile (by road) northeast of library in village of 

Weis Library, Erie County (lat 4~ 03'10"; long 80° 

10'05"). The drainage area at this point is 26,9 

sq mi. 

Discharge. -The average discharge during the 

period 1932-50 was 29.6 cfs (1. 10 csm) estimated 

by correlating record for period June 15 to September 30, 1951, with record for Sugar Creek at Sugar-
creek, Pa. Figures 11 and 12 show the low-flow 

characteristics of the stream. 

Chemical quality. -Five chemical analyses of water 

were made in 1951. Maximum and minimum concentrations in parts per million are given below: 

Maximum Minimum 

Specific conductance 319 236 

(micromhos at 25 C) 

pH 8.0 7. 5 

Color 7 4 

Hardness as CaC03 152 104 

Bicarbonate 131 83 

Sulfate 48 31 

Chloride 9 6 

Nitrate 2.0 1.1 

\ 

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Two complete analyses are given in table 5. 

Temperature. -The maximum temperature measured 

was 74 F on August 22, 1944 and July 24, 1951; the 

minimum was 32 F on December 14, 1945. 

Pollution. -There is no know industrial pollution 

in this stream. There may be domestic sewage pollution from the large housing development near Port 

Erie Airport. 

Mill Creek 

Sixteen discharge measurements were made during 

period 1944-51, and daily discharges were computed 

for the period June 16 to September 30, 1951, at the 

concrete ledge and small waterfall 0. 3 mile upstream 

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PERCENT OF TIME DISCHARGE EQUALLED OR EXCEEDED THAT SHOWN 

Figure 9. -Flow-duration curve for Little Elk Creek near Platea. 

17 
from concrete drift catcher in Glenwood Park at 

south edge of Erie, 0, 6 mile upstream from Glenwood Park Zoo (lat 42°05'40", long 80°04'20"). The 

drainage area at this point is 9. 20 sq mi. 

Discharge. -The average discharge for the period 

1932-50 was 9. 7 cfs (1. 05 csm) estimated by correlating record for period June 16 to September 30, 

1951 with records for Sugar Creek at Sugarcreek, 

Pa. Figures 13 and 14 show the low-flow characteristics of the stream. 

Results of two slope-area measurements of the 

flood of August 3, 1915, made by the- Pennsylvania 

Department of Forests and Waters, are tabulated 

below: 

Drainage area 

(sq mi) 

9.3 

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Chemical quality. -Seven chemical analyses ofwater 

were made, two in 1946 and five in 1951. Maximum 

and minimum concentrations in parts per million are 

given below: 

Maximum Minimum 

Specific conductance 375 180 

(micromhos at 25 C) 

pH 8.2 6,8 

Color 14 4 

Hardness as CaC03 186 78 

Bicarbonate 145 48 

Sulfate 59 37 

Chloride 9 3,9 

Nitrate 5.3 1. 5 

Two complete analyses are given in table 5. 

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CONSECUTIVE MONTHS ~f02 

Figure 10. -Discharge available without storage in Little Creek near Platea. 

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<( 

:r: 

u .01 

(/) 

0 .ooa 

.007 

1.0 

.9 

.a 

.7 

.6 

.5 

.4 

w 

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~ .3 

w 

0::: 

~ .2 

0 

(/) 

a:: 

w 

a.. 

.10 

(/) .09 

u.. .08 

u .07 

z .06 

.05 

w 

~ .04 

<[ 

I 

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(J) 

0 

.02 

.01 

0.01 

~ 

\ 

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~ ~ 

\ ' 

\ : 

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\ . 

\ I 

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1\ \ 

\ 

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\ 

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1\. 

0.05 0.1 0,2 0.5 1 2 5 10 20· 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 98 99 99.5 99.8 99.9 99.99 

PERCENT OF TIME DISCHARGE EQUALED OR EXCEEDED THAT SHOWN 

Figure 11. -Flow-duration curve for Walnut Creek at Weis Library. 
Temperature. -The maximum temperature measured was 76 F on August 5, 1946 and September 9, 

1948; the minimum was 32 F on December 14, and 

February 27, 1946. 

Pollution. -There is no known industrial pollution 

in this stream. There is a possibility that overflows 

from septic tanks at home near the upper reaches of 

the stream may at times enter the stream. 

Sixmile Creek 

Six discharge measurements were made during 

1951, at the single-span steel truss bridge on Clark 

Road, 1. 5 miles southwest of Harborcreek, 

w 

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w 

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<{ 

::::> 

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(/) 

0::: 

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a_ 

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0::: 

w 

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z 

0 

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~ 

~ 

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6 

1.0 

.8 

.6 

.5 

.4 

.3 

.2-

. 

.10 

.08 

.06 

.05 

.04 

.03 

.02 

.01 

.003 

.007 

4 

2 

1.0 

w ,8 

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~ .6 

w 

0::: .5 <{ 

::::> .4 0 

(/) 

0::: .3 w 

a.. 

~ .2 

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w 

(.!) 

0::: .10 <{ 

0 .08 (/) 

6 .06 

.05 

.04 

.03 

.02 

.0 1 

4 5 6 8 10 

CONSECUTIVE DAY;:, 

20 

Erie County, (lat 42°09'15", long 79°58'35"). T·he 

drainage area at this point is 15. 4 sq mi. 

Discharge. -The average discharge for the period 

1940-50 was 22.3 cfs (1. 45 csm) estimated from 6 

discharge measurements and records for Cattaraugus 

Creek at Gowanda, N. Y. Figures 15 and 16 show 

the low-flow characteristics of the stream. 

Chemical quality. -Five chemical analyses of water 

were made in 1951. Maximum and minimum concentrations in parts per million are given below and on 

page 2 2. 

