Ninemile Creek (Onondaga Lake) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nine Mile Creek |
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Nine Mile Creek in Camillus, New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York (state) |
| Region | Central New York |
| District | Onondaga County |
| Cities | Marietta, Marcellus, Camillus, Solvay, Syracuse |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Otisco Lake New York, United States 785 ft (239 m) 42°54′16″N 76°18′47″W / 42.90442°N 76.3131°W |
| River mouth | New York, United States 375 ft (114 m) 43°05′21″N 76°13′46″W / 43.08911°N 76.22952°W |
| Discharge (location 2) |
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Ninemile Creek, also known as Nine Mile Creek, is a stream in Central New York in the United States. It starts at Otisco Lake in the town of Marcellus. From there, the creek flows north for about 21.75 miles (35.00 km) (35 km).
It passes through the villages of Marcellus and Camillus. Finally, it reaches Onondaga Lake in the town of Geddes. Nine Mile Creek is a beautiful stream. It is well-known for trout fishing.
In the past, a company called Solvay Process Company placed industrial waste near the creek and Onondaga Lake. This happened from the late 1800s to the late 1900s. Today, a lot of work has been done to clean up the creek. This has greatly improved the water quality in the last part of the creek. Further south, the state of New York provides places for people to go fishing.
Contents
Discovering the History of Nine Mile Creek
The town of Marcellus grew up around Nine Mile Creek. Understanding the creek helps us understand the town's past. The Nine Mile Creek valley was famous for its rich farming soil. It also had a "deep, beautiful valley" filled with eastern hemlock trees.
Since the late 1700s, about 25 mills were built along Nine Mile Creek. Mills use water power to grind grain or saw wood. The first mill was built between 1795 and 1796. The Crown Mill, built in 1812, was one of the few old mills still standing. It was taken down in 2016.
Railroad Adventures Along the Creek
In the late 1800s, people became very interested in railroads. A short train line was built to connect Otisco Lake to Marcellus. This line was finished on May 25, 1905. Building it was harder than expected. It had 46 curves in just 9.05 miles (14.56 km) of track.
The train line connected with the Fontney, a ferryboat on Otisco Lake. This made it easier to move people and goods. The railroad stopped running on July 15, 1937. This happened after new roads were built for cars. Today, only an empty railroad path and an old station building remain.
Cleaning Up the Creek: Waste Beds and Restoration
The lower part of Nine Mile Creek was greatly affected by waste from a company called Solvay Process Company. This company made sodium carbonate. From 1916, waste was placed in large areas called waste beds near the creek. The creek even had to be moved to build some of these beds.
After 1944, a waste bed wall broke. This caused flooding in parts of the Village of Solvay. So, new waste beds were built further upstream along the creek. The creek's water in this area showed changes. It became more alkaline (higher pH) because of the waste.
Today, a company called Honeywell is working to clean up this part of Nine Mile Creek. They are also cleaning up Onondaga Lake. This cleanup is happening under an agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. You can find more information about the cleanup online.
Exploring the Physical Features of Nine Mile Creek
Nine Mile Creek changes a lot along its 10-mile (16 km)-long path through the town of Marcellus. The creek drops about 360 feet (110 m) in height from Otisco Lake to the Camillus-Marcellus town line. This means the water flows at an average speed of about 0.8 feet per second. The creek can be up to 5.5 feet (1.7 m) deep, but its average depth is 1.0 feet.
The creek looks different north and south of Marcellus Village. South of the village, it's a winding, shallow stream. It has thick plants along its banks and sometimes beaver dams. A dam at the north end of Otisco Lake controls the creek's flow. In summer, warm water from the lake flows into the creek. This makes it too warm for fish like trout, which prefer cold water. However, many other types of warm-water fish live here.
North of the village, the creek flows through a steep valley. Here, the water gets colder as more groundwater flows in. The amount of oxygen in the water increases, which is good for fish. This part of the creek is like a typical stream that flows over limestone rock.
Understanding the Nine Mile Creek Watershed
The Nine Mile Creek watershed covers about 115 square miles (300 km2). A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a single river or lake. This watershed includes parts of ten towns in Onondaga County and two towns in Cortland County.
Nine Mile Creek is the main stream that feeds into Onondaga Lake. It provides almost half of the water that flows into the lake.
How Glaciers Shaped the Creek's Geology
The landscape of central New York was mostly formed by glaciers. These huge ice sheets moved across the land between one million and ten thousand years ago. The last glacier melted away about 11,000 years ago. It left behind a large pile of rocks and dirt called the Valley Heads Moraine. This moraine separates the St. Lawrence and Susquehanna river systems.
Before the moraine formed, glaciers had deepened the many north-south valleys in the region. These valleys used to be streams flowing south. The moraine then created a series of lakes in these valleys. As the glacier retreated, meltwater carved new channels. One of these channels became the gully that flows into Nine Mile Creek south of Marcellus Village.
Eventually, the glacier moved far enough north to create Glacial Lake Iroquois. About 13,400 years ago, an ice dam broke, and Lake Iroquois drained quickly. This event helped Nine Mile Creek take on its current shape.
The Mystery of Disappearing Lake
The Disappearing Lake area in Pleasant Valley is a special geological spot. This lake is in an area with karst geology. This means the ground has many underground caves and channels. Scientists have used dyes to show that water from Disappearing Lake flows underground. It then reappears in Nine Mile Creek at Marcellus Falls.
