Hicks Creek Watershed has been impacted by mining, flooding events, channel relocation and urban development. Creek flow is interrupted where the water falls into the mines through fractures in the creek bed. Due to past mining practices, the original creek channel was relocated. As a result of the Agnes Flood of 1972, the creek became a part of the flood control project channel developed over 20 years ago. Urban development and improper drainage raise flash flooding potential.

Hicks Creek takes on typical urban stream characteristics including low dry weather flow, flash flooding, minimal diversity of aquatic life, excessive undesirable stream bank vegetation, stream bank erosion, sedimentation, siltation and nonpoint source pollution.

The upper section of the creek, above Slocum Avenue, flows all year. Water from the creek flows into the mine pool through a fracture in the creek bed, resulting in minimal to no flow below Slocum Avenue. During times of heavy rain and snow melt the creek flows.

The creek channel has a drop of 12 feet over a 1.9-mile section. Pitch along with sediment and erosion in the stream channel has caused severly reduced flow in the lower sections of the creek.

Another unique aspect of the Creek is that it flows through a pumping station before discharging to the Susquehanna River. When the Susquehanna River reaches flood stage the dike gates are closed and the creek must be pumped into the river through the dike.