Specific conductance 

(micromhos at 25 C) 

7 

I 

l 

I 

I 

I 

v 

I I 1/ 

v 

) 

I 

1/ 

J 

I 

17 

Maximum 

-~ 

Minimum 

218 

/ 

7 

/ 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 18 21 36 48 72 

CONSECUTIVE MONTHS 

Figure 12. -Discharge available without storage in Walnut Creek at Weis Library. 

20 
.6 

w d .5 

:E 

.4 

w 

a:: 

<( 

:::> .3 

0 

(/) 

a: . 2 

w 

Q. 

~ 0 

a: .10 t'-' w ...... Q. .os 

(/) .07 

z 

o.os 

_J 

_J.Q5 

<t 

(!) .04 

z 

0 

_J•03 

_J 

~ 

z .02 

w 

(!) 

a:: 

<t 

J: 

~ .01 

0 .oos 

.007 

w 

_J 

1.0 

.9 

.8 

.7 

.G 

.5 

.4 

~ .3 

w 

cr 

<( .2 

:::> 

o· 

Cf) 

0:: 

w 

CL 

.10 

(/) .09 

·u.. .08 

u .07 

z·06 

.05 

w 

~ .04 

<( 

I 

u .03 

(/) 

0 

.02 

.01 

0.01 

----

0.05 0.1 -0.2 0.5 1 2 5 

PERCENT OF TIME 

\. 

\ 

\ 

i\ 

\ 

\ . \. 

\ 

' \~ 

~ 

~ 

"' ' 

" ~ 

-........ :-...... 

-i""---1---. 

--

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 98 99 99.5 99.8 99.9 

DISCHARGE EQUALED OR EXCEEDED THAT SHOWN 

Figure 13. -Flow-duration curve for Mill Creek at Erie. 

-

99.99 
pH 

Color 

Hardness as Caco3 Bicarbonate 

Sulfate 

Chloride 

Nitrate 

Maximum 

8.2 

12 

137 

108 

58 

6 

• 8 

Minimum 

7. 3 

3 

101 

89 

29 

3,0 

• 6 

Two complete analyses are given in table 5. 

Temperature, -The maximum temperature measured was 72 F on June 15 and August 14, 1951. 

Pollution. -There is no known pollution in this 

stream. 

3 

2 

Ll.l 1.0 ..J 

i .8 

Ll.l 

0:: .6 <( 

:::> 

0 .5 (/) 

0:: .4 

~ .3 

~ 0 

0:: .2 

~ 

(/) 

z 

0 

..J 

..J .10 ~ 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1.0 

Ll.l ,8 ..J 

:E .6 

~ .5 <( 

5.4 

(/) 

0:: .3 Ll.l 

Q_ 

~ .2 

(.) 

Sevenmile Creek 

Six discharge measurements were made and daily 

discharges were computed for the period June 16 to 

September 30, 1951, at the single-span bridge on 

Bell Road, 0, 5 mile southeast of U. S. Highway 20 

in Harborcreek, Erie County, (lat 42°09'40 11 , long 

79°56 155"). The drainage area at this point is 2. 85 

sq mi. 

Discharge. -The average discharge for the period 

1932-50 was 3. 4 cfs (1. 19 csm) estimated by correlatio~ of records for period June 16 to September 

30, 1951, with records for Sugar Creek at Sugarcreek, Pa. Figures 17 and 18 show the low-flow characteristics of the stream. 

I 

I 

J 

1/ 

I 

I 

I 

i/ 

/ 

....,V 

z .08 

Q w 

:E .10 <( 

l..--'" v~ 

..J 

..J .()6 - ~ .05 

~ .04 

Ll.l 

(!) .03 0:: 

<( 

:r; 

(.) 

(/) 

i5 .02 

.01 

5.08 

(/) 

i5 

.06 

.05 

.04 

.03 

.o 2 

.o 1 

!'""-

~ 

I--1--,_ 

2 3 4 5 6 8 10 20 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 18 21 36 48 72 

CONSECUTIVE DAYS CONSECUTIVE MONTHS 

Figure 14. -Discharge available without storage in Mill Creek at Erie, 

22 
.01 

0.01 

\ 

\ 

\ 

~ 

\ 

\ 

\ 

\ 

\ 

1\ 

\ 

·~ 

\ 

\ / \. 

\ 

\. 

i\ 

' '\. 

\. 

-' '\ 

\. 

'\ 

" ' " 

0.05 0.1 0.2 0.5 1 2 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 98 99 99.5 99.8 99.9 99.99 

PERCENT OF TIME DISCHARGE EQUALED OR EXCEEDED THAT SHOWN 

Figure 15. -Flow-duration curve for Sixmile Creek near Harborcreek. 
Chemical quality. -Five chemical analyses of water 

were made. Maximum and.minimum concentrations 

in parts per million are given below: 

Specific conductance 

(micromhos at 25 C) 

pH 

Color 

Hardness as <?aC03 Bicarbonate 

Sulfate 

Chloride 

Nitrate 

Maximum 

300 

7.9 

9 

139 

114 

39 

6.5 

1.6 

Minimum 

215 

7.4 

2 

97 

84 

25 

4.8 

. 4 

Two complete analyses are given in table 5. 

w 

_J 

~ 

w 

a:: 

<( 

::> 

0 

(/) 

a:: 

w 

a.. 

