White Deer Creek

White Deer Creek is a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River in Centre County and Union County, in Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 28 mile (45 km) long and flows through Miles Township in Centre County and Hartley Township, Lewis Township, West Buffalo Township, and White Deer Township in Union County. The watershed of the creek has an area of 45.1 square miles (117 km2). Parts of the creek are designated as impaired. The creek's discharge near White Deer can be as low as or as high as
White Deer Creek is a freestone stream in mountainous terrain. It is relatively small and flows through a valley that is narrow, but can be up to 1000 feet (305 m) wide. The creek flows alongside Interstate 80 for much of its length. A significant part of the land in the creek's watershed is forested, with large areas being owned by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry. The watershed of the creek is designated as a High Quality Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. It has both brook trout and brown trout and is stocked with trout. White Deer Creek's name comes from the word Woap' achtu hanne, meaning "white deer stream". The creek appeared on maps as early as 1759. A number of mills were erected adjacent to it during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Major historic industries in the watershed included lumbering and agriculture. A number of bridges have been erected across the creek. Much of the length of White Deer Creek is in Bald Eagle State Forest; the creek also passes through McCalls Dam State Park. Other recreational opportunities include angling and canoeing.

White Deer Creek begins in a valley to the north of Hall Mountain in Miles Township, Centre County, near the Centre County/Clinton County line. It flows east through its relatively deep, narrow valley for more than a mile before receiving its first named tributary, Tunis Run, from the right. The creek then meanders east northeast through its valley for several miles, passing near several mountains, such as McCall Mountain, along the way. It eventually exits Miles Township and Centre County.

White Deer Creek has five named tributaries: Lick Run, Mile Run, Sand Spring Run, Cowbell Hollow, and Tunis Run. In one reach, the creek is impaired by habitat alterations due to hydromodification; in the other impaired reach, it is impaired by mercury in the water column from an unknown source. In several dozen measurements in the 1970s and 2010s, the discharge of White Deer Creek ranged from Between water years 1969 and 1973, the average annual discharge ranged from in water year 1969 to in water year 1972, with an average of
In 1975 and 1976, the turbidity of White Deer Creek near White Deer ranged from 1 to 2 Jackson Turbidity Units. In the 1970s and 2010s, the creek's specific conductance ranged from 32 to 400 micro siemens per centimeter at 25 °C (77 °F). The pH of the creek ranged from 6.7 to 8.7 and the water hardness concentration ranged from less than to The dissolved oxygen concentration ranged from The elevation of the creek's source is 1872 feet (571 m) above sea level. The gradient of the creek upstream of the water supply dam on it ranges from , with an average of There are numerous riffles on the creek where it flows past boulders. The creek is one of the major streams in Union County. The area of the watershed upstream of the water supply dam has an area of 37.83 square miles (98 km2). However, there is land devoted to agriculture in the area between White Deer Creek, Interstate 80, and US Route 15. An overhead power line, a compressed natural gas pipeline, on lot wastewater systems, and unpaved roads are present in the watershed of White Deer Creek. These are considered by the Pennsylvania American Water Company to be potential sources of contamination to its water supply on the creek.

The drainage basin of White Deer Creek is designated as a High Quality Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. Wild trout naturally reproduce in the creek from its headwaters downstream to the White Deer Dam, a distance of 18.40 mile (30 km). A total of 3.1 mile (5 km) of the creek (from the Union County line to Cooper Mill Road) have also been stocked with brook trout and brown trout. Forests and dense areas of mountain laurel occupy most of the valley of White Deer Creek in some reaches. The stream's forested valley consists mainly of hemlock trees and mixed oak forest. The Union County Natural Areas Inventory recommended maintaining a forested riparian buffer around the creek. The scenery in the vicinity of White Deer Creek has been described as "thick and beautiful". It is classified as Approved Trout Waters by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission from Cooper Mill Road downstream to the creek's mouth. As of 2004, there is a 3.1 mile (5 km) long section that is Delayed Harvest Fly Fishing Only. The creek has been described as "an excellent dry fly stream". The Mid State Trail also crosses the creek.