| West Branch French Creek | |
| Name Other: | Tributary to French Creek |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map: | Pennsylvania#USA |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 300 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of West Branch French Creek mouth |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | States |
| Subdivision Name2: | Pennsylvania New York |
| Subdivision Type3: | Counties |
| Subdivision Name3: | Erie Chautauqua |
| Length: | 28.69miles[1] |
| Discharge1 Location: | French Creek |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 180.76cuft/s at mouth with French Creek[2] |
| Source1: | divide between West Branch French Creek and French Creek |
| Source1 Location: | about 1 mile northeast of Mina, New York |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 42.1403°N -79.6714°W[3] |
| Source1 Elevation: | 1610feet[4] |
| Mouth: | French Creek |
| Mouth Location: | Wattsburg, Pennsylvania |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 41.9989°N -79.8131°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 1273feet |
| Progression: | French Creek → Allegheny River → Ohio River → Mississippi River → Gulf of Mexico |
| River System: | Allegheny River |
| Tributaries Left: | Darrow Brook Bailey Brook |
| Tributaries Right: | Townley Run Alder Brook |
| Bridges: | I-86, Hazen Road, North Road, Findley Lake Road, Greenman Road, I-86, Station Road, Ashton Road, NY 89, Wildman Road, Knoyle Road, Jones Road, PA 89, |
West Branch French Creek is a 28.69miles long tributary to French Creek that rises in Chautauqua County, New York and flows into Erie County, Pennsylvania. It is classed as a 2nd order stream on the EPA waters geoviewer site.[1]
West Branch French Creek rises in the Town of Mina, New York in western Chautauqua County and flows southwest into Erie County, Pennsylvania and then turns south towards Wattsburg, Pennsylvania.
West Branch French Creek drains of Erie Drift Plain (glacial geology). The watershed receives an average of 46.8 in/year of precipitation and has a wetness index of 474.55.[2] The watershed is about 44% forested.
| Name, Bank | River Mile (km)[5] | Watershed Area in Square Miles (km2) | Average Discharge | Mouth Coordinates | Mouth Elevation | Source Coordinates | Source Elevation | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mouth | 180.76cuft/s | 41.9989°N -79.8131°W | 1273feet | 42.1403°N -79.6714°W | 1610feet | West Branch French Creek rises in the Town of Mina, New York on the French Creek divide and then flows southwest and south to meet French Creek in the Borough of Wattsburg, Pennsylvania. | ||
| Bailey Brook, left bank | 4.06miles | 9.14cuft/s | 42.0336°N -79.8278°W | 1296feet | 42.0633°N -79.7761°W | 1660feet | Bailey Brook rises on the French Creek divide about 3 miles southeast of Little Hope, Pennsylvania. The brook then flows southwest to meet West Branch French Creek about 0.5 miles north of Lowville, Pennsylvania. | |
| Alder Brook, right bank | 7.12miles | 12.63cuft/s | 42.0575°N -79.8417°W | 1299feet | 42.0661°N -79.8961°W | 1335feet | Alder Brook rises on the LeBoeuf Creek divide about 2 miles east of Bogus Corners, Pennsylvania. The brook then flows east to meet West Branch French Creek about 3 miles north-northwest of Lowville, Pennsylvania. Alder Brook is the largest West Branch tributary by watershed area. | |
| Townley Run, right bank | 11miles | 9.36cuft/s | 42.0842°N -79.8486°W | 1312feet | 42.1331°N -79.8561°W | 1450feet | Townley Run rises near Greenfield Church on the Sevenmile Creek divide. The run then flows southeast to meet West Branch French Creek about 2 miles southwest of Little Hope, Pennsylvania. | |
| Darrow Brook, left bank | 18.54miles | 12.84cuft/s | 42.1161°N -79.7772°W | 1352feet | 42.1283°N -79.755°W | 1720feet | Darrow Brook rises about 4 miles west of French Creek, New York within the Town of Mina. The brook then flows north and northwest entering Erie County, Pennsylvania and meeting West Branch French Creek about 0.25 miles southeast of Ashton Corners, Pennsylvania. Darrow Brook is the largest West Branch tributary by average discharge. | |