Catharine Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Catharine Creek |
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Location of the mouth of Catharine Creek in New York State.
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Town of Veteran, Chemung County 42°16′15″N 76°46′21″W / 42.27083°N 76.77250°W |
| River mouth | Seneca Lake Watkins Glen, Schuyler County 42°21′05″N 76°51′04″W / 42.35139°N 76.85111°W |
| Length | 15 mi (24 km) |
Catharine Creek is a stream about 15-mile-long (24 km) in New York State. It flows through Chemung and Schuyler counties. This creek is named after a woman called Catharine Montour. It is a very important stream that flows into Seneca Lake.
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Journey of Catharine Creek
Most waterways in Chemung County flow towards the Susquehanna River. But Catharine Creek is special! It is part of the St. Lawrence River system. This means its water eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence River.
Catharine Creek flows into Seneca Lake. Seneca Lake is the biggest of the Finger Lakes. From there, the water travels through the Seneca and Oswego rivers. Finally, it reaches Lake Ontario.
The creek starts high up on a ridge in the Town of Veteran. This is in Chemung County. It first flows south to an area called the Holding Point in Horseheads. Then, it turns around and flows north. It mostly follows Route 14. Along its path, it passes through towns like Pine Valley, Millport, Montour Falls, and Watkins Glen.
A Look Back in Time
In the mid-19th century, the Chemung Canal was built. This canal followed the Catharine Creek valley. It stretched from Horseheads all the way to Seneca Lake. The canal made it easier to transport goods and people. It connected southern New York to the East Coast of the United States.
The canal closed in 1878. After that, the Pennsylvania Railroad took over much of the land where the canal used to be. Today, you can still see parts of the old canal. They are in the Catharine Creek Marsh. This is a large 1,000-acre (400 ha) wetland area. It is located between Montour Falls and Watkins Glen.
Fun Things to Do
Catharine Creek and its surroundings offer many fun activities!
Explore the Catharine Valley Trail
The Catharine Valley Trail is a special path. It used to be old railroad tracks and canal paths. Now, it's being turned into a trail for everyone to enjoy. New York State and volunteers have been working on it since the early 2000s.
This trail is designed for walking, biking, and other activities. The goal is for it to connect Horseheads to Seneca Lake. As of 2016, about six miles (9.7 km) of the trail are open. There are plans to make it 12 miles (19 km) long in the future.
Discover Wildlife and Nature
The Catharine Creek Wildlife Management Area is a protected area. It's managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. This area protects a big wetland near where the creek meets Seneca Lake.
You can't camp here, and there aren't many special facilities. But it's open to the public for many activities. You can go hunting, hiking, or watch birds. It's also a great spot for boating and fishing. A part of the Finger Lakes Trail also goes through this marsh.
Go Fishing!
Catharine Creek is a very popular place for fishing. Every spring, many people come here to catch rainbow trout. These fish swim up the creek to lay their eggs. In the fall, you can also find smaller numbers of brown trout and Atlantic salmon here.
