Lemon Creek (Staten Island)
Lemon Creekis a stream located on theSouth ShoreofStaten IslandinNew York City.It is one of the few remaining ground-level creeks in New York City.
Geography
[edit]
Lemon Creek emerges from a conduit under Rossville Avenue[1]and flows intoPorzio's Pond,located north of the intersection of Woodrow Road and Maguire Avenue.[2]Water from the pond reaches Lemon Creek both above ground and underground.[3]Flowing generally southward, near the intersection of Drumgoole Road West and Maguire Avenue,Sandy Brookempties into the creek. This small stream now originates just south of Sharrotts Road and east of theWest Shore Expressway.Lemon Creek continues southward under theKorean War Veterans Parkwayand Drumgoole Roads, and begins to widen among marshes south of theStaten Island Railway.The creek turns eastward and passes under Bayview Avenue, then southward again. Just above its mouth, it receives a tributary from the east draining Wolfe's Pond, which is located within a citypark of the same name.A marina and boat moorings are located here. Immediately below, it empties intoPrince's Bay,part ofRaritan Bay,just off the corner of Bayview Avenue and Johnston Terrace.
Throughout its above-ground length, Lemon Creek is generally regarded as the boundary between the neighborhoods ofPrince's BayandPleasant Plainson Staten Island'sSouth Shore.Its watershed covers about 2 square miles (5.2 km2)[4]and lies within theterminal morainecrossing Staten Island.[5]The lower reaches of the creek, below theStaten Island Railway,are bordered by extensive marshes, the largest and most pristine on the south shore of Staten Island.[3]This area includes bothsalt marshand the only tidal freshwater marsh on Staten Island.[4]
Parks
[edit]Much of the creek belowHylan Boulevard,and a long strip of shoreline to the west, is part of the 105.77 acres (42.80 hectares) Lemon Creek Park, established in 1962. The park includes theSeguine Mansion.[6]The northern, wooded portion of the park forms the 15.99 acres (6.47 hectares) Lemon Creek Park Preserve.[3]Wolfe's Pond and its source, Wolfe Brook, comprise the 341.33 acres (138.13 hectares)Wolfe's Pond Park.[7]The upper reaches of Lemon Creek, and most of Sandy Brook flow throughBloomingdale Park,138.67 acres (56.12 hectares).[8]
History
[edit]The creek first appears in recorded history in 1670, as one of the boundaries of a 140-acre (56.7 ha) grant of land toPaulus Regrenier.TheAbraham Manee Homesteadmay encompass Regrenier's original dwelling.[9]
Clamswere once abundant at the mouth of the creek, in Prince's Bay.[10]The oysters harvested there were once a delicacy exported toLondon,[6]and the export of oysters helped make the fortune of the local Seguine family.[9]However, shellfishing ceased in the area in the 1920s due to an outbreak oftyphoid fevertraced to Raritan Bay oysters. However, while non-commercial clamming is still forbidden due to pollution, commercial clamming is permitted if the clams are transplanted into clean water before harvest, and the Lemon Creek marina is again a base for clamming vessels.[11]
Known in 1830 asSeguine's Creekfor the Seguine family, this body of water was referred to as theLittle North Riverby 1895. Shortly thereafter, it began to be calledLemon Creek,although the origin of the name is not known.[6]
Fauna
[edit]The marshes along the lower creek provide a home for waterfowl such asswans,mallards,andblack ducks,and a refuge for migrating birds, as well asmonarch butterflies.[6]Lemon Creek Park is also home to the onlypurple martincolony in New York City,[4][12]popular among local birdwatchers.[13]
In the center of the marshes on the lower creek isZiel's Island,also known asCrab Islandfor thefiddler crabsandblue crabsthat live there.[12]Clams are commercially harvested off the mouth of the creek, and various marine fish can be caught from a fishingpierat the mouth of the creek.[3]
References
[edit]- ^"Forgotten New York: Lemon Creek".RetrievedJanuary 12,2007.
- ^"Public Notice of Application to Discharge Fill Material"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on January 9, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 13,2007.
- ^abcd"Lemon Creek Park Preserve".RetrievedJanuary 12,2007.
- ^abc"Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat Rating, Lemon Creek"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on December 16, 2004.RetrievedJanuary 13,2007.
- ^"The Geology of Staten Island".Archived fromthe originalon January 11, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 12,2007.
- ^abcd"Lemon Creek Park Historical Sign".RetrievedJanuary 12,2007.
- ^"Wolfe's Pond Park".RetrievedJanuary 13,2007.
- ^"Bloomingdale Park".RetrievedJanuary 13,2007.
- ^ab"The Abraham Manee House - Another S.I. Landmark at Risk".Preservation League News.Preservation League of Staten Island. December 1997. Archived fromthe originalon December 16, 2006.RetrievedJanuary 13,2007.
- ^Brahn, Arleen McNamara (Winter–Spring 2000)."Simple Childhood Memories".Staten Island Historian.17.Archived fromthe originalon November 24, 2006.RetrievedJanuary 13,2007.
- ^"Clamming off Staten Island".Archived fromthe originalon February 11, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 13,2007.
- ^ab"Lemon Creek Salt Marshes".RetrievedJanuary 13,2007.
- ^Crewdson, Michael; Mittelbach, Margaret (June 27, 2003)."A Community of People-Watchers".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 13,2007.