~ 0 

a:: 

~ 

(/) 

z 

0 

_J 

_J 

<( 

(.!) 

z 

0 

::i 

_J 

~ 

~ 

w 

(.!) 

a:: 

<( 

J: 

u 

(/) 

i5 

2 

1.0 

.8 

.6 

.5 

.4 

.3 

.2 

.10 

.08 

.06 

.05 

.04 

.03 

.02 

.003 

4 

3 

2 

1.0 

w .8 _J 

~ .6 

w 

a:: .5 <( 

::> .4 0 

(f) 

a:: .3 w 

a.. 

~ .2 

u 

~ 

w 

~ .10 <( 

5 .08 (f) 

i5 .06 

.05 

.04 

.03 

.02 

1/ 

/ 

./ 

/ 

7 

/ 

_.....v 

v v 

/ 

.007 .0 , ---------v 3 4 5 6 8 10 20 '-----------v----J 

CONSECUTIVE DAYS 

/ )/ 

Temperature. -The maximum temperature measured was 71 F on July 23 and August 14, 1951. 

Pollution. -There is no known pollution in this 

stream. 

Twelvemile Creek 

Six discharge measurements were made during 

1951, at the concrete box culvert on U. S. Highway 

20 at Spencer, 1. 0 mile east of Moorheadville, Erie 

County (lat 42°11 '40 11 , long 79°53'25 11 ). The drainage 

area at this point is 6. 59 sq mi. 

' I 

I 

I 

7 

I -- ll 

j 

I 

/ 

v 

v 

v 

/ 

/ 

/ 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 18 21 36 48 

CONSECUTIVE MONTHS 

Figure 16. -Discharge available without storage in Sixmile Creek near Harborcreek. 

24 
.6 

w 

....J .5 

~ 

.4 

w 

a:: 

<{ 

::::::> .3 

0 

(f) 

a:: . 2 

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Q. 

~ 0 

a:: .10 

w 

!:>.~ 

a...os Ul (f) .07 

z 

0.06 

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<{ 

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z 

0 

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z .02 

w 

(!) 

a:: 

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(f) 

0 .008 

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1.0 

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.7 

.6 

.5 

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w 

0:: 

<( "2 

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(/) .09 

LL.. .08 

u .07 

2 .06 

- .05 

w 

~ .04 

<{ 

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en 

a 

.02 

.01 

0.01 

--

\ 

\ 

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1\ 

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\. 

i\. 

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'\. 

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" ., 

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·--J '---· ·--· ______ L__ ·-- -- --- -

" 

0.05- 0.1 0.2 0. 5 1 2 5 10 20 . 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 98 99 99.5 99.8 99,9 99.99 

PERCENT OF TIME DISCHARGE EQUALED OR EXCEEDED THAT SHOWN 

Figure 17. -Flow-duration r.urve for Sevenmile Creek at Harborcreek. 
Discharge. -The average discharge for the period 

1932-50 was 9. 8 cfs (1. 48 csm) estimated from 6 

discharge measurements and records fo.r Sugar Creek 

at Sugarcreek, Pa. Figures 19 and 20 show the lowflow characteristics of the stream. 

Chemical quality. -Five chemical analyses of 

water were made in 1951. Maximum and minimum 

concentrations in parts per million are given below: 

Maximum Minimum 

Specific conductance 239 144 

(micromhos at 25 C) 

pH 

Color 

Hardness as CaC03 

Bicarbonate 

Sulfate 

Chloride 

Nitrate 

w 

_J 

~ 

w 

0:: 

<( 

::> 

0 

(J) 

0:: 

w 

a.. 

~ 0 

0:: 

~ 

(/) 

z 

0 

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..J 

<( 

(!) 

z 

0 

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~ 

~ 

w 

(!) 

0:: 

<( 

:I: 

u 

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0 

1.0 

.8 

.6 

.5 

.4 

.3 

.2 

.10 

.08 

.06 

.05 

.04 

.03 

.02 

.01 

.003 

.007 

4 

2 

1.0 

w .8 ..J 

~ .6 

w 

0:: .5 <( 

::> .4 0 

(J) 

0:: .3 w 

a.. 

(/) 

lJ.. .... u 

~ 

w 

~ .10 <( 

5 .oa (/) 

0 .06 

.05 

.04 

.03 

.02 

.01 1 

7. 5 7.2 

7 2 

86 57 

53 33 

51 33 

10 3.5 

3. 5 1.0 

I 

I 

v 

v 

/ 

-~ 

,.... .... 

------

4 5 6 8 10 20 

CONSECUTIVE DAYS 

/ 

/ 

Two complete analyses are given in table 5. 

Temperature. -The maximum temperature measured was 71 F on July 23 and August 14, 1951. 

Pollution, -There is no known pollution in this 

stream. 

Sixteenmile Creek 

Six discharge measurements were made during 1951, 

at the downstream end of the concrete retaining well, 

200 ft upstream from single-span bridge on Wellington 

Street at south edge of North East, Erie County (lat 

42°12 1 40", long 79°50 105"). The drainage area at this 

point is 9. 83 sq mi. 

I I 

I 

I 

I 

1/ 

I 

I 

IT 

I 

7 

v 

I 

I 

7 

7 

7 

v 

-

i 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 18 21 36 48 7: 

CONSECUTIVE MONTHS 

Figure 18. -Discharge available without storage in Sevenmile Creek at Harborcreek. 
w 

...J 

~ 

w 

a:: 

<( 

:::> w 0 _J (f) 

~ a:: 

w w a.. a:: 

<( 

~ :::> 

0 0 (f) 

0:: a:: w w a.. a.. (f) (f) z 

0 ~ 

...J u ...J 

<( 

l!> ~ 

z w 0 l!> 

:::. a:: <( 

...J I 

~ u 

(f) 

~ i5 

w 

l!> 

a:: 

<( 

I 

u 

(f) 

i5 

100 

80. 

60. 

50 

40. 

