Carmans River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carmans River |
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Carmans River L.I., N.Y.
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| Country | United States |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Cathedral Pines County Park near Middle Island, New York Approx. 249 ft (76 m) |
| River mouth | Bellport Bay at Shirley, New York 0 ft (0 m) |
| Length | 10 mi (16 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 71 sq mi (184 km2) |
The Carmans River is a 10-mile (16 km) long river in the Town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County on Long Island. It is one of the four largest rivers on Long Island. This river is unique because it gets all its water from underground sources, not from lakes.
Almost all of the Carmans River is protected by the Central Long Island Pine Barrens. This area helps keep the river clean and healthy. The state of New York has also given the river special titles like "Scenic River" or "Recreational River." This means it's recognized for its natural beauty and for outdoor activities.
The river was once called the Connecticut River. This was because early settlers from Connecticut lived nearby. They also mistakenly thought it was fed by the Connecticut River underground. Later, the river was named after Samuel Carman. He married into families who owned mills along the river in the 1800s. Samuel Carman used the river to power his mill and even ran a hunting club for people visiting from New York City.
The first eight miles (13 km) of the Carmans River is fresh water. But for the last two miles, it becomes an estuary. An estuary is where fresh river water mixes with salty ocean water from the Great South Bay. This creates a special environment for many plants and animals.
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Protecting the Carmans River
A Home for Wildlife
The Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge is a large protected area right next to the Carmans River. This refuge is a safe place for many different kinds of wildlife, including birds, fish, and other animals. It helps protect the river's natural habitat.
The Fight for Clean Water
In 1967, a school teacher named Art Cooley from Bellport, New York noticed that the number of osprey birds along the river was going down. Osprey are large birds that eat fish, and their decline was a sign that something was wrong with the environment. Art Cooley became one of the founders of the Environmental Defense Fund. This group led the important fight to ban a harmful chemical called DDT. DDT was a pesticide that was hurting wildlife, especially birds like the osprey. Their efforts helped make the river and its surroundings safer for animals.
Enjoying Southaven County Park
Southaven County Park is located along the upper parts of the Carmans River. This park is a great place for outdoor activities. You can go fishing for trout here, but there are special rules to make sure the fish population stays healthy. In recent years, wild turkeys have been brought back to this park. They have now spread out and are living in many of the areas around the park.
