Buffalo River (New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buffalo River |
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Buffalo River where it empties into Lake Erie. The lighthouse on the left of the river is the Buffalo Main Light
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Counties | Erie, Wyoming |
| City | Buffalo |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | 1,450 ft (440 m) 42°35′38″N 78°28′15″W / 42.59389°N 78.47083°W |
| River mouth | Lake Erie Buffalo 570 ft (170 m) 42°52′42″N 78°53′11″W / 42.87833°N 78.88639°W |
| Length | 8 mi (13 km)approximately |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 447 sq mi (1,160 km2)total watershed |
| Tributaries |
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The Buffalo River is a river in Western New York state. It flows into the eastern part of Lake Erie in the city of Buffalo. The river and its surrounding land, called a watershed, cover about 447 sq mi (1,160 km2).
Three smaller rivers, known as tributaries, flow into the Buffalo River. These are Cayuga Creek, Buffalo Creek, and Cazenovia Creek.
The Buffalo River has been very important for the growth of Western New York. In 1825, it became the end point for the famous Erie Canal. Later, the area around the river became a busy industrial zone. Factories for grain, steel, and chemicals were built there.
After the 1950s, shipping routes changed, and heavy industries started to decline. This meant less use of the river for transportation and factories. Many old factories and mills were left empty. For many years, people have worked to clean up the river and bring back its natural habitats. A big project called the Buffalo River Restoration Project started in 2011.
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River Geography
The Buffalo River flows through both residential and industrial parts of Buffalo. A 6.2-mile (10.0 km) section of the river is a federal navigation channel. This means it is kept deep enough for large boats, about 23 feet (7.0 m) below lake level. Because of this, many bridges over this part of the river are drawbridges. They can open to let tall ships pass.
The river's water flows very slowly, making it feel like an estuary. An estuary is where a river meets the sea, and fresh water mixes with salt water. Here, it mixes with lake water. Much of the river's edge is reinforced with rocks or walls.
Buffalo Creek
Buffalo Creek is the longest tributary of the Buffalo River. It starts in Wyoming County. It flows through towns like Arcade, Java, and Sheldon. Then it enters Erie County. The creek continues through Elma and West Seneca. It joins Cayuga Creek in West Seneca.
Cayuga Creek
Cayuga Creek is the northernmost tributary. This creek is about 40-mile-long (64 km). It starts in farmlands and wooded areas. It then flows through towns like Cheektowaga, Lancaster, and Depew. Finally, it meets Buffalo Creek.
Cazenovia Creek
The East Branch of Cazenovia Creek starts in Sardinia. The West Branch begins in Concord. The land around these branches is mostly farms and forests. There are also a few small towns. The two branches meet near East Aurora. After that, Cazenovia Creek flows through Aurora, Elma, and West Seneca. It also flows through the city of Buffalo before joining the Buffalo River.
River History
The area around Buffalo Creek was once home to the Neutral Nation. In the 1650s, the Seneca nation and their Iroquois allies took control of the land.
In 1780, the British helped establish a village on Buffalo Creek. This was for the Seneca people who had lost their homes. They had sought safety with the British during a conflict. After the war, the Buffalo Creek area grew as a Seneca settlement.
In 1788, Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham met with leaders of the Iroquois Confederacy at Buffalo Creek. They signed a treaty for land rights in New York State. Later, in 1838, the Treaty of Buffalo Creek dealt with the sale of more land held by the Iroquois nations.
In 1825, the Buffalo River became the western end of the Erie Canal. This canal was a major waterway built across New York State. Boats from the canal entered the Buffalo River through a special channel called the Commercial Slip. When the canal was finished, New York Governor Dewitt Clinton celebrated. He poured water from the Atlantic Ocean into Lake Erie. This showed how the canal connected the Great Lakes to the ocean.
How the River Got its Name
It is believed that the city of Buffalo was named after Buffalo Creek. There are different ideas about how the creek got its name. Early French explorers said there were many buffalo (a type of large animal) on the south shore of Lake Erie. However, it's not certain if they were common right along Buffalo Creek.
The original Native American name for the creek was Te-osah-wa, meaning "Place of the Basswoods." The French called it "River of Horses." Neither of these names stuck. The current name likely came from the British. A British engineer named John Montresor mentioned "Buffalo Creek" in his journal in 1764. This shows the name was already in common use. Many other "Buffalo Creeks" exist in the United States. Most scholars think they were named after the animal, just like "Beaver Creeks" or "Otter Creeks."
Cleaning Up the River
The Buffalo River and its smaller tributaries have been used by heavy industries for a long time. This, along with sewage overflows, caused the river's water and bottom sediments to become very polluted.
In 1987, the Buffalo River was listed as one of 43 "Great Lakes Areas of Concern." This was part of an agreement between the United States and Canada to improve water quality. In 2011, the Buffalo River Restoration Project began. This big project involves removing polluted sediment from the river bottom. It also includes restoring natural habitats and improving public access to the river. Experts believe the river will be removed from the "Areas of Concern" list in a few years thanks to these efforts.
Fun and Recreation
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in Buffalo created the Buffalo River Urban Canoe Trail. They published a guide in the 1990s. This guide described interesting places along the river, like bridges and old factories, for people to see while canoeing.
In 2011, the Buffalo River Fest Park opened along the river. This park has docks for boats, a boardwalk for walking, and a bandstand for events. It's a great place for people to enjoy the river.
