Eighteen Mile Creek (Niagara County) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eighteen Mile Creek |
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Location of the mouth of the Eighteen Mile Creek in New York State.
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Town of Lockport, Niagara County 43°10′29″N 78°41′20″W / 43.17472°N 78.68889°W |
| River mouth | Lake Ontario Olcott, Niagara County 43°20′21″N 78°43′07″W / 43.33917°N 78.71861°W |
| Length | 26 mi (42 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 90.7 sq mi (235 km2) |
Eighteen Mile Creek is a stream that flows into Lake Ontario. It is found entirely within Niagara County, New York, in the United States. The name "Eighteen Mile" does not mean the creek is 18 miles long. Instead, it refers to its distance from the Niagara River to the west.
The creek starts just north of the City of Lockport. It then flows about 26 miles (42 km) north. It winds through the Town of Newfane. A dam near the community of Burt makes the creek wider upstream, reaching as far as Newfane. Eighteen Mile Creek finally empties into Lake Ontario at Olcott harbor. A major road, New York State Route 78, follows much of the creek's path.
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Exploring Eighteen Mile Creek's Path
The area where Eighteen Mile Creek collects its water is called a drainage basin. This basin is located along the southern shore of Lake Ontario. The creek flows generally north. It empties into Lake Ontario through Olcott Harbor. This is about 18 miles (29 km) east of where the Niagara River meets the lake.
How Big Is the Creek's Watershed?
The creek's watershed covers about 58,056 acres (90.7 sq mi; 234.9 km2). This area includes Eighteen Mile Creek itself. It also includes its two main smaller streams, called the East Branch and the Gulf. Many smaller streams also feed into it. A lot of the water in the main creek comes from the New York State Barge Canal.
Where Does the Creek Flow Through?
The land around the creek has two flat areas at different heights. These are separated by the Niagara Escarpment. The southern part of the watershed is higher up. The Niagara Escarpment runs along the northern part of the City of Lockport.
The entire watershed is in Niagara County. It includes parts of several towns. These are Cambria, Lockport (including part of the City of Lockport), Royalton, Hartland, Newfane, and Wilson. Most of the watershed is a rural area. It has farms, scattered homes, and small villages. These villages include Olcott, Newfane, and Gasport.
A part of the City of Lockport is also in the watershed. This is the most crowded area. Businesses and factories are mostly found in Lockport.
From Source to Lake Ontario
The main part of Eighteen Mile Creek starts southeast of the City of Lockport. It begins near Keck and Chestnut Ridge Roads. This is on the south side of the Niagara Escarpment. It flows northwest through the city. Then, it goes underground near Vine Street. It flows north in an underground pipe and comes out briefly south of the canal.
The creek then travels a short distance under the canal. It resurfaces near Clinton Street, north of the canal. It continues generally north. It drops about 240 feet (73 m) as it goes over the Niagara Escarpment. As it descends, it flows past the old Flintkote factory property. It also flows next to the Lockport Wastewater Treatment Plant. Finally, the creek flows north through the Town of Newfane. It then drains into Lake Ontario at Olcott Harbor.
Protecting Eighteen Mile Creek
On March 13, 2012, the section of the creek north of the canal in Lockport was added to the U.S. Superfund National Priorities List. This means it was identified as a place needing special cleanup efforts.
Why Is the Creek an "Area of Concern"?
A part of Eighteen Mile Creek is called an "Area of Concern" (AOC). This was decided by the International Joint Commission. This is because there was advice about not eating fish from the creek. Also, the tiny creatures living on the creek bottom were declining. Fish and wildlife populations were not doing well. There were also problems with birds and animals having unusual shapes or trouble having babies. And, there were limits on digging up the creek bottom.
Over the years, many harmful substances have been found in the creek's mud. These substances have hurt the AOC and Lake Ontario. These include things like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, dioxins, furans, dieldrin, mirex, DDT, lead, and copper. Mud with these substances has caused the problems mentioned.
What Makes the Creek Special?
Even with these issues, the AOC looks very natural. This part of Eighteen Mile Creek flows through a deep, wooded gorge. It is mostly untouched by human activity. The large areas of plants growing in and under the water cover about 65 acres (260,000 m2). This makes it one of the largest wetlands along the western part of Lake Ontario. These wetlands and untouched woods provide important homes for wildlife. Many of these animals are rare in Niagara County's coastal area.
Many types of birds live here. These include the great blue heron, green heron, mallard, wood duck, and belted kingfisher. Eighteen Mile Creek is very important for fish. Large numbers of Coho and Chinook salmon and brown trout swim from Lake Ontario into the creek every fall. Also, steelhead migrate into Eighteen Mile Creek in the fall and from late February to April.
Because this area is so important, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has said that disturbing the wetland plants, like by digging or filling, would harm this valuable habitat.
Working Towards a Healthier Creek
The Eighteen Mile Creek Remedial Action Plan (RAP) is a project to make the creek's ecosystem healthy again. It aims to restore the natural balance of chemicals, physical features, and living things. This plan reflects the community's desire to protect the waterway.
The main goals of the RAP are to protect and improve human health, fish and wildlife, the beauty of the area, recreation, and the economy around the creek. Swimming and supporting aquatic life have been set as the best uses for Eighteen Mile Creek. This was decided through a public process under the New York State Stream Classification System. The RAP is designed to bring back these uses where they have been harmed. It also aims to reduce all sources of pollution.
