South Sandy Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Sandy Creek |
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South Sandy Creek as it enters Lakeview Wildlife Management Area near its mouth at Lake Ontario.
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Location of the mouth of South Sandy Creek in New York State.
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Region | Upstate New York |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Tug Hill 43°45′07″N 75°47′31″W / 43.75194°N 75.79194°W |
| River mouth | Lake Ontario Lakeview Wildlife Management Area 43°43′12″N 76°12′10″W / 43.72000°N 76.20278°W |
South Sandy Creek is a small river in New York State. It flows through Jefferson and Lewis counties. This creek is a small branch that flows into a much larger body of water, Lake Ontario.
South Sandy Creek starts its journey in the Tug Hill area. From there, it flows west. It passes through the village of Ellisburg. Finally, it reaches its end by emptying into Lake Ontario.
A Look Back in Time
South Sandy Creek has an interesting past. During the War of 1812, an important event happened here. This event was called the "Battle of Big Sandy." It took place right along the lower part of the creek.
Today, you can visit a special place to remember this battle. There is a public parking lot on New York State Route 3. Here, you will find a memorial. This memorial honors the American soldiers who fought and died during the battle.
Fishing Fun
South Sandy Creek is a popular spot for fishing. Many people come here to catch fish that swim up the creek at certain times of the year. These fish include salmon and trout.
- Salmon Season: From September through November, large Chinook salmon swim up the creek. This is called a "salmon run."
- Trout Season: After the salmon, a type of steelhead fish enters the creek. They arrive in November and stay until April. This is when they lay their eggs.
Many anglers, or people who fish, like South Sandy Creek. It is often less crowded than the bigger Salmon River nearby.
The NYSDEC helps keep the creek full of fish. They do this by "stocking" the creek every year. Stocking means they release young fish into the water. For example, in 2013, they added 100,000 Chinook salmon. They also added 28,750 steelhead trout to the creek.
The lower part of the creek has a bottom made of rock and mud. The water here is deep and moves slowly. Further upstream, from the Ellisburg bridge, the creek changes. It has a limestone bottom. Here, you will find shallow areas and many fast-moving sections called "runs" and "riffles."