30. 

20. 

10. 

8.0 

60 

5.0 

4.0 

3.0 

2.0 

1.0 

.8 

.6 

.5 

.4 

.3i 

.2 

l 

.08 

.06 

.05 

.04 

.03 

.02 

.010 

.008 

.()Of; 

-005 

.004 

.003 

.002 

1 

I 

: 

''\. 

'\. 

\. 

\ 

\ 

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··"" _i 

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'\. I \. I \ 

\ 

_\ \. 

'\. 

'\. 

'\. ""' ' ' ' ~ ......... 

.00 O.Ql 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.5 2 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 98 99 99.5 99.8 99.9 

PERCENT OF TIME DISCHARGE EQUALLED OR EXCEEDED THAT SHOWN 

Figure 19. -Flow-duration curve for TwelvemHe Creek near Moorheadville. 

Discharge. -According to a contracted-opening 

measurement made by the Pennsylvania Department 

of Forests and Waters, the peak discharge of the 

flood of March 16, 1942, was 9, 710 cfs or 771 csm 

at a site where the drainage area is 12.6 sq mi. 

The Minimum daily discharge during the period 

June to September 1951 was 0. 2 cfs (0. 020 csm) on 

August 31 and September 1. 

Specific conductance 

(micromhos at 25 C) 

pH 

Color 

Hardness as CaC03 

Bicarbonate 

Sulfate 

Chloride 

Nitrate 

Maximum 

213 

7.7 

12 

88 

49 

62 

7 

2.2 

gqgg 

Minimum 

160 

6.6 

3 

68 

25 

28 

5. 5 

• 6 

Chemical quality. -Five chemical analyses of water 

were made in 1951. Maximum and minimum concentrations in parts per million are given below: 

Two complete analyses are given in table 5, 

'1..7 
Temperature. -The maximum temperature measured was 82 F on August 14, 1951. 

Pollution. -The borough of North East has an intermediate sewage treatment plant, the effluent from 

which enters Sixteenmile Creek. Most of the foodprocessing plants in the borough give some treatment 

to their effluent before discharge into the borough 

sewerage system. However, at times the water below 

the treatment has a noticeable color. 

GROUND WATER 

The occurrence of ground water is controlled by 

the geology, topography, and climate of the region. 

Although, in the Lake Erie S bore region, rainfall is 

plentiful and the topography is favorable, the quantities 

w .1 ...J 

~ .()8 

w 

a:: .06 .:{ 

:::> 

0 .0? CJ) 

a:: 

w 

0.. 

.03 

~ 0 

a:: .02 

~ 

(/) 

z 

0 

...J 

...J 

~ 

z 

0 

3.006 

~ -005 

~ -0041 

~ 00~ ~002 

.001 

-0003 

-0007 

.5 

.3 

.2 

1 

w .08 ...J 

:E.06 

~ .05 <t 

5 .04 CJ) 

a:: .03 w 

0.. 

~ .02 

(.) 

I.LI 

'!:> a:: .o 1 <t 

5.oos 

CJ) 

Ci .006 

.005 

.004 

.003 

i 

.002 

.00 1 

~ 

I 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

1/v 

vv 

v v 

~I' 

3 4 5 6 8 10 20 

CONSECUTIVE DAYS 

/ 

/ 

of water obtainable from ·wells are small. The ·consolidated sedimentary rocks in the region are covered 

by unconsolidated glacial drift. With the exception of 

sand and gravel beds in the drift or in beach ridges, 

the two types of rock do not contain large or numerous 

water-bearing openings. 

Geology and Hydrology 

Erie County was completely covered by the continental ice sheets which reshaped the previous land suriace 

and deposited large quantities of rock debris. Immediately after the retreat of the last glacier, the level of 

Lake Erie was probably 300 ft or more higher than at 

present (White, 1881). During the recession of the 

lake through many thousands of years, ·wind and wave 

action caused the formation of many beach ridges and 

1 

I \ 

I 

1/ 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

IL 

I 

v 

I 

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 18 21 36 48 7-2 

CONSECUTIVE MONTHS 

Figure 20. -Discharge available without storage in Twelvemile Cree~ near MoorheadvillP 

28 
LAKE ERIE 

0 2 Miles 

MCKEAN 

TOWNSHIP 

1,000' 

900' ..J 

lU 

> 

lU 

..J 

"' lU ., 800' lU 

> 

0 

Ill 

1- "' 

IU 

~ . 700'!: 

500' 

Figure 21, -Geologic section along west side of Mill Creek Township, 

terraces by reworking the glacial deposits and bedrock formations exposed along the shore. The unconsolidated materials now lying on the old rock floor 

are as much as 100 ft thick and average approximately 

50 ft thick. These sediments are entirely above the 

present lake level. 

The glacial drift is mostly till (boulder clay) composed of gravel, and clay which was deposited by the 

melting ice without being ,sorted by water action. 

Wells drilled into the poorly sorted till yield little 

water except from the coarse -grained parts. In 

some localities in northern Pennsylvania, glacial 

materials have been sorted by stream action resulting in the deposition of layers of permeable sand and 

gravel from which large amounts of water can be obtained. It is possible that a similar condition exists 

in a buried valley under Crooked Creek, This buried 

valley is believed to be the original outlet of Conneaut 

Creek which flowed northward directly into Lake 

Erie. It filled with drift and outwash materials during 

the glacial epoch (Leggette, 1936). Sufficient geological and well data are not available to evaluate properly the ground-water potential of the valley. However, 

valley deposits appear to offer better possibilities for 

development than mos 1: ;Jf the glacial drift, 

29 

The underlying bedrock formations have been exposed in many ravines and on steep hillsides by recent erosion. They are mainly shales and sandstones 

of sedimentary origin, The dip of the beds is south 

to southwest, so that a given stratum along the lake 

bluff is at a lower elevation under the land ~reas, A 

typical cross section of the rocks of the shore region 

is shown in figure 21. 

