Eighteen Mile Creek (Erie County) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eighteen Mile Creek |
|
|---|---|
Eighteen Mile Creek in Hamburg, New York.
|
|
 
Location of the mouth of Eighteen Mile Creek in New York State.
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Region | Western New York |
| County | Erie County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Town of Concord 42°33′23″N 78°41′28″W / 42.55639°N 78.69111°W |
| 2nd source | South Branch Eighteen Mile Cr. Town of North Collins 42°32′17″N 78°45′51″W / 42.53806°N 78.76417°W |
| River mouth | Lake Erie Highland-on-the-Lake, Town of Evans 42°43′05″N 78°58′09″W / 42.71806°N 78.96917°W |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 310 km2 (120 sq mi) |
| Tributaries |
|
Eighteen Mile Creek is a cool waterway in Erie County, New York, that flows into Lake Erie. It's actually the second biggest creek that flows into Lake Erie in New York!
It got its name because it's about eighteen miles south of the Niagara River in Buffalo. The Seneca people used to call it Koughquaugu Creek.
Contents
Where Does Eighteen Mile Creek Flow?
Eighteen Mile Creek starts its journey in the Town of Concord. From there, it flows north and then west. Finally, it empties into Lake Erie near a place called Highland-on-the-Lake in the Town of Evans.
The South Branch
The creek has one main branch that joins it, called the South Branch Eighteen Mile Creek. This branch meets the main creek inside Eighteen Mile Creek Park in the Town of Hamburg. The entire area that drains water into the creek, called its watershed, is about 120-square-mile (310 km2) big.
Discovering Fossils in the Creek
The lower part of Eighteen Mile Creek is famous for its amazing collection of fossils. People have been finding fossils here since the 1800s!
Ancient Rocks and Creatures
If you look at the sides of the creek's deep gorges, you can see layers of rock. There are bands of shale rock with limestone on top. These rocks hold many fossils from a time called the Devonian Period. This was a very long time ago!
You can find fossils of ancient sea creatures like:
- Corals: Such as Heliophyllum and Favosites.
- Crinoids: These look like plants but are actually animals related to starfish.
- Brachiopods: Shellfish that look a bit like clams.
- Bryozoans: Tiny animals that live in colonies, often looking like moss.
- Bivalves: Animals with two shells, like modern clams.
- Trilobites: Ancient sea bugs that are now extinct.
A Special Place for Fossils
Because of all these cool fossils, parts of the creek and the land around it in the Town of Hamburg are called a "Critical Environmental Area." This means it's a special place that needs to be protected.
Fun Things to Do at Eighteen Mile Creek
Fishing for Trout
Eighteen Mile Creek is a popular spot for fishing. Anglers, or people who fish, come here to catch steelhead fish. These fish swim up the creek from Lake Erie to lay their eggs (spawn) from mid-October to early May. You can also find Brown trout here all year round.
Where to Fish
There are special areas along the creek where the public can fish. About 1.4 miles (2.3 km) of the creek and its South Branch have "public fishing rights." This means you can fish there! Plus, there's another 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of stream access inside Eighteen Mile Creek County Park.
Catch and Release Area
In the park, there's a special part of the main creek where you can only fish using artificial lures. You also have to release any fish you catch back into the water. This helps keep the fish population healthy.
Stocking the Creek
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation helps keep the creek full of fish. They add fish to the creek every year. For example, in 2014, they added 20,000 steelhead and 660 brown trout to the main creek. They also put another 20,000 steelhead into the South Branch.
Parks and Forests to Explore
Eighteen Mile Creek is surrounded by beautiful natural areas, perfect for exploring!
Eighteen Mile Creek Park
This park is a huge 464-acre (1.88 km2) county park. It's located right where the main creek and its South Branch meet in the Town of Hamburg. The park is mostly wild and undeveloped. It has hiking trails and a small parking area. The Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry manages the park.
Inside the park, you can see a 60-foot (18 m) deep gorge carved by the creek. A parking lot on South Creek Road gives you access to about five miles (8.0 km) of hiking trails. It's also a great spot to get to the creek for fishing.
Protecting the Headwaters
In 2015, Erie County bought a 225-acre (0.91 km2) forest area. This forest is right where Eighteen Mile Creek begins, at its "headwaters." The county bought it to stop buildings from being built there. This was a team effort with groups like The Nature Conservancy and the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper.
Protecting this forest helps keep the creek's water clean. It also provides a home for fish and other wildlife. More than 1,000 acres (4.0 km2; 1.6 sq mi) of land near the creek's headwaters are now protected by the county. These areas are open to the public for fun activities like hiking.
