Science Drive of
Carmans River =
Headwaters
By Joseph Gabrinowitz
For the Earth Science Research Project =
at
Stony Brook=20
University
Link=20
to printable pdf file of quadrafold Science Drive brochure. =
For best=20
results print on 8.5" x 14" paper
About twenty thousand years ago, the Wisconsinan =
glacier,=20
which covered much of North America, reached the present location =
of Long=20
Island. If the terminus of the glacier remains in place for a few =
years=20
(no net change in ice deposits), a distinct ridge of sediment =
called a=20
moraine forms along the front edge of the ice. On Long Island =
there are=20
two such ridges the Ronkonkoma Moraine in the center of Long =
Island that=20
also forms the southern fork of Long Island and the Harbor Hill =
Moraine=20
along the north shore of Long Island and that forms the northern =
fork of=20
Long Island.
As the front of the glacier retreats it sometimes =
leaves=20
behind huge blocks of ice which becomes surrounded by sediments =
carried by=20
glacial melt water streams. As the ice block melts, a depression =
forms=20
called a kettle. If the bottom of the kettle is filled with =
fine-grained=20
sediment or the groundwater table intersects the bottom of the =
kettle, the=20
kettle may have standing water in it and it becomes a kettle lake =
or=20
kettle pond (see Fig. 1.)
![](3D"http://www.geo.sunysb.edu/esp/Science_Walks/carmans/kettle-hole.gi=)
Fig.1. Cross sections showing the development of =
kettle=20
holes and kettle lakes. A. A block of ice is left behind by =
the=20
retreating glacier. B. Sediments from the glacier bury the =
block of=20
ice. C. After the ice melts a depression is left behind. =
The kettle=20
is dry if the water table is below the bottom of the kettle. =
D. A=20
kettle lake forms if the water table is higher than the bottom of =
the=20
kettle .\
As rain falls or snow melts some of the water =
infiltrates=20
the surface. At some depth the water fills the pore spaces of the =
sediment=20
or bedrock where it is called groundwater. The top surface of the=20
groundwater is called the water table. As the water table or =
elevation of=20
groundwater below the surface began to rise along with the rising =
of sea=20
level thousands of years ago, it began to fill some depressions in =
the=20
land surface such as kettles. This resulted in the development of =
kettle=20
lakes and ponds. A well-known Long Island example of a kettle lake =
is Lake=20
Ronkonkoma. Long Island has many kettles only a few of which have =
water in=20
them.
Several wide and deep valleys on Long Island cut =
the=20
Ronkonkoma Moraine and head toward the Great South Bay and the =
Atlantic=20
Ocean. The Carmans River Valley lies within one of these valleys a =
larger=20
Ancient valley of unknown origin. Figure 2 shows the extent of the =
larger=20
Ancient Valley, which cuts the Ronkonkoma Moraine. The action of =
glacial=20
ice and meltwater are likely suspects for the formation of this=20
valley.
Fig. 2. Map showing the headwater area of the =
Carmans=20
River and the stops in this science drive.
(Click on thumbnail =
for a=20
larger image.)
Digital elevation model of the Carmans River =
and to the=20
north. The science walk stops are the numbers in white. It can be =
seen on=20
this map that while the headlands of the Carmans River is =
essentially at=20
Stop 1 the valley that the Carmans River occupies extends further =
to the=20
north indicating that this valley is old. (Click on the image to =
get a=20
larger image.)
Branching tributaries developed within the ancient =
valley.=20
These branches can be seen on the Digital Elevation Model of this =
area and=20
in the areas shown as kettle valley in Fig. 2. The tributary =
valleys run=20
down East Bartlett Road on the west and down Wading River Hollow =
Road on=20
the east. As the glacier retreated these tributaries became dry. =
Later as=20
the water table rose, the low-lying valley presently occupied by =
the=20
Carmans River and some of the kettles were flooded with =
groundwater. The=20
tributary on the east side of the Ancient Valley is still above =
the water=20
table and is the site of Wading River Hollow Road. Just west of =
this=20
valley is Artist Lake, a kettle lake. The west side tributary left =
behind=20
kettle valley topography, and several kettle lakes and ponds; the =
largest=20
of which is Spring Lake.
Heading east from Route 112 (2.3 miles), on Route =
25 through=20
Coram and Middle Island, you are on the north side of the moraine. =
Look at=20
the map provided to orient yourself. Make a mental note of where =
the=20
Ronkonkoma Moraine, water bodies, and major roads are located. As =
you=20
descend along the hilly topography to the south, at the =
intersection of=20
Bartlett Road and Route 25 (just after Bartlett Pond Park) is the =
first of=20
several areas of kettle valley topographies in this area. (We will =
stop=20
here later to discuss the area in more detail). When you reach the =
top of=20
the next rise (in front of Carl Harts Bicycle Shop) 0.5 miles =
after=20
Bartlett Road, look down toward the Longwood Library, it is on the =
south=20
side of Rt. 25 at the base of the hill (0.3 miles). Make a left =
turn into=20
the repair shop across from the library and park in the dirt lot =
behind=20
it. This stop 1.
Stop 1.
The elevation change from the top of the rise to =
the base is=20
about 80 feet. This rise is the western wall of a larger Ancient =
Valley.=20
The valley that the Carmans River and its estuary now occupy =
extends=20
northward to Route 25A (~4 miles north of here). A repair shop, =
the=20
library, and an old lumberyard now occupy this part of the Carmans =
River=20
headwaters area. Remnants of the headwaters can be found in the =
small pond=20
and wetland area behind the repair shop. You may see a ring of the =
common=20
reed phragmites (a common invasive wetland plant), as you look =
northward=20
into the woods. The phragmites tend to thrive in areas that are=20
periodically submerged in water. Because current topographic =
elevation and=20
the regional groundwater table elevation are about the same =
(~50=92 above=20
mean sea level) these are a groundwater fed pond and wetland. That =
means=20
the water table is at or above the land surface.
Continuing up the rise through Middle Island you =
are=20
ascending the east side of the Carmans River Valley within the =
larger=20
Ancient Valley. As you reach the top of the rise you are at an =
elevation=20
of 90 feet above sea level. You should be able to see a lake in =
the valley=20
to your right as you descend the rise. This is Artist Lake. Park =
on the=20
east side of the shopping center lot across from the lake and =
close to the=20
road. (0.6 miles from the library)
Stop 2. Artist Lake-
The lake, contrary to popular belief is not man =
made. The=20
bottom of the lake is at an elevation of 47 feet, which is about 3 =
to 5=20
feet below the regional water table. How deep is the lake? You are =
standing in the parking lot of K-Mart and looking southwest toward =
the=20
lake. There was a time when the northeastern most side of the lake =
continued across the road and into the parking lot where you =
stand.
The lake was given its name in the middle 1800s by =
locals=20
who hoped to attract artists and painters to the area. It worked. =
A man by=20
the name of Alonzo Chappel moved here in 1869. He painted historic =
revolutionary war scenes and historic people, which hang in =
museums all=20
over the world. If you look at the map of the lake in figure 3, =
you will=20
see that it resembles a painters palette. The lake is believed to =
be a=20
kettle lake and lies in the middle of the larger Ancient Valley. =
If it is=20
indeed a kettle lake, can you imagine the size of the block of =
glacial ice=20
that was buried here?
Fig. 3 Perspective view of the headwaters =
area as the=20
glacier is retreating.
(Click on thumbnail for a =
larger=20
image.
Continuing east 0.7 miles on Route 25 you will =
ascend to a=20
terrace, a flat area within a valley. The terrace is just above =
the kettle=20
valley topography and below the eastern wall of the Ancient =
Valley. At 0.7=20
miles make a right turn on Wading River Hollow road and continue =
to its=20
end 1.5 miles south to Longwood Road. As your driving, look to =
your left=20
or east. Is there a significant change in elevation beyond the =
houses?=20
This is the eastern wall of the Ancient River Valley (See Fig. 2). =
At=20
Longwood road, make a left turn, drive to the top of the rise and =
pull=20
over on the side of the road just before the school. If school is =
not in=20
session you can park in the school lot.
Stop 3. Longwood High school-
Make your way to the south end of the school =
parking lot on=20
foot or with your vehicle. You should be able to see the Middle =
Island=20
Country Club and tall pine trees in front of you as you look to =
the west.=20
The school lies north of the Ronkonkoma Moraine and east of the =
Carmans=20
River. This is a rather spectacular view across the Ancient =
Valley. As you=20
can see from the map you are standing near the edge of the eastern =
wall of=20
the Ancient Valley looking to the western wall, which is the =
prominent=20
tree line about a mile away.
Head west on Longwood road to the intersection of =
Route 21=20
(0.25 miles) notice the change in elevation. At the end of =
Longwood road,=20
directly across the street, lies Cathedral Pines County Park =
(stop3). Make=20
a left turn onto Route 21 and quick right into the park. You can =
park in=20
the lot on the south side of the road.
Stop 4. Cathedral Pines County Park-
As you enter the park you crossed the Carmans =
River. The=20
park encompasses the entire area of the modern Carmans River =
headwaters.=20
The headwaters run parallel to Route 21 for about =BE miles before =
turning=20
northwest and ending behind the Longwood Library and Wal-Mart. A =
large=20
percentage of the pines in the park were planted in the early =
1800=92s. In=20
1812, a man named =93Uncle Billy=94 Dayton planted some white pine =
trees on=20
his land on the road to Yaphank (Rt. 21). They soon grew so tall =
and=20
beautiful that people who came to see them called them =93The Pine =
Cathedral=20
and =93Prossers Cathedral Pines,=94 after the next family to live =
there. This=20
area is located just north and east of here at the Prosser Pines =
County=20
Nature Preserve (see map).
At the south end of the parking lot is the =
beginning of a=20
bike trail marked with a wooden sign. The trail is outlined on the =
figure=20
2. The headwaters run parallel to the trail and then cross East =
Bartlett=20
Road through a culvert pipes to the Upper Lake (see figure 2). =
This=20
culvert pipe represents the transition from the headwaters to the=20
beginning of the Upper Lake region of the Carmans River. This area =
is the=20
focus of my research, which is described in the web site. The area =
is also=20
a major part of the fresh water wetlands that ring the park. The =
park and=20
wetlands support a variety of wildlife, which include deer, =
several=20
varieties of hawks, migratory birds (ducks, geese etc.), and =
egrets. The=20
aquatic habits have been known to support trout, chain pickerel =
and many=20
macro-invertebrates (bugs that live in or near water). The =
headwaters of=20
many river systems are vital in the survival of the downstream =
ecosystems=20
therefore; contaminants that could get into the river in this area =
could=20
have significant impacts downstream. The land use in the area is =
mostly=20
parkland, residential homes, and agriculture. What types of =
contaminants=20
might you expect to occur in surface water runoff or in the=20
groundwater?
Exit the park and head south (miles) on Route 21 =
past East=20
Bartlett Road and watch for the Middle Island Country Club, as you =
pass=20
the entrance to the club notice that on the left or east of the =
road is a=20
significant increase in elevation, while on the west side of the =
road=20
there is a depression. This is the eastern wall of the Ancient =
Valley=20
where it cuts the Ronkonkoma Moraine (See figure 2). Continue =
south on Rt.=20
21 for 1.5 miles from the park. On your right before the traffic =
light is=20
Swezy Park stop 5.
Stop 5. Carmans River Upper Lake-Swezy Park
The upper and lower lakes of the Carmans River =
have been=20
dammed since the late 1700s to early 1800s for conveying logs to a =
mill on=20
the river in Yaphank. The mill no longer exists however; some =
historical=20
buildings remain. Walk down to the shore and look too the =
northwest. The=20
line of trees in the background is along the west side the Ancient =
Valley=20
where it cuts the Ronkonkoma Moraine (See figure 2). Head back =
north on=20
route 21 to East Bartlett road. Make a left turn onto East =
Bartlett and=20
continue =BD mile west to the intersection of Ashton and East =
Bartlett=20
roads. Make a left on Ashton and continue a 1/8 of a mile to =
Silvia lane=20
this is stop 6. Park on Silvia or Ashton Road.
Stop 6. Western valley wall of Ronkonkoma =
Moraine-
Walk another 1/8 mile south to the power lines on =
the west=20
side of the road. The terrain is steep so take care when walking. =
Hike up=20
the trail about 1/8 of a mile. Look back east to see your change =
in=20
elevation. Continue up the hill for another 1/8-mile until you =
find=20
utility pole #106 and look back east (for a better view climb to =
the top=20
of the cliff). The buildings in the distance are part of Longwood =
High=20
School, which lies at the top Ancient Valley wall at stop 2. You =
are now=20
standing in the trees we were viewing at stop 2 (about a mile =
away). The=20
change in elevation from Silvia Lane to your current position is =
about 120=20
feet. The highest point of the moraine in this area is about 210 =
feet=20
above sea level, impressive for Long Island. