Massapequa Creek
Massapequa Creek is a 4.8 miles (7.7 km) long creek that runs through Nassau County, New York, and empties into South Oyster Bay. Most of the length of the creek exists within the Massapequa Preserve, a 432 acres (175 ha) wooded area that extends from the Southern State Parkway in the north to Merrick Road in the south. The creek's headwaters extend north to Farmingdale, draining an area of 6.67 square miles (17.3 km2).
Massapequa Creek | |
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Location | |
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Towns | South Farmingdale, Massapequa Park, Massapequa |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Western Tributary |
• location | Bethpage Parkway & Merritts Road, Farmingdale, New York |
• coordinates | 40.716605°N 73.458225°W |
2nd source | Central Tributary |
• location | Radcliffe Avenue, Farmingdale, New York |
• coordinates | 40.717374°N 73.451952°W |
3rd source | Eastern Tributary |
• location | Main Street & Junard Drive, Farmingdale, New York |
• coordinates | 40.717213°N 73.436797°W |
Mouth | |
• location | Massapequa Cove, Massapequa, New York |
• coordinates | 40.6536111°N 73.4708333°W |
Length | 4.8 mi (7.7 km) |
Basin size | 6.67 sq mi (17.3 km2) |
Like all other rivers on Long Island, Massapequa Creek is fed primarily by groundwater. The creek's three tributaries rise in South Farmingdale, two of which merge in a pond next to Farmingdale High School before crossing under the Southern State Parkway. It continues on the other side of the parkway, joined by the eastern tributary, and crosses Linden Street and into the Massapequa Preserve, passing through three ponds before reaching the Massapequa Reservoir. From there, a spillway takes it under Sunrise Highway into wetland areas, and then into the Massapequa Lake. Two spillways at the south end of the lake pass under Merrick Road into a canal, which leads into Massapequa Cove and South Oyster Bay.
List of crossings of Massapequa Creek
- Southern State Parkway
- Linden Street
- Clark Avenue
- Long Island Rail Road Babylon Branch
- Sunrise Highway
- Merrick Road
References
- Town of Oyster Bay MASSAPEQUA CREEK WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AND CORRIDOR RESTORATION PLAN, Dec.ny.gov
- DOH Public Health Assessment LIBERTY INDUSTRIAL FINISHING CORPORATION, Albany.edu
- Google Maps- Massapequa Cove, Google.com