Millers Run

Millers Run is a tributary of Shamokin Creek in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is approximately 4.1 mi long and flows through Ralpho Township. The watershed of the stream has an area of 5.48 sqmi. The stream is not impacted by mining and is not designated as an impaired waterbody. It is a small stream near the lower Shamokin Creek watershed. A number of bridges have been constructed over it. The watershed of Millers Run is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery.

Course
Millers Run begins on a hill in Ralpho Township. It enters a valley and flows west-southwest for several tenths of a mile before turning west. After a few tenths of a mile, it turns west-southwest. Several tenths of a mile further downstream, the stream turns northwest for more than a mile before turning west and flowing alongside Gilgers Ridge. After a few tenths of a mile, it turns south and then northwest before reaching its confluence with Shamokin Creek.

Millers Run joins Shamokin Creek 16.84 mi upstream of its mouth.

Hydrology
Millers Run is an unimpaired waterbody, as are all other streams in its watershed. It is not impacted by mining.

In April 1975, the specific conductance of Millers Run was measured to be 71 micro-siemens per centimeter. The concentration of water hardness in the stream was 22 mg/L.

In April 1975, the concentrations of sodium and potassium in the filtered water of Millers Run were 2.90 and 0.80 mg/L. The magnesium and calcium concentrations in the filtered water were 2.50 and 4.50 mg/L. The strontium and barium were only 30 and 40 ug/L and the beryllium concentration was less than 10 ug/L.

In April 1975, the concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and nickel in the filtered waters of Millers Run were all less than 2 ug/L. The titanium and vanadium concentrations were 0.6 ug/L and less than 1.0 ug/L, respectively. The manganese concentration ranged from less than 10 ug/L to 20 ug/L, while the iron concentration was 40 ug/L. The aluminum concentration was 25 ug/L and the molybdenum concentration was less than 1 ug/L. The mercury concentration was less than 0.5 ug/L. Detectable amounts of boron, cobalt, lithium, and zinc were observed.

The bicarbonate concentration of Millers Run was measured to be 8 mg/L in April 1975. The concentration of organic carbon in the stream was 9 mg/L. The concentrations of fluoride and chloride in the stream's filtered water were less than 0.10 mg/L and 4.9 mg/L, while the concentrations of silica and sulfate were 6.30 and 11.0 mg/L. The arsenic concentration was 1 ug/L. The concentrations of nitrate and nitrite were 7.50 and 0.030 mg/L, respectively.

Geography, geology, and watershed
The elevation near the mouth of Millers Run is 574 ft above sea level. The elevation of the stream's source is between 900 and 920 ft above sea level.

Millers Run is a relatively small stream.

The watershed of Millers Run has an area of 5.48 sqmi. The stream is entirely within the United States Geological Survey quadrangle of Shamokin. The watershed borders the lower Shamokin Creek watershed. It is in the southeastern part of the northern part of the creek's drainage basin.

History
Millers Run was entered into the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1181247.

A concrete slab bridge carrying State Route 2016 over Millers Run was built in 1918. It is 28.9 ft long and is located 1 mi southeast of Paxinos. In 1929, a concrete stringer/multi-beam or girder bridge carrying State Route 2018 was constructed across the stream 2 mi northwest of Bear Gap. This bridge is 32.2 ft long. A bridge of the same type, but carrying State Route 2016 was built over the stream in 1930. It is located 0.5 mi southeast of Paxinos and is 32.2 ft long. A concrete culvert bridge was built over the stream south of Paxinos in 1998. This bridge is 21.0 ft long and carries Township Road 764.

A $1000 bridge rehabilitation of a bridge carrying State Route 2018 over Millers Run was authorized by the state of Pennsylvania in Act 1996-9 (SS2) in the mid-1990s.

Biology
The drainage basin of Millers Run is designated as a Coldwater Fishery and a Migratory Fishery. Some aquatic life exists within the stream. It has historically contained a healthy population of aquatic life.