Cascadilla Creek
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cascadilla Creek | |
|---|---|
 Cascadilla Creek in a gorge, by Cornell University's campus | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | Cayuga Inlet |
• location | Ithaca, New York, United States |
• coordinates | 42°27′06″N 76°30′36″W / 42.45167°N 76.51000°W |
| Basin size | 13.7 mi2 (35 km2) |
Cascadilla Creek is a river located in Tompkins County, New York. It flows into Cayuga Inlet by Ithaca, New York.[1] Its headwaters are located in Ellis Hollow, New York. While it is in the Cascadilla Gorge, the river flows through Cornell University's campus. A majority of the creek's 13.7 square miles (35 km2) watershed is forested, and portions are maintained as preserves by the Cornell Botanic Gardens or Finger Lakes Land Trust.
Cascadilla Creek originates in Ellis Hollow, also known as the Cascadilla Creek Valley,[2][3] about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Ithaca, New York.[4] From there, the creek flows through a portion of the East Ithaca Recreation Way and the Upper Cascadilla Natural Area. In this region, the land immediately surrounding the creek is characterized by "buffering" forests.[5][6] Next it passes over Dwyer Dam and through the Cornell University campus, where it is contained within the Cascadilla Gorge and drops 400 feet (120 m).[7][8] The gorge divides Cornell's Central Campus from Ithaca's Collegetown neighborhood.[9][10] Notable buildings near the creek along this stretch include the Cornell Central Heating Plant,[8] Cascadilla Hall, Myron Taylor Hall.[11]
Finally, the creek flows through Ithaca and into Cayuga Inlet.[12][13]
Ecology
The creek has a drainage basin of 13.7 square miles (35 km2).[14] In 2012, the watershed was estimated to be 60.8% forested, 21.7% agricultural, and 16.7% urban land.[15] The creek's highest recorded flow was 1,400 cubic feet (40 m3) per second on July 8, 1935. There is no active gauging station that measure's the creek's flow.[13] Four major creeks flowing into Cayuga Lake through Ithaca, Cascadilla Creek, Fall Creek, Six Mile Creek, and the Cayuga Inlet Creek, contribute approximately 40% of the lake's inflow.[16]
History
Development and industry (1791 to 1900)
In 1791, John Yaple constructed the first mill in Ithaca on Cascadilla Creek.[17] The first European to settle near near the creek's headwaters, Peleg Ellis, built a log cabin there in 1799. As a result, the region became known as Ellis Hollow.[18] In 1836, the segment of the stream that flowed through Ithaca was straightened and put through a man-made channel.[17][19]
Various other mills were constructed on the creek throughout the 19th century, as well as several dams to supply water to industry. These include a dam constructed by Daniel Bates to provide water to a tannery (1823), a dam for a cotton factory run by Otis Eddy (1826). Other facilities that were powered by the creek included a grist mill run by Simeon De Witt, a window-sash factory, and a chair factory.[17]
In 1871, a length of the Utica, Ithaca & Elmira Railroad was constructed along Cascadilla Creek, dramatically impacting the wetlands that it passed through.[20][21][22] A wooden bridge connecting Collegetown with Cornell was replaced by a stone arch bridge in 1898.[23]
Later history
In 1909, Robert H. Treman purchased the land in the Cascadilla Gorge, which he donated to Cornell. From 1928 to 1931 the University constructed a trail that went up the gorge,[24] with funding contributed by Henry Sackett.[25] The horticulturist Laurence Howland MacDaniels planted a nut grove in upper Cascadilla Creek in the 1930s.[26]
Cornell proposed building a large building to house the Cornell Theory Center bordering Cascadilla Gorge in 1987. After encountering community opposition and an opposing vote by the Ithaca Planning Board, who feared it would harm the natural state of the gorge, a smaller version was built, slightly further away from the gorge.[23]
In the summer of 1997, Cornell worked to redevelop a wetland in the area that had been disturbed by railway construction.[27][22]
The gorge trail has been closed for repairs from 1996 to 1997 and from 2014 to 2019.[24][28] In 2011, a 1,200 pounds (540 kg) gate designed by a local artist was installed at the base of the trail.[29]