Ground water in the bedrock is contained in the 

joints and other fractures and along the bedding 

planes rather than in the pore spaces. Many of the 

water-bearing openings are imperfectly connected, 

If these rocks were more permeable, infiltration 

from Lake Erie could be induced by pumping fr.om 

wells near the lake. That they do not serve as c,:mduits for recharge from the lake is shown by many 

gas wells drilled hundreds of feet deep which yielded 

little water until deep brines were encountered, Five 

wells drilled for water along the shore about 4 miles 

from North East were completely dry. One of thes_e 

was reported to have extended about 90 ft below lake 

level. 
0 

w 

ti 

u 

0 

10r---------.---------r-------~--------~--------~--------~--------~ 

samples) 

10.---------.--------.--------~---------.---------.---------.--------~ 

Hordn ss of water from bed-rock aquifers ( 54 s mples) 

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 

z 40r---------,----------.----------.-----------.---------.----------.---------~ 

w 

(!) 

z 

<{ 

Q: 

z 30 ~--------r----------r----------+----------+----------+----------4----------4 

0 

w 

1-

Q: 

0 

Cl. 

Chloride in water from sand and grovel aquifers ( 68 samples) 

~ 20~--------+---------~--------~----------4----------~--------+---------~ 

en 

w 

:E 

;::: 

lJ.. 

0 10 

Q: 

w 

CD 

:E 

::::> 

z 

0 

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 

20.---------~--------~--------~--------~----------r---------.---------· 

Chloride in water from bed-rock aquifers (54 samples) 

10~------~---------4---------+---------+---------r--------~------~ 

0 

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 

PARTS PER MILLION 

Figure 22. -Distribution graph showing hardness and chloride content of·ground water in the Lake Erie Shore region. 

30 
NYC RR 

NYC and SL RR 

0 

<t 

0 

0::: 

>-

0::: 

z 

w 

X 

8_0 

oO 

-.;;-

cu? 

0 Ill 0-

-... 0 E ~ ·;c 

-o e c: 0. 0 0. _1<1 

0 500 1000 Feet 

t::::::::c==r:===:J=±=========l 

Approximate scale 

10-14 feet to rock in vicinity of Knoll Avenue 

Water level 9-14 feet below ground 

Salt water below 40 feet 

EXPLANATION 

20 

0(15) 

Well in drift 

280 

.(35) 

Well in shale 

-eWell not sampled 

255. 

{!()) 

z 

<t 

:IE 

N 

1-

...J 

<t 

(/) 

Upper figure shows chloride content (ppm} 

Lower figure shows depth of well 

.255 

(30) 

Figure 23. -Map of a section east of Wesleyville showing wells sampled and chloride content of water. 

Location and Yield of Wells 

Wells in the region are used chiefly for individual 

domestic supplies. They do not have large yields 

and no large ground-water supplies have been developed. The wells are dug. drilled, or driven, depending on the location. The newer wells generally have 

been drilled to depths ranging from 20 to 160 ft. Many 

of the older wells were dug to depths of about 25 ft. 

Some small-diameter wells have been driven in sandy 

areas where the water table is near the land surface. 

Outside the areas served by the municipal systems 

of Erie and North East, nearly every home uses 

ground water. The area southwest of Erie e-:tending 

31 

to the Ohio border contains the thickest glacial deposits in the region which generally yield adequate 

amounts of water for domestic purposes. Some of 

the best yields are obtained from gravel streaks, 

either within the glacial drift or lying on the bedrock 

surface. 

Good yields have been reported from municipal wells 

at Girard and North Girard. These wells are at the 

foot of an old beach ridge at an elevation about 200 ft 

higher than the present lake level. The Girard municipal well is 20 ft in diameter and yielded 183 gpm in 

1929. In 1949 one of the North Girard municipal wells 

was drilled to a depth of 36 ft and yielded 110 gpm on 

test. In this same general area a flowing well 
(no. 1 on fig. 1), drilled on the beach ridge, was 

flowing at least 20 gpm in May 1951. 

The area immediately east of Erie contains little 

glacial drift and most wells end in shale from which 

low yields are common. The hillsides south of this 

area and farther east are drift-covered and yield 

moderate supplies of ground water. In general, the 

area near North East is drift-covered and contains 

many adequate domes-tic wells and a few industrial 

wells. Some of the wells encounter quicksand, which 

is difficult to control in drilling and in maintaining 

the yield -:>f the well. 

Wells generally are not drilled into bedrock except 

in the area of thin glacial drift just east of Erie unless 

a sufficient supply of water cannot'be obtained from 

the. overlying glacial deposits. For most of the region, 

the pattern of bedrock wells is random and there 

appear to be no clearly defined areas of consistently 

high or low yield. 

Chemical Quality 

The quality of ground water in the lake-shore region 

varies locally but, in general, the well waters have a 

hardness between 50 and 250 ppm, dissolved solids between 100 .and 400 ppm, and pH between 6. 5 and 8. 0. 

Although most of the wells sampled had water with a 

chloride concentration less than 100 ppm, a few had a 

chloride concentration greater than 1, 000 ppm. 

Throughout the area the water from wells usually was 

found to be somewhat higher in concentration of most 

dissolved constituents than the water in Lake Erie or 

in nearby streams. Chemical-quality data on ground 

water are given in tables 6 and 7. 

