Carmans River
Encyclopedia
The Carmans River is a 10 miles (16.1 km) long river in Brookhaven in Suffolk County
on Long Island
.
It is one of the four largest rivers on Long Island and is similar to other Long Island rivers in that is totally groundwater
generated (e.g., no lakes), although a lake did exist long ago. Almost all of the river is specifically protected by the Central Long Island Pine Barrens. All of it is designated by New York State as either a "Scenic River" or a "Recreational River."
The river, which was earlier once called the Connecticut River (in connection with early settlers from Connecticut
) is named for Samuel Carman who married into milling families on the river in the 19th century and operated a hunting club for residents of New York City.
It is fresh water for the first eight miles (13 km) and then becomes an estuary
for the last two.
There are four dams on the upper river at Upper Mill Pond, Lower Mill Pond, Southaven Park, and the Sunrise Highway
.
Adjoining the river is the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge
.
The river formed the western boundary of the massive Manor of St. George under William "Tangier" Smith who in the 17th century owned most of modern day Brookhaven south of the Sunrise Highway. A manor subsequently built by the Smith family is located in Shirley at the mouth.
In 1967 Art Cooley, Bellport, New York
school teacher, noting a decline in the osprey
population on the river was one of the founders of the Environmental Defense Fund which was to lead the fight to ban DDT
.
Southaven County Park
encompasses upstream parts of the river and special regulations trout fishing can be accessed through them.
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
.
It is one of the four largest rivers on Long Island and is similar to other Long Island rivers in that is totally groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
generated (e.g., no lakes), although a lake did exist long ago. Almost all of the river is specifically protected by the Central Long Island Pine Barrens. All of it is designated by New York State as either a "Scenic River" or a "Recreational River."
The river, which was earlier once called the Connecticut River (in connection with early settlers from Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
) is named for Samuel Carman who married into milling families on the river in the 19th century and operated a hunting club for residents of New York City.
It is fresh water for the first eight miles (13 km) and then becomes an estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
for the last two.
There are four dams on the upper river at Upper Mill Pond, Lower Mill Pond, Southaven Park, and the Sunrise Highway
New York State Route 27
New York State Route 27 is an east–west long state highway extending from Interstate 278 in the New York City borough of Brooklyn to Montauk Point State Park on Long Island, New York, United States...
.
Adjoining the river is the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge
Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge
The Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge is located on the south shore of Long Island and is one of the undeveloped estuary systems on Long Island. Its main purpose was to organize the refuge so it would protect the Carmans River Estuary for all migratory birds. Wertheim hosts a variety of habitats...
.
The river formed the western boundary of the massive Manor of St. George under William "Tangier" Smith who in the 17th century owned most of modern day Brookhaven south of the Sunrise Highway. A manor subsequently built by the Smith family is located in Shirley at the mouth.
In 1967 Art Cooley, Bellport, New York
Bellport, New York
Bellport is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 2,363 at the 2000 census. The village is named after the Bell family, early settlers of the area. The public education system in Bellport makes up the South Country Central School District consisting of six...
school teacher, noting a decline in the osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
population on the river was one of the founders of the Environmental Defense Fund which was to lead the fight to ban DDT
DDT
DDT is one of the most well-known synthetic insecticides. It is a chemical with a long, unique, and controversial history....
.
Southaven County Park
Southaven County Park
Southaven County Park is located in Brookhaven and South Haven, New York in central Long Island. It is located between Sunrise Highway just west of William Floyd Parkway, off of Victory Avenue , and crossed by the Carmans River.In the 1960s, it became one of Suffolk County’s first parks opened to...
encompasses upstream parts of the river and special regulations trout fishing can be accessed through them.
List of crossings of the Carmans River
- East Bartlett Road
- Mill(Coram-Yaphank) Road
County Route 21 (Suffolk County, New York)County Route 21 (Suffolk County, New York)Suffolk County Route 21 is a north–south county road in Suffolk County, New York. Its southern end is at County Route 16 at its interchange with New York State Route 27 in Brookhaven, and the highway ends at New York State Route 25A in Rocky Point....
; Yaphank Avenue.svg.png)
Interstate 495 (New York)Interstate 495 (New York)Interstate 495 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway on Long Island in New York in the United States. The route extends for from the western portal of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel in the New York City borough of Manhattan to County Route 58 in Riverhead, Suffolk County...
; Long Island Expressway- Main Line (Long Island Rail Road)Main Line (Long Island Rail Road)The Main Line is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. It begins in Long Island City and runs along the middle of Long Island about 95 miles to Greenport...
County Route 56 (Suffolk County, New York) Victory Boulevard
New York State Route 27New York State Route 27New York State Route 27 is an east–west long state highway extending from Interstate 278 in the New York City borough of Brooklyn to Montauk Point State Park on Long Island, New York, United States...
; Sunrise Highway
County Route 80 (Suffolk County, New York): Montauk Highway- Montauk BranchMontauk BranchThe Montauk Branch is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch runs the length of Long Island, 115 miles from Long Island City on the west to Montauk on the east...
of the Long Island Rail RoadLong Island Rail RoadThe Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...