Neepaulakating Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Neepaulakating Creek |
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Neepaulakating Creek near its headwaters northwest of Lake Neepaulin.
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Sussex |
| Municipality | Wantage Township |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | northwest of Sussex and Lake Neepaulin 640 ft (200 m) 41°13′23″N 74°38′03″W / 41.22306°N 74.63417°W |
| River mouth | Papakating Creek, south of Sussex 394 ft (120 m) 41°11′56″N 74°36′42″W / 41.19889°N 74.61167°W |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Papakating Creek (Wallkill River, Rondout Creek, Hudson River) |
Neepaulakating Creek is a small stream, about 2.4 miles (3.8 km) long. It flows through Wantage Township in Sussex County, New Jersey. This creek is a tributary of Papakating Creek. It's one of three streams that feed into Papakating Creek, which then flows into the larger Wallkill River.
In the 1950s, a dam was built on this stream, creating Lake Neepaulin. This lake became the center of a private neighborhood. The stream didn't have an official name until 2002. Residents chose "Neepaulakating" by combining parts of "Neepaulin" and "Papakating." The United States Board on Geographic Names officially approved this name in 2004.
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Where the Creek Flows: Its Journey and Area
Neepaulakating Creek is a small water flow. Its journey begins about 640 feet (195 meters) above sea level. This starting point, called the headwaters, is northwest of Lake Neepaulin. You can find it near County Route 650, between the small town of Libertville and Sussex Borough.
The creek then flows into Lake Neepaulin, which is 509 feet (155 meters) above sea level. This lake was made by building a dam across the stream. It's the main feature of a private neighborhood. From the dam, the creek continues southeast for another 1.5 miles (2.4 km). It then joins Papakating Creek at 395 feet (120 meters) above sea level. This meeting point is south of Sussex Borough, near County Route 565 and Sussex Airport.
The Papakating Creek Watershed
Neepaulakating Creek is one of the streams that feed the Papakating Creek. The area that collects water for a river or stream is called a watershed. The Papakating Creek watershed covers about 60.6 square miles (157 km2). It's a major part of the Wallkill River system.
This watershed is located in the Kittatinny Valley. The land here is made of dark shale and limestone, and the soil was formed by glaciers. The landscape changes from gentle slopes in the east to steeper hills in the west. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) describes the Papakating watershed as having farms, forests, wetlands, and homes.
Water Quality Concerns
Reports from the NJDEP show that two lake communities, Lake Neepaulin and Clove Acres Lake, affect the water quality of Papakating Creek. These communities can add too much phosphorus to the water. Phosphorus can come from fertilizer used on lawns, nearby farms, or even from large groups of geese living near the lakes. Too much phosphorus can harm the water environment.
How the Creek Got Its Name
In the 1950s, a company that builds homes created Lake Neepaulin. They did this by building a dam across a stream that didn't have a name yet. The lake was meant to be the center of a new private community where people could live by the water.
In 2002, a group called "Friends of Lake Neepaulin" started using "Neepaulakating Creek" as a name for this unnamed stream. They looked at maps, government papers, and other records. They found no proof that the stream had ever been named before. The name "Neepaulakating" was chosen because it combined parts of "Neepaulin" and "Papakating." Lake Neepaulin itself was named after a mix of the original developers' children's names.
Nathaniel Sajdak, who worked with the Wallkill River Watershed group and was part of the Friends of Lake Neepaulin, helped submit the name proposal. He told the United States Geological Survey's United States Board on Geographic Names that they had studied the stream for about two years. During this time, they had already started calling it "Neepaulakating Creek."
On February 25, 2004, the Sussex County government officially supported the name. They agreed with Wantage Township that the stream should be called "Neepaulakating Creek." Finally, on April 8, 2004, the Board of Geographic Names approved the new name.
Gallery
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Neepaulakating Creek near its headwaters
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Lake Neepaulin looking northwest from the dam
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Lake Neepaulin dam
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Looking southeast (downstream) from the dam
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The creek and marsh near Newton Avenue in Wantage
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The creek before it flows under County Route 639
