French Creek is a tributary of the Allegheny River in northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York in the United States. Creek is somewhat of a misnomer, as it is generally considered to be a river. Indeed, its original name was the Venango River.

It is formed near French Creek, New York and extends for a length of 117 miles (188 km) with a drainage area of 1,270 square miles (3,289 km²). It joins the Allegheny River near Franklin, Pennsylvania. The watershed area includes parts of Erie, Crawford, Venango, and Mercer Counties in Pennsylvania as well as Chautauqua County, New York.

French Creek is considered one of the most biologically diverse streams east of the Mississippi River providing habitant to over 80 species of fish and 26 species of freshwater mussels. Environmental concerns have been raised in recent years. One major contaminant is chlorine from municipal sewage plants along the water course. A new wastewater treatment plant was recently constructed in Meadville, Pennsylvania to lessen the impact of this contaminant to the creek’s wildlife. Agricultural runoff is also an issue, especially in the lower reaches.

Cities and towns along its course include:

• Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania
• Saegertown, Pennsylvania
• Meadville, Pennsylvania
• Cochranton, Pennsylvania
• Utica, Pennsylvania
• Franklin, Pennsylvania

See also

• List of Pennsylvania rivers

External links

• French Creek honored for its beauty, history, Pittsburgh Post Gazette