Jackson Creek (Sprout Creek)
Encyclopedia
Jackson Creek is an 11 miles (17.7 km) tributary of Sprout Creek
in Dutchess County, New York
. Via Sprout Creek and Fishkill Creek
, water from Jackson Creek flows to the Hudson River
. Jackson Creek's subwatershed covers 5524 acres (22.4 km²) of land.
. It flows southwestward and receives a small creek from the right bank
. Passing through relatively rural land, the creek receives a larger creek from its left bank and abruptly turns westward. After meeting a small tributary on its right bank, Jackson Creek resumes a southwestward course and crosses under New York State Route 55
, locally Freedom Plains Road. Now in a more developed area, it converges with another creek and flows under County Route 21 (Nixon Road). The creek passes under NY 82
, and shortly thereafter receives a small stream from the right bank. The creek flows near the Lagrange Park and continues to parallel CR 21. The creek ultimately crosses under the Taconic State Parkway
in LaGrange
and flows into Sprout Creek
.
The creek's New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
classification varies from class C(T) to C(TS). Class C means the creek is suitable for fishing or boating.
watershed. It encompasses three towns: Union Vale, LaGrange, and Beekman
. In 2000, 42% of the land surrounding Jackson Creek was forested, 27% was residential, and 19% was used for agricultural purposes. The creek suffers numerous impairments, including flooding, erosion, sedimentation, man-made alteration, litter, and invasive plants. One particularly resilient species—the Mile-a-minute vine (Ipomoea cairica
)—is a major problem in the area. A 2007 study found 16 drainage pipes along the creek, as well as coverts and bridges that restrict its flow and result in localized flooding. A concrete dam along the creek's course prevents fish migration. However, several segments of the creek are considered to be in relatively good condition, especially near its mouth, and populations of trout have been observed.
Sprout Creek
Sprout Creek is a creek located entirely within Dutchess County, New York, United States. It is the largest tributary of Fishkill Creek, entering that creek some upstream from the Hudson River. The creek is annually stocked with 6,000 brown trout, and maintains its own natural population of...
in Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
. Via Sprout Creek and Fishkill Creek
Fishkill Creek
Fishkill Creek is a tributary of the Hudson River in Dutchess County, New York, United States. At it is the second longest stream in the county, after Wappinger Creek. It rises in the town of Union Vale and flows generally southwest to a small estuary on the Hudson just south of Beacon. Part of...
, water from Jackson Creek flows to the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
. Jackson Creek's subwatershed covers 5524 acres (22.4 km²) of land.
Course
Jackson Creek rises in the town of Union ValeUnion Vale, New York
Union Vale is a residential town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 4,546 at the 2000 census.The Town of Union Vale is in the south-central part of the county. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger...
. It flows southwestward and receives a small creek from the right bank
Stream bed
A stream bed is the channel bottom of a stream, river or creek; the physical confine of the normal water flow. The lateral confines or channel margins, during all but flood stage, are known as the stream banks or river banks. In fact, a flood occurs when a stream overflows its banks and flows onto...
. Passing through relatively rural land, the creek receives a larger creek from its left bank and abruptly turns westward. After meeting a small tributary on its right bank, Jackson Creek resumes a southwestward course and crosses under New York State Route 55
New York State Route 55
New York State Route 55 is a state highway in southern New York, running from the Pennsylvania state line at the Delaware River in Barryville to the Connecticut state line at Wingdale...
, locally Freedom Plains Road. Now in a more developed area, it converges with another creek and flows under County Route 21 (Nixon Road). The creek passes under NY 82
New York State Route 82
New York State Route 82 is a state highway in the eastern Hudson Valley of New York, United States. It begins at an intersection with NY 52 northeast of the village of Fishkill, bends eastward towards Millbrook, and then returns westward to end at a junction with U.S. Route 9,...
, and shortly thereafter receives a small stream from the right bank. The creek flows near the Lagrange Park and continues to parallel CR 21. The creek ultimately crosses under the Taconic State Parkway
Taconic State Parkway
The Taconic State Parkway , is a divided highway between Kensico Dam and Chatham, the longest parkway in the U.S. state of New York. It follows a generally northward route midway between the Hudson River and the Connecticut and Massachusetts state lines...
in LaGrange
LaGrange, New York
LaGrange is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 14,928 at the 2000 census. The town was named after the ancestral estate of the Marquis de Lafayette.-History:...
and flows into Sprout Creek
Sprout Creek
Sprout Creek is a creek located entirely within Dutchess County, New York, United States. It is the largest tributary of Fishkill Creek, entering that creek some upstream from the Hudson River. The creek is annually stocked with 6,000 brown trout, and maintains its own natural population of...
.
The creek's New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for the conservation, improvement, and protection of natural resources within the U.S. state of New York. It was founded in 1970, replacing the previous Conservation Department...
classification varies from class C(T) to C(TS). Class C means the creek is suitable for fishing or boating.
Watershed
The creek's watershed covers 5524 acres (22.4 km²) of land, accounting for 4% of the larger Fishkill CreekFishkill Creek
Fishkill Creek is a tributary of the Hudson River in Dutchess County, New York, United States. At it is the second longest stream in the county, after Wappinger Creek. It rises in the town of Union Vale and flows generally southwest to a small estuary on the Hudson just south of Beacon. Part of...
watershed. It encompasses three towns: Union Vale, LaGrange, and Beekman
Beekman, New York
Beekman is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area. The population was 11,452 at the 2000...
. In 2000, 42% of the land surrounding Jackson Creek was forested, 27% was residential, and 19% was used for agricultural purposes. The creek suffers numerous impairments, including flooding, erosion, sedimentation, man-made alteration, litter, and invasive plants. One particularly resilient species—the Mile-a-minute vine (Ipomoea cairica
Ipomoea cairica
Ipomoea cairica morning glory has many common names, including Mile-a-minute Vine, Messina Creeper, Cairo Morning Glory, Coast Morning Glory and Railroad Creeper. This vining perennial has palmate leaves and large, showy white to lavender flowers...
)—is a major problem in the area. A 2007 study found 16 drainage pipes along the creek, as well as coverts and bridges that restrict its flow and result in localized flooding. A concrete dam along the creek's course prevents fish migration. However, several segments of the creek are considered to be in relatively good condition, especially near its mouth, and populations of trout have been observed.