Relation to type of aquifer. -Samples of ground water 

were collected from 122 wells in the region during 

July 1951. The water was analyzed to determine four 

chemical characteristics, the results of which are 

summarized in table 7 and figure 22. The data are 

considered to be representative of the ground water 

Table 6. -Chemical quality of ground water from typical wells in Lake Erie Shore region in Pennsylvania 

(parts per million) 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

5-23-51 5-23-51 5-24-51 5-24-51 5-24-51 5-24-51 5-25-51 

Silica (Si02) .....•................... 16 8.6 9.2 6.6 9.2 12 16 

Iron (Fe) ...................•....•.•.. .49 . 14 .02 .56 . 11 . 06 . 11 

Calcium (Ca) ...............•..••... 61 85 32 48 68 41 61 

Magnesium (Mg) ................... 14 20 12 14 12 20 15 

Sodium (Na) ....................•.... 11 4.5 132 7.8 4.2 159 5.4 

Potassium (K) ......•.••..........•. 1.9 1.9 4.4 2. 1 1. 4 . 5.2 1.8 

Carbonate (C03) ................... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Bicarbonate (HC03) .............. 217 2:30 144 104 182 386 227 

Sulfate (S04) ........................ 37 88 17 80 69 46 30 

Chloride (Cl) ....................... 9 14 206 18 7 110 4 

Fluoride (F) .... - ................... . 2 . 1 . 3 . 2 . 1 . 2 . 1 

Nitrate (N03) ....................... . 5 • 2 • 2 . 3 • 2 . 2 . 5 

Dissolved solids ................... 259 348 491 241 268 587 247 

Hardness as CaC03: 

Total. .............................. 210 294 129 177 219 185 214 

Non carbonate .................... 32 106 11 92 70 0 28 

Color ......... _,,, .................... 10 5 3 6 6 7 7 

pH ..... - ............................... 8.0 7.8 7.4 7.3 8.0 8.0 8.0 

Specific conductance ............. 428 559 949 395 4;:,4 1020 416 

(micromhos at 25 C) 

Temperature (°F) ................. 55 52 55 49 55 56 54 

Depth of well (feet) ............... 18 36 72 49 52 72 82 

Diameter of well (inches ....... 8 8 6 6 4 6 5 

Date drilled ........................ 1948 1949 1950 1943 1947 1947 1949 

L Well in glacial drift; K. Kallenback, 3127 Asbury Road, Erie. 

2. Well in glacial drift; North Girard Borough. 

3. Well in shale; C. H. Lyons, Wattsburg Road, Erie. 

4. Well in shale; Howard Orton, R. D. 5, North East. 

5. Well in glacial drift; L. B. Parmenter, Cemetery Road, North East. 

6. Well in glacial drift; C. A. Masso, R. D. 1, Harborcreek. 

7. Well in glacial drift; H. W. Zillman, 4 705 Wattsburg Road, Erie. 

32 

• 
Table 7. -Relation between chemical quality and type of aquifer 

Characteristic Sand and 2ravel 

Maximum Minimum Avera2e 

Depth (feet) 121 15 48 

Specific 

conductance 

(micromhos 

at 25 C) 3,840 146 547 

Hydrogen-ion 

concentration 

(pH) 8.0 6.2 7. 3 

Hardness as 

CaC03 (ppm) 606 46 193 

Chloride (ppm) 1, 110 3 46 

throughout the region. Of the total number of wells 

sampled 68 are believed to end in glacial drift (sand 

and gravel) and 54 in bedrock (shale). Both average 

and median values are given in table 7 because of the 

wide range of extremes found in each of the formations. The median is the value that is equalled or exceeded by exactly half the values reported. 

The ground water of better quality is usually obtained 

from sand and gravel aquifers, although the differences 

in chemical character between water from sand and 

gravel and water from bedrock in most respects are 

not great. The water from sand and gravel is slightly 

harder but contains less chloride than the water from 

wells in bedrock formations. The principal objection 

to water from bedrock in this region is the relatively 

high chloride content in some locations. The sampling 

program showed that about 40 percent of all rock wells 

and only 9 percent of all sand and gravel wells had 

chloride in excess of 100 ppm. Only 2 gravel wells 

and 11 rock wells of the 122 sampled yielded water 

with chloride in excess of 250 ppm. 

Sources of chemical contamination. -Excessive 

chloride in the ground water undoubtedly is associated 

with the bedrock. Local well drillers have reported 

that a well that is drilled "too deep" will encounter 

salt water. The 122 analyses for chloride, summarized 

in table 7, support the contention that the water from 

bedrock is likely to be more salty than the water from 

drift. Many drillers tap the bedrock for water only 

where sufficient glacial drift is not present, or if 

present, will not yield sufficient water. In some 

sections, therefore, the choice is bedrock water 

relatively high in chloride or insufficient water. 

Some wells in the drift also yield water of high 

chloride content. This may be due to the seep.age of 

brines from the underlying rock through natural 

openings in the rock and through old abandoned gas 

wells. A report on the geology of Erie County by 

White (1881) contains many references to the presence 

of petroleum seeps in the exposed bedrock formations. 

These occur not only at outcrops along the lake bluff 

but also at other rock exposures in ravines and hillsides inland from the lake. Natural gas has been reported in "pockets" in both the drift and the ·bedrock. 

Bedrock formations 

Median Maximum Minimum Average Median 

33 

40 160 12 53 46 

440 5,060 173 838 544 

7.5 8.4 6.3 7.5 7.6 

194 444 26 158 139 

10 1,540 3 142 40 

Relatively high chloride concentrations were encountered at several places where samples were collected for this study. It is likely that other places 

also have a similar problem. An area of particularly 

high chloride concentration just east of Wesleyville 

was studied in some detail to determine the source 

and extent of the concentration. The map (fig. 23) 

shows the location of 12 wells sampled in this area 

together with the measured chloride content and other 

notes 3.S nrported by well owners. 