Disappearing Lake usually appears in springtime. But groundwater from this area can flow into Nine Mile Creek as late as October. These underground flows bring cold, nutrient-rich water to the creek in summer. Water flowing through karst systems can be easily affected by pollution. This is because water moves too fast for pollutants to be naturally removed.
For example, nitrates from road salt or farm runoff can quickly reach the creek. E. Coli bacteria are also a concern. These can all affect the water quality in Nine Mile Creek. A similar thing happens with Geddes Brook, another stream that flows into Nine Mile Creek. Its headwaters disappear into limestone channels at Lost Lake and reappear as springs.
Understanding the Soils Along the Creek
The main types of soil along Nine Mile Creek are Teel and Wayland silt loam. These soils are common in flood plain areas. They are alluvial soil, meaning they are made of sediment deposited by water. These soils can easily erode and are not good for building on.
North of Sevier Road to just south of the village line, the creek water can look stained. This is from natural silt from the silt loam soils along its banks. Too much silt can harm the plants and animals that need clear water. Even north of Marcellus Village, where the creek looks different, the steep valley walls can cause flash floods. This happens because water runs off quickly, with little chance for it to soak into the ground.
Exploring the Ecology of Nine Mile Creek
The Nine Mile Creek area has many different kinds of plants. This is because of its mild climate, various wetland and land habitats, and rich limestone bedrock. In total, 142 different plant species have been found along the creek and in its wetlands. Most of these are common, but 49 species are found only in specific spots.
Plant Life Along the Creek
From Otisco Lake to Masters Road, the plants along the creek are quite similar. There are many herbs and thick forest canopies. A mix of leafy and woody plants creates strong buffers along the creek banks. This area is home to many common plant species. It also has protected ferns and rare plants like cardinal flower, button bush, speckled alder, and mild water pepper.
From Masters Road to the village center, the plants are similar to the upper sections. But you can also find Scotch pine and butternut trees. This section includes a protected wetland. Its plants include blue flag, crack willow, hardstem bulrush, and various sedges and dogwoods.
East of the DEC parking area at Marcellus Falls, there are steep slopes and important springs. This area is very interesting for plant lovers. In 1983, the Adirondack Wildflower Club found many protected plants here. These included large-flowered trillium, stinking Benjamin or wake-robin, bloodroot, and several types of ferns. They also found trees not seen elsewhere, like northern white cedar, American sycamore, eastern hemlock, and yellow birch.
Fish Life and Reproduction in the Creek
Nine Mile Creek's shape creates a diverse fishery. This makes it the most popular trout stream in Onondaga County. The creek has about thirty different fish species. This is a lot compared to most streams in the Northeast, which usually have 6 to 20 species. Fish are added to the creek by the state and private groups. Fish also migrate from Otisco and Onondaga Lakes.
In Marcellus, Nine Mile Creek has two different fishing areas. From Otisco Lake to the old Crown Mill, the water is warmer and has less oxygen. This section has about thirteen fish species. These fish can handle warmer water. While there are not many trout here, other stream fish are very common.
North of the old Crown Mill, the water is colder and has more oxygen. This area has fewer fish species, about seven on average. But it has many trout, often more than 500 trout per acre. Most of the trout found by biologists were wild, meaning they reproduced successfully in the stream. Small creatures called amphipods are very common here. They are a good food source for trout.
Nine Mile Creek has special fishing rules for trout. You can catch a daily limit of 5 trout. No more than 2 of these can be longer than 12 inches. The trout fishing season is open from April 1st to October 15th.
Wildlife and Migration Pathways
The area along Nine Mile Creek provides a narrow strip of habitat for many animals. Experts believe that about 90 species of birds breed along Nine Mile Creek. Many more birds use the corridor during their migration. Large groups of birds that travel long distances have been seen here. This suggests the creek area is an important path for migrating birds.
Enjoying Recreation on Nine Mile Creek
Nine Mile Creek is used for many fun activities, both on and off the water. People enjoy fishing and boating. There are also many public and private green spaces, like Marcellus Falls and Baltimore Woods.
Fishing Fun on the Creek
Fishing is the most popular activity on Nine Mile Creek. The creek is a great place for experienced anglers. It's also perfect for parents and children learning to fish. From Crown Mill downstream, the cool, oxygen-rich water supports a healthy trout population.
Wild brown trout and brook trout live and reproduce in the creek. Thousands of young brown and brook trout are also added each year. These come from Onondaga County's Carpenters Brook Fish Hatchery. After the busy spring fishing season, wild brown trout are the most common.
Paddling Adventures on the Water
You can access Nine Mile Creek in some places, and there are a few docks. Generally, the creek is deep enough for boating from Munro Park in Camillus Village down to Onondaga Lake. Some parts of the creek have fast-moving water. There are also hazards like low dams and low overhangs. However, paddling on Nine Mile Creek is suitable for both new and experienced paddlers.
Learning and Education at Nine Mile Creek
Many schools and universities use Nine Mile Creek for learning. These include SUNY ESF, Syracuse University, and Marcellus High School. They use the creek for class trips and field studies. Students get to see many plants, birds, and other organisms they might not see elsewhere.
A newspaper article once highlighted how SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry worked with Marcellus High School. They studied Nine Mile Creek together. Much of the information about the creek's biology, water, and geology comes from research papers written by students at Syracuse University and SUNY ESF.
Community Groups Helping the Creek
Many local and national groups work to help Nine Mile Creek. Here are a few:
- Izaak Walton League helps with fishing resources and events.
- Trout Unlimited organizes creek cleanup events.
