Little Chiques Creek

Originally known as Little Chiquesalunga Creek which derives its name from the Native American word Chiquesalunga, or crayfish, the creek runs some 20 miles in a southerly direction to join Chiques Creek a mile before it empties out into the Susquehanna River in Marietta. Little Chiques Creek is part of the Chiques Creek Watershed.

The Chiques Creek Watershed covers approximately 126 square miles of area, nearly all of which is within Lancaster County. Six townships (East Hempfield, Mount Joy, Penn, Rapho, West Cornwall & West Hempfield) and two boroughs (Manheim & Mount Joy) have areas contained within Chiques Creek Watershed.

The Chiques Creek Watershed Alliance was founded in 2001 with a mission to “promote good stewardship of the land within the Chiques Watershed in order to protect and preserve the Chiques Creek for our present community and for future generations.” They are a non-profit organization driven by local volunteers and community leaders with a vision to accomplish these and other similar goals:

Promote good stewardship of the land within the Chiques Watershed in order to protect and preserve the Chiques Creek for our present community and for future generations

Provide opportunities for restoring and improving the streams within the watershed by sponsoring conservation projects

Provide information on watershed protection through written materials and educational projects and to oversee the ongoing scientific evaluation of the Chiques Creek Watershed.

Mount Joy Borough is seeks to improve the quality water and habitats that are in the Little Chiques Creek. By utilizing modern day advancements to improve stormwater runoff, we can add our contribution to continue help heal our ecosystem whether it be locally with our creeks or nationwide with the Chesapeake Bay. Organizations like the Chiques Creek Watershed, provide education and insight on how to improve our environment and our community.

For more information about the Chiques Creek Watershed please visit their Homepage

For more information about how you can help improve the Little Chiques Creek at your own home, questions about stormwater, and our stormwater ordinance please visit Mount Joy Borough's Stormwater Page