Wappinger Creek
Encyclopedia
Wappinger Creek is a 41.7 miles (67.1 km) creek which runs from Thompson Pond
to the Hudson River
at New Hamburg
in Dutchess County
, New York, United States. It is the longest creek in Dutchess County, with the largest watershed in the county.
. The creek's source is Thompson Pond
near Pine Plains, and it heads southwestward towards its mouth in the Hudson River near New Hamburg
. Along the way, it goes through fluctuations in width and follows an erratic path; in Wappingers Falls
, it forms Wappinger Lake, a man-made reservoir. The initial 0.25 mi (0.402335 km) of the creek runs through rocky, steep, wooded terrain. However as it approaches the Hudson it enters the river's tidal range, and has sandbars, mudflats and marshes. The creek is also home to numerous species, and is an important spawning area for anadromous fish, which thrive in the creek between April and June. Largemouth bass
,
bluegill
, pumpkinseed
, red-breasted sunfish, and brown bullhead
, however, are resident species. Also, the creek is annually stocked with various species of trout for the purpose of recreational fishing.
Some residents and maps such as the 1867 Dutchess County Atlas refer to the creek as the Wappingers, probably in deference to the Wappinger
tribe
; the longest of which is Little Wappinger Creek which enters the creek from the east bank.
The tributaries are listed below from the source to the mouth, with Hunns Lake Creek being the northern most and Little Wappinger Creek being the southernmost.
Thompson Pond
Thompson Pond in Pine Plains, New York is a 15,000-year-old glacial kettle pond at the foot of Stissing Mountain. It is the source of Wappingers Creek, a tributary of the Hudson River that drains much of Dutchess County....
to the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
at New Hamburg
New Hamburg, New York
New Hamburg is a small hamlet along the Hudson River in Dutchess County, New York, best known as home of a popular marina and a busy Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line station. It is located in the southern corner of the Wappingers Falls....
in Dutchess County
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
, New York, United States. It is the longest creek in Dutchess County, with the largest watershed in the county.
Overview
The creek flows in a north–south direction on the eastern side of the Hudson RiverHudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
. The creek's source is Thompson Pond
Thompson Pond
Thompson Pond in Pine Plains, New York is a 15,000-year-old glacial kettle pond at the foot of Stissing Mountain. It is the source of Wappingers Creek, a tributary of the Hudson River that drains much of Dutchess County....
near Pine Plains, and it heads southwestward towards its mouth in the Hudson River near New Hamburg
New Hamburg, New York
New Hamburg is a small hamlet along the Hudson River in Dutchess County, New York, best known as home of a popular marina and a busy Metro-North Railroad Hudson Line station. It is located in the southern corner of the Wappingers Falls....
. Along the way, it goes through fluctuations in width and follows an erratic path; in Wappingers Falls
Wappingers Falls, New York
Wappingers Falls is a village in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The name is derived from the local Wappinger Indians. One half of the village is in the town of Wappinger and the other half is in the town of Poughkeepsie, with Wappinger Creek forming the dividing line between the...
, it forms Wappinger Lake, a man-made reservoir. The initial 0.25 mi (0.402335 km) of the creek runs through rocky, steep, wooded terrain. However as it approaches the Hudson it enters the river's tidal range, and has sandbars, mudflats and marshes. The creek is also home to numerous species, and is an important spawning area for anadromous fish, which thrive in the creek between April and June. Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
,
bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
, pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
The pumpkinseed sunfish is a freshwater fish of the sunfish family of order Perciformes. It is also referred to as "pond perch", "common sunfish", "punkys", and "sunny".-Range and distribution:...
, red-breasted sunfish, and brown bullhead
Brown bullhead
The brown bullhead, Ameiurus nebulosus, is a fish of the Ictaluridae family that is widely distributed in North America. It is a species of bullhead catfish and is similar to the black bullhead and yellow bullhead...
, however, are resident species. Also, the creek is annually stocked with various species of trout for the purpose of recreational fishing.
Some residents and maps such as the 1867 Dutchess County Atlas refer to the creek as the Wappingers, probably in deference to the Wappinger
Wappinger
The Wappinger were an American tribe native to eastern New York. The term "Wappinger" may also refer to:* Wappinger, New York, the Town of Wappinger named for the tribe...
tribe
Tributaries
Wappinger Creek has four distinct tributariesTributary
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...
; the longest of which is Little Wappinger Creek which enters the creek from the east bank.
The tributaries are listed below from the source to the mouth, with Hunns Lake Creek being the northern most and Little Wappinger Creek being the southernmost.
| Name | Mouth coordinates |
Source coordinates |
Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunns Lake Creek | 41.8748°N 73.7029°W | 41.9139°N 73.6442°W | Named after its source, Hunns Lake |
| Willow Brook | 42.7267°N 73.7072°W | 41.7038°N 73.7072°W | Enters Wappinger Creek where County Route 17 crosses |
| East Brach Wappinger Creek | 41.8139°N 73.7581°W | 41.7942°N 73.6926°W | One of the two largest tributaries of Wappinger Creek |
| Little Wappinger Creek | 41.7975°N 73.7890°W | 41.9884°N 73.7712°W | Longest Tributary of Wappinger Creek |
See also
- List of rivers in New York
- Mary Flagler Cary ArboretumMary Flagler Cary ArboretumThe Mary Flagler Cary Arboretum is a nonprofit arboretum located on U.S. Route 44 near Millbrook, New York. It is operated by the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, and open to the public without an admission fee....
: Wappinger Creek Trail