Slippery Rock Brook
Encyclopedia
Slippery Rock Brook is a tributary
of the Passaic River
which flows north as it drains part of the western flank of First Watchung Mountain in Passaic County
, New Jersey
, United States
. Traveling south from its confluence with the Passaic River
, Slippery Rock Brook passes through the city of Paterson
and the borough of Woodland Park.
, forming the elongated Barbour Pond, a 0.3 mile (0.482802 km) by 0.05 mile (0.080467 km) natural lake. Turning west, the brook travels a short distance before forming the New Street Reservoir and Highland Lake, both man-made ponds.
At Highland Lake the brook turns north again, flowing under Interstate 80
as it enters Paterson
. The brook takes on an urban appearance as it winds its last half mile to the Passaic River
with its mouth in Pennington Park. The confluence with the Passaic
occurs almost directly opposite the mouth of Molly Ann Brook
, with Slippery Rock Brook's mouth only about 300 feet (91.4 m) upstream.
. South of Barbour Pond, the brook passes through a ravine shaded by a stand of yellow birch and witch-hazel
. Rhododendrons and trout lily
are known to line the banks along this section of the brook, adding vibrant colors to the riparian environment during the flowering season in May.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Passaic River
Passaic River
The Passaic River is a mature surface river, approximately 80 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. The river in its upper course flows in a highly circuitous route, meandering through the swamp lowlands between the ridge hills of rural and suburban northern New Jersey,...
which flows north as it drains part of the western flank of First Watchung Mountain in Passaic County
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Traveling south from its confluence with the Passaic River
Passaic River
The Passaic River is a mature surface river, approximately 80 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. The river in its upper course flows in a highly circuitous route, meandering through the swamp lowlands between the ridge hills of rural and suburban northern New Jersey,...
, Slippery Rock Brook passes through the city of Paterson
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
and the borough of Woodland Park.
Description
Slippery Rock Brook arises south of Weasel Drift Road in Woodland Park and travels north into Garret Mountain ReservationGarret Mountain Reservation
Garret Mountain Reservation is 568 acre park located in southern Passaic County, New Jersey, United States and one of several National Natural Landmarks in New Jersey...
, forming the elongated Barbour Pond, a 0.3 mile (0.482802 km) by 0.05 mile (0.080467 km) natural lake. Turning west, the brook travels a short distance before forming the New Street Reservoir and Highland Lake, both man-made ponds.
At Highland Lake the brook turns north again, flowing under Interstate 80
Interstate 80 in New Jersey
Interstate 80 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States, running from the New York City Metropolitan Area westward to San Francisco, California...
as it enters Paterson
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
. The brook takes on an urban appearance as it winds its last half mile to the Passaic River
Passaic River
The Passaic River is a mature surface river, approximately 80 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. The river in its upper course flows in a highly circuitous route, meandering through the swamp lowlands between the ridge hills of rural and suburban northern New Jersey,...
with its mouth in Pennington Park. The confluence with the Passaic
Passaic River
The Passaic River is a mature surface river, approximately 80 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. The river in its upper course flows in a highly circuitous route, meandering through the swamp lowlands between the ridge hills of rural and suburban northern New Jersey,...
occurs almost directly opposite the mouth of Molly Ann Brook
Molly Ann Brook
Molly Ann Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River which flows south between the northern ranges of First Watchung Mountain and Second Watchung Mountain in Passaic County and Bergen County, New Jersey...
, with Slippery Rock Brook's mouth only about 300 feet (91.4 m) upstream.
Ecology
The majority of Slippery Rock Brook’s riparian corridor has been overrun by urbanization, but a significant section of it remains intact through Garret Mountain ReservationGarret Mountain Reservation
Garret Mountain Reservation is 568 acre park located in southern Passaic County, New Jersey, United States and one of several National Natural Landmarks in New Jersey...
. South of Barbour Pond, the brook passes through a ravine shaded by a stand of yellow birch and witch-hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Hamamelis virginiana is a species of Witch-hazel native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota, and south to central Florida to eastern Texas....
. Rhododendrons and trout lily
Erythronium americanum
Erythronium americanum is a herbaceous flowering plant in the family Liliaceae. The common name "Trout lily" arises from the appearance of its mottled, colored leaves which allegedly resemble the coloring of brook trout. It blooms in early spring with yellow flowers tinged with red...
are known to line the banks along this section of the brook, adding vibrant colors to the riparian environment during the flowering season in May.