The highest concentration of chloride in the area 

shown in figure 23 was 1, 170 ppm. The concentration 

appears to decrease in all directions from this well, 

indicating a localized source of contamination. An 

oil seep or an improperly plugged well may be the 

source of the brine which is contaminating ground water 

derived from local precipitation. However, the contamination is cbnfined to the bedrock since the chloride 

in the two wells in the drift is very low. 

PRESENT WATER USE 

The average daily use of water in the area is at 

least 58 mgd, of which more than 57 mgd is from surface sources and less than 1 mgd is from ground-water 

sources. This estimate does not include water used 

in rural areas or by some small industries. A description of the use of water from the three sources Lake 

Erie, small streams, and ground water follows: 

Lake Erie 

Lake Erie is the principal source of water in the 

area. MQst of the water withdrawn from the lake is 

used for the public supply of the city of Erie, although 

an appreciable quantity is withdrawn by industry. 

Erie public-supply system. -Erie's municipallyowned system served 37. 2 mgd to a population of 

about 150,000 in 1950. Industries and commercial 

establishments used 21.3 of the 37.2 mgd. The Erie 

water system furnished water to the city of Erie, 

Presque Isle State Park, the U. S. Coast Guard Station, and parts of Wesleyville Borough, and Mill Creek, 

Lawrence Park, and Harborcreek Townships. 
Two systems are used for obtaining, treating, and 

distributing the water. Chestnut Street Plant is supplied through a 60-in. intake 17,641 ft long. The intake extends through the center of Presque Isle Bay 

and about 5, 000 ft into the lake. The intake has a 

capacity of 36 mgd. The West Plant is supplied 

through a 72-in. intake 8, 745 ft long. It extends 

through the extreme west end of the bay and into the 

lake. This intake has a capacity of 70 mgd. 

The capacity of the intakes far exceeds the capacity 

of che two filtration plants. The intakes are capable of 

delivering 106 mgd, whereas the two filtration plants 

are capable of delivering only 48 mgd. Even this 1s 

far greater than the present demand. The distribution 

system has not always been adequate. Owing to distribution problems, the city occasionally finds it necessary to prohibit the use of water for lawn sprinkling 

at times of high draft. 

Industrial systems. -Three of the largest water 

users in Erie have private facilities for obtaining lake 

water. The Interlake Iron Corp. and Pennsylvania 

Electric Co. withdraw water from Presque Isle Bay, 

and the Hammermill Paper Co. withdraws directly 

from the lake. These companies use a total of l9 mgd. 

Small Streams 

North East is the only borough obtaining its water 

supply from streams. The water is withdrawn from 

tributaries of Sixteenmile Creek and French Creek 

(French Creek lies outside the area covered by this 

report). A population of 4,400 is served 1.4 mgd 

during an average day of which industries use 0. 9 

mgd. The use during the summer and fall canning 

season is generally double the average amount owing 

to the large fruit-processing plants in North East. 

The present water system has large storage facilities 

which adequately provide for a future gr~wth in popuJation and industry in that area. 

A tannery withdraws an undetermined but small 

quantity of water from Brandy Run. This water, 

supplemented during the summer by water from several small springs, has always been adequate for fulltime operations. 

The use of other small streams for industrial water 

supply is negligible. 

Ground Water 

The present use of ground water in the region is 

widespread but relatively small in the amounts used. 

For the most part, consumption is confined to domestic use from individual wells. 

The public supplies obtained from wells at Fairview 

and Westminster serve no industries, but some commercial use is made at Girard and North Girard. Two 

industries in the North East area use ground water to 

supplement the water supplied by the public system. 

One industry in North Girard has a large dug well for 

its water supply. No wells are known to be used for 

water supply in the city of Erie. Data for public water 

systems using ground water are given in table 8. 

Most domestic wells in the region have been drilled 

and are 6 in. or less in diameter. Although not tested 

for yield, they probably would not produce more than 

10 to 20 gpm; many wells yield only a few gallons a 

minute. The use of commercial well screens instead 

of open end or slotted casing probably would aid substantially in increasing the yields of wells in the 

glacial drift. The present use is limited in some 

locations by the poor chemical quality of the water, 

insufficient quantity, and danger of pollution. An 

area known as the Fairfield section on East Lake Road, 

just east of Erie, periodically experiences water shortages affecting about 750 people. Wells in this area are 

in the bedrock and went dry during the summers of 

1950 a.nd 1951. Some areas are not served by sewers 

so there is danger of the ground water becoming polluted from septic tanks. 

Use of ground water for air conditioning in the Erie 

area has not been reported. Although summer temperatures usually are not oppressive, air conditioning 

is employed in some Erie buildings. If ground water 

were more readily available in this area, more of it 

would be used for air conditioning because of its uniform low temperature (about 50 F) during the summer. 

POTENTIALITIES 

Owing to the accessibility of Lake Erie, there is not 

now~ nor is there ever likely to be any problem as to 

amount of water available for municipal and industrial 

use. Such problems as may arise will stem from 

problems relating to treatment or distribution. 

