Ponchatoula Creek
Encyclopedia
Ponchatoula Creek is a 26.1 miles (42 km) tributary of the Natalbany River in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
. The two waterways join where a section of the Natalbany forms the boundary between Tangipahoa Parish and Livingston Parish. Ponchatoula Creek originates west of Old US Highway 51, 1 miles (1.6 km) north of Independence
. The creek is entirely within Tangipahoa Parish.
, thence westward between Hammond and the city of Ponchatoula
, and then south and west to join the Natalbany River between Springfield
, and Lake Maurepas
. Ponchatoula Creek is bridged by LA 40, LA 1063, LA 442, US 51, LA 1064 (Natalbany Road), North Oak Street, Canadian National Railway
, LA 3234 (University Avenue), LA 1065 (North Cherry Street), US 190, US 51 Business
, I-55 (in its concurrency with US 51), and LA 22 before emptying into the Natalbany southwest of Ponchatoula. One tributary forms part of the northern perimeter of Southeastern Louisiana University
's main campus, and another tributary flows under the campus in a tunnel starting on the south side of LA 3234 near the Southeastern University Center
.
, as even in the 21st century arrowhead
s are still occasionally found along the historic creek bed, a sign that deer
frequented the stream.
Peter av Hammerdal (Peter Hammond), eponym of Hammond, Louisiana
, settled along the Ponchatoula Creek in the early 19th century and used the stream for agricultural and logistical purposes as he supplied wood products to ocean-going vessels in New Orleans.
In modern times the chief use of Ponchatoula Creek is drainage, with much of its channel widened, deepened, and straightened by dredging. These practical enhancements to Ponchatoula Creek have reduced its scenic quality but greatly improved its efficiency and effectiveness in eliminating flooding. The tunnel under Southeastern's campus is throughout taller than the average man.
Ponchatoula Creek is eponymous with Ponchatoula, Louisiana
, USS Ponchatoula (AOG 38)
, USS Ponchatoula (AO 148)
, and Ponchatoula High School
. For etymology of the name "Ponchatoula" see Ponchatoula history.
fish also known as white amur, which was introduced in 1963 from Vietnam
to enhance weed control
.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. The two waterways join where a section of the Natalbany forms the boundary between Tangipahoa Parish and Livingston Parish. Ponchatoula Creek originates west of Old US Highway 51, 1 miles (1.6 km) north of Independence
Independence, Louisiana
Independence, originally known as Uncle Sam, is a town in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,724 at the 2000 census...
. The creek is entirely within Tangipahoa Parish.
Path
Ponchatoula Creek's cardinal direction is southwest (or south and west) as it meanders south around the west side of Independence and Tickfaw, and even southeast through Natalbany and the northeastern quadrant of HammondHammond, Louisiana
Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University...
, thence westward between Hammond and the city of Ponchatoula
Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Ponchatoula is a city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,180 at the 2000 census. Ponchatoula calls itself the "Strawberry Capital of the World". It is part of the Hammond Micropolitan Statistical Area. The current mayor is Bob Zabbia.-Geography:Ponchatoula is...
, and then south and west to join the Natalbany River between Springfield
Springfield, Louisiana
Springfield is a town in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 395 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Springfield is located at ....
, and Lake Maurepas
Lake Maurepas
Lake Maurepas is located in southeastern Louisiana approximately halfway between New Orleans and Baton Rouge directly west of Lake Pontchartrain.-Namesake:...
. Ponchatoula Creek is bridged by LA 40, LA 1063, LA 442, US 51, LA 1064 (Natalbany Road), North Oak Street, Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
, LA 3234 (University Avenue), LA 1065 (North Cherry Street), US 190, US 51 Business
Business route
A business route in the United States and Canada is a short special route connected to a parent numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or town, and finally reconnecting with the same parent numbered highway again at its...
, I-55 (in its concurrency with US 51), and LA 22 before emptying into the Natalbany southwest of Ponchatoula. One tributary forms part of the northern perimeter of Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university in Hammond, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1925 by Linus A. Sims, the principal of Hammond High School, as Hammond Junior College, located in a wing of the high school building. Sims succeeded in getting the campus...
's main campus, and another tributary flows under the campus in a tunnel starting on the south side of LA 3234 near the Southeastern University Center
University Center (Southeastern Louisiana)
University Center is a 7,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Hammond, Louisiana, United States, on the campus Southeastern Louisiana University. Often called "the UC" within the University, it was built in 1982 at a cost of $16.3 million...
.
Role
Native Americans found Ponchatoula Creek an earthly happy hunting groundHappy hunting ground
The Happy Hunting Ground was the name given to the concept of the afterlife by several of the great plains Native American tribes, as well as the Iroquois, Cherokee and Algonquians...
, as even in the 21st century arrowhead
Arrowhead
An arrowhead is a tip, usually sharpened, added to an arrow to make it more deadly or to fulfill some special purpose. Historically arrowheads were made of stone and of organic materials; as human civilization progressed other materials were used...
s are still occasionally found along the historic creek bed, a sign that deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
frequented the stream.
Peter av Hammerdal (Peter Hammond), eponym of Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond, Louisiana
Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University...
, settled along the Ponchatoula Creek in the early 19th century and used the stream for agricultural and logistical purposes as he supplied wood products to ocean-going vessels in New Orleans.
In modern times the chief use of Ponchatoula Creek is drainage, with much of its channel widened, deepened, and straightened by dredging. These practical enhancements to Ponchatoula Creek have reduced its scenic quality but greatly improved its efficiency and effectiveness in eliminating flooding. The tunnel under Southeastern's campus is throughout taller than the average man.
Ponchatoula Creek is eponymous with Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Ponchatoula is a city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,180 at the 2000 census. Ponchatoula calls itself the "Strawberry Capital of the World". It is part of the Hammond Micropolitan Statistical Area. The current mayor is Bob Zabbia.-Geography:Ponchatoula is...
, USS Ponchatoula (AOG 38)
USS Ponchatoula (AOG-38)
USS Ponchatoula was a Mettawee-class gasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations....
, USS Ponchatoula (AO 148)
USS Ponchatoula (AO-148)
|-See also:* List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy...
, and Ponchatoula High School
Ponchatoula High School
Ponchatoula High School is a high school near Ponchatoula, Louisiana, United States. It is operated by the Tangipahoa Parish School System.The sports teams are known as the Green Wave or Greenwave, after the eponymous athletic glory days of the Tulane Green Wave...
. For etymology of the name "Ponchatoula" see Ponchatoula history.
Fauna
Ponchatoula Creek forms a habitat for the species Ctenopharyngodon idella, a grass carpGrass carp
The grass carp is a herbivorous, freshwater fish species of family Cyprinidae, and the only species of the genus Ctenopharyngodon. It is cultivated in China for food, but was introduced in Europe and the United States for aquatic weed control...
fish also known as white amur, which was introduced in 1963 from Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
to enhance weed control
Weed control
Weed control is the botanical component of pest control, using physical and chemical methods to stop weeds from reaching a mature stage of growth when they could be harmful to domesticated plants and livestock...
.