Fish

  White Suckers, believed to be the most common fish in the upper Sparkill Creek.

                Blacknose Dace, very small and very common in the creek.

      Tesselated Darter, a small fish that can survive in the shallow waters.

                           Mummichog, found throughout Orangeburg

                                              Golden Shiner

                                      Pumpkinseed Sunfish

                                          Largemouth Bass

                                            Redfin Pickeral

Brown Trout are native to the area and can be found in both the creek and it's tributaries.     They grow to around a foot long. The NYSDEC stocked approximately 2000 Brown Trout     in The Sparkill Creek between 2005 and 2007.

Mosquito Fish are a smaller and more rare species in New York State. They are found only in the New York City and Long Island areas. They were first introduced into New York's waters as a biological control for mosquitoes. Mosquito Fish mainly consume mosquito larvae. They swim to the surface and use their mouths which are on on the top of their heads to feed. (NYSDEC)

Grass Carp are a non-native species to the creek. They can grow to be very large and weigh upwards of 50 pounds. They feed on algae which is why they thrive in the Ferdon Mill Pond.  The presence of Grass Carp suggests just that a body of water has been impacted. Despite this, they help to control aquatic vegetation which is needed in the Ferdon Mill Pond.  

Amphibians                                                                                  

                                         A young Painted Turtle

                                                 Box Turtle            

                                             Snapping Turtle

                                           American Bullfrog

                                               Spring Peeper

                                                Wood Frog

                                            American Toad

Birds

                                      Rose Breasted Grosbeak

                                            Belted Kingfisher

Crustaceans

                      A crayfish covered in algae and in poor health

Key Terms

Alluvium - clay, silt, sand, gravel, or similar detrital material deposited by running water.

Detritus - non-living particulate organic matter.

Ferdon Mill Pond - the widened section of the creek in Sparkill/Piermont inbetween Ferdon Avenue and Piermont Avenue. Named after an old mill that used to be beside it.

Periphyton - benthic algae with microbes and detritus.

Sparkill - the original name of The Sparkill Creek, also a town in which it goes through

Sparkill Gap - the valley that the 9W Viaduct crosses. The location of The Ferdon Mill Pond.