Patroon Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Patroon Creek |
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Patroon Creek watershed
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| Other name(s) | Bloomaerts Kill, Fifth Kill, Mill Creek, Patroon's Creek |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Municipality |  City of Albany |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Rensselaer Lake Albany, New York, United States 249 ft (76 m) 42°41′52″N 73°50′0″W / 42.69778°N 73.83333°W |
| River mouth | Hudson River Albany, New York, United States 0 ft (0 m) 42°39′34″N 73°44′15″W / 42.65944°N 73.73750°W |
| Length | 6.2 mi (10.0 km) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Hudson River Watershed |
| Basin size | 13.1 sq mi (34 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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Patroon Creek is a small stream located in Albany County, New York, United States. It flows into the Hudson River, which then travels south to New York Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean.
The creek starts at Rensselaer Lake in the western part of the city of Albany. It then flows along the northern edge of Albany, bordering the town of Colonie. Finally, it reaches its end, or mouth, at the Hudson River. The creek was named after the patroon of Rensselaerswyck, a special land owner from early colonial times.
Contents
History of Patroon Creek
Early Days and Dutch Influence
Patroon Creek has a long history, starting when Henry Hudson explored the Hudson River. The area was part of the Dutch colony called New Netherland. This colony included a large land area known as Rensselaerswyck, which was founded in 1630.
On a map from 1632, the mouth of Patroon Creek was called "Bloommaert's Burt." The creek soon became known as Bloomaert's Kill. The word kill is Dutch for a creek or stream. It was also sometimes called Fifth Kill. This was because it was the fifth and last stream in the colonial Albany area, counting from the south.
Early settlers arrived in the 1600s. Gerrit Thensz de Reux started a farm on the Blommaerts Kill in 1632. Other settlers like Rutger Jacobsz and Adrian Hybertsz also settled nearby. In 1654, Jacob Jansz Flodder built mills on the creek. These mills were used to grind grain and saw wood. Later, in 1666, Jeremias van Rensselaer, who was the fourth patroon, built more barns and mills along the creek. The Old Manor House, a large home for the patroon, was also built near the creek's mouth in 1666.
Railroads and Water Supply
In 1844, a railroad line was moved to run along Patroon Creek. This line connected Albany and Schenectady. The Albany and Schenectady Railroad later became part of the New York Central Railroad (NYCRR) in 1853. Soon after, a very large rail yard was built in West Albany. This yard covered about 250 acres.
In 1845, the Albany Waterworks Company bought part of Patroon Creek. They wanted to use its water to supply the city. This company was private, but in 1850, the city took over the water supply. In 1851, the city built a dam on Patroon Creek. This created Rensselaer Lake, named after Stephen van Rensselaer.
Water from Rensselaer Lake traveled through a long brick pipe. This pipe was about 4 feet tall and 4 miles long. The water went to the Bleecker Reservoir, which is now Bleecker Stadium. This water was used for the western part of Albany. Other dams were built on the lower part of Patroon Creek. These created the Lower and Upper Tivoli Lakes. These lakes supplied water to the eastern part of the city.
By 1875, the Hudson River became the main source of water for Albany. The reservoirs on Patroon Creek were then used as a backup. The Tivoli Lakes reservoirs were stopped in 1910. After that, the NYCRR West Albany Rail Yard used the lower part of Patroon Creek for its industrial needs. Rensselaer Lake continued to be a water source until 1926.
Environmental Concerns and Cleanup Efforts
From the 1950s to 1998, a company called Mercury Refining Company operated near a small stream that fed into Patroon Creek. This site was later added to the Superfund list in 1983. Superfund is a program by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up polluted sites. Several companies helped pay for the cleanup, spending over $4 million.
Another factory, owned by NL Industries, also caused pollution. This factory recycled materials and was found to be releasing dust into the air. The factory closed in 1983. Later, in 2003, the US Army Corps of Engineers found traces of materials from the factory in the creek's mud. Scientists from local colleges are also studying the creek for other pollutants.
Before the 1970s, Albany's sewer system often released wastewater directly into the creeks. In 2000, some buildings were still dumping into Patroon Creek. These pipes were then closed, and the buildings were connected to the city's modern sewer system.
Restoration and Future Plans
In the 1970s, Patroon Creek was moved around Tivoli Lake. The lake was also cleaned out. In 2010, plans began to bring the creek back through Tivoli Lake. The goal is to make the lake healthier by increasing its oxygen and water flow. The wetlands around the lake would also act as a natural filter to clean the creek. Some groups have concerns about this plan. They worry that pollutants might settle in the lake and harm the nature preserve.
In 1993, Patroon Creek was named one of New York state's most polluted streams. Very few living things could be found in it. However, by 1997, the creek started to get better. Small fish called minnows and crawfish were found. In 1998, the discovery of mayfly showed that the water quality was improving even more.
In 2001, Mayor Jerry Jennings and Governor George Pataki announced a plan for a new path. This path would be about 8 miles long. It would connect the Corning Preserve to the Albany Pine Bush, passing through the Tivoli Nature Preserve along Patroon Creek. This path would be great for walking and biking.
Geography of Patroon Creek
Patroon Creek is about 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) long. It starts at a grate at the eastern end of Rensselaer Lake. It then flows into a tunnel that empties into the Hudson River.
About one-third of the creek's path has been changed or buried since the 1800s. This was done to make way for railroads and highways. The creek flows through three important nature areas. These are the Albany Pine Bush near its source, the Tivoli Park Preserve, and the Corning Preserve at its mouth.
The area of land that drains into Patroon Creek is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 5,000 acres (20 square kilometers). It is mostly an urban area, meaning it has many buildings and people. About 17% of the watershed is covered by forests. Sand Creek is a major stream that flows into Patroon Creek. Its watershed covers about 3 square miles (7.8 square kilometers).