Table 8. -Public water-supply systems using ground water 

[Population and consumption figures from 1949 census of U. S. Public Health Service] 

Well data 

Subdivision Ownership Population Diameter Depth Consumption 

served (inches) (feet) (mg_dl 

Fairview Borough ••.............. Private 8 52 0.03 

555 8 51 

Girard Borough ................•.. Municipal 1, 730 240 12 • 075 

North Girard Borough .......... Municipal 1, 100 8 36 . 50 

- 20 

Westminster ...•................... Private 400 144 26 .05 

96 16 

72 22 

34 
Streams draining into Lake Erie are small. Conneaut Creek and Elk Creek drain the largest areas. 

Without storage, Conneaut Creek at U. S. Highway 6 

N at Cherry Hill and Elk Creek at North Girard are 

capable of supplying at least 2 mgd each, for all but 

one day in an average year. Without storage, Crooked 

Creek at North Springfield and Mill Creek at the south 

edge of Erie are capable of supplying at least threefourths of a million gallons per day eal:!h for all but 

one day per year in an average year. Larger supplies 

could be obtained if storage were provided. 

A major expansion of ground-water use does not 

appear feasible in the suburban sections of Erie, 

owing to the smallness of available supplies and low 

water levels in the summer, danger of organic pollution in areas without sewers, and likelihood of chloride contamination. However, it is probable that many 

homes near Erie will continue for years to depend on 

individual water systems, until water service is extended by the municipality. For the Lake Erie Shore 

region as a whole a future large-scale increase in the 

use of ground water is unlikely, except in local areas 

which contain well-sorted sand and gravel deposits. 

In general, wells must be shallow to avoid obtaining 

water high in chl0ride content. The yield of shallow 

wells is low because both storage and drawdown are 

limited. Such additional potable supplies as may be 

obtained from aquifers in the region will, for the most 

part, be derived from glacial drift. 

In other sections, notably the buried valley under 

Crooked Creek, additional geological data and further 

well explorations are needed to determine the possibility of developing higher yields. A ground-water 

supply recharged by infiltration of the water from 

Crooked Creek could be large and dependable, provided that the geological conditions are favorable for 

stream infiltration. The large flow per square mile 

of Crooked Creek that occurs 80 percent or more of 

the time (fig. 5) as compared t::> that of other streams 

in the area (figs. 3, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19) indicates that the ground-water-storage capacity of the 

Crooked Creek drainage basin is relatively large. 

WATER LAWS 

All public agencies or private interests contemplating development involving Lake Erie ::>r the streams in 

the region should contact the proper Commonwealth 

agency at Harrisburg, Pa. The Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters and the Water and Power 

Resources Board have jurisdiction over the construction of dams and other obstructions which in any way 

might change the course, velocity, or cross-section 

of any waterway. They are also empowered to allocate 

all surface waters for public supply. The Pennsylvania 

Department of Health and the Sanitary Water Board 

administer surface-water laws which relate to sanitation and pollution. 

Lake Erie is classified by the Federal Government 

as a navigable waterway and all projects involving 

Lake Erie are subject to the jurisdiction of the Buffalo 

District, Corps of Engineers. 

35 

Pennsylvania has no laws relating to the use or control of its underground waters. The Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Sanitary Water Board, in 

the interests pf pollution abatement, have rules and 

regulations prohibiting the disposal of wastes into 

active or abandoned mines, wells, or other underground workings. 

SUMMARY 

The Lake Erie Shore region has promise of an increasingly important future. Lake Erie will remain 

the one dominating factor in its development. The 

lake furnishes an inexhaustible supply of water, provides the link to important lake commerce throughout 

the Great Lakes system, and aids agriculture by 

tempering the climate. 

The public water department of Erie could extend 

its services far beyond its present limits. At present, 

the intakes are delivering only a third of their ultimate 

capacities. However, water-treatment and distribution 

facilities have about reached their capacities and must 

be expanded. 

All streams draining into Lake Erie from Pennsylvania are small, mostly less than 25 sq mi in drainage 

area. The streams are not a major source of water 

supply; however, supplies of three-fourths to 2 mgd 

could be developed from Conneaut Creek, Mill Creek, 

Crooked Creek, and Elk Creek. Larger supplies 

could be developed if storage were provided. Ground 

water is not a major source of supply. Although used 

extensively in homes beyond the Erie and North East 

water-supply systems, it has been developed by only - / 

four small communities and a few industries. In general adequate domestic supplies of ground water can 

be obtained from both the glacial drift or bedrock, but 

in most areas, sufficient water of acceptable quality 

has been found in the glacial drift and the bedrock has 

not been penetrated, Water in the bedrock is also more 

likely to be saline than water in the overlying glacial 

drift. 

It appears that wells drilled in the shale to depths 

below Lake Erie level cannot induce infiltration from 

Lake Erie. 

REFERENCES CITED 

Leggette, R. M., 1936, Ground water in northwestern 

Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Dept., Internal Affairs, 

Topog. and Geol. Survey, Bull. W 3, 215 pp. 

Pennsylvania State Planning Board, 1947: Industrial 

utility of water in Pennsylvania, chemical character 

of surface water, 1944-46, Pub. 17, 177 pp., 9 figs. 

White, I. C., 1881, Geology of Erie and Crawford 

Counties: Pennsylvania 2d Geol. Survey, Progress 

Rept. Q4, 354 pp. 

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

Inquiries relating to current water-resources information may be addressed to the following officers of 

the U. S. Geological Survey: 
Surface water: Harrisburg, District Engineer, 490 

Education Building; Pittsburgh 19, Engineer in Charge, 

515 Plaza Building. 

Ground water: Philadelphia 3, District Geologist, 

Nineteentn Street and Parkway; Pittsburgh 30, Engineer in Charge, Federal Building. 

0 

36 

Quality of water: Philadelphia 6, District Chemist, 

1302 U. S, Custom House, Second and Chestnut Streets. 

Topographic maps: Washington 25, D. C. Chief of 

Distribution, Geological Survey. 

INT.-DUP. SEC., WASH •• D.C. 2;:2e 2