Muddy Kill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Muddy Kill |
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Muddy Kill flowing through a horse farm just north of NY 17K
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| Other name(s) | Modder Kill |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Orange |
| Town | Montgomery |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Unnamed pond off Albany Post Road 400 ft (120 m) 41°34′04″N 74°13′31″W / 41.56778°N 74.22528°W |
| River mouth | Wallkill River 340 ft (100 m) 41°31′35″N 74°15′22″W / 41.52639°N 74.25611°W |
The Muddy Kill is a small river, about 4.2-mile-long (6.8 km), in Orange County, New York, United States. It is a tributary of the Wallkill River. The entire river flows through the town of Montgomery.
It starts from a small pond west of the village of Walden. The Muddy Kill then flows south, eventually joining the Wallkill River near the village of Montgomery.
Contents
The Muddy Kill's Journey
The Muddy Kill flows mostly through open fields. Many of these areas are used for farming. Near where it meets the Wallkill River, it passes through a large horse farm.
Passing Through Benedict Farm Park
After flowing under NY 17K, the river enters Benedict Farm Park. This park is a large area of 102 acres (41 ha) that the town recently bought. The river also helps drain the lower areas of the Comfort Hills to its west.
What's in a Name?
The name "Muddy Kill" comes from the early Dutch settlers. They called it Modder Kill. In the Dutch language, Modder means "mud" or "slime". So, the name of the creek has always meant "Muddy Creek."
Early Settlers and Their Homes
The rich, fertile land around the Muddy Kill attracted many early settlers. Some of their old houses are still standing today. These include the homes of Abraham Dickerson, Jacob Bookstaver, Moses Mould, and Wilhelm Schmitt.
Protecting the Land Today
Today, the land along the Muddy Kill is still very appealing. To protect the river and the larger watershed of the Wallkill River, a special effort was made in 2005. The Open Space Institute and the town worked together. They made sure that the 227-acre (92 ha) Zylstra Farm, one of the biggest properties along the creek, would always be used for farming. This helps keep the land natural and healthy.
Flooding and the River
The Muddy Kill's valley does not have many large forests. Because of this, the river can rise very quickly when there is heavy rain. For example, after a big storm in April 2007, the river flooded badly near its mouth. Route 17K, a main road, had to be closed for two days because of the high water.
