Little Chiques Creek

The Chiques Creek Watershed is located in the Northwest section of the county.  This 126 square mile watershed was originally named Chiquesalunga Creek by the Delaware Native American tribe, meaning “Place of the Craw-fish”.  Today there are about 190 miles of streams in the Chiques Creek Watershed.  The mainstem and the parts of the Little Chiques Creek originates in Lebanon county and flow mostly southwest to the its confluence with the Susquehanna River at the base of Chiques Rock.  According to the USGS Stream Stats website only about 16% of the watershed is forested and 5% of the watershed has urban development on it.  The watershed and its tributaries encompass towns like Manhiem, Mount Joy, and portions of Marietta.  There is an active watershed association doing work within the watershed, the Chiques Creek Watershed Alliance.  The Alliance does mostly outreach and educational work within the mainstem of Chiques Creek. but also works with landowners and others on potential stream and streamside projects.  There have been several studies completed by various groups within the watershed and outside the watershed as well.  From watershed wide assessments to Alternative Restoration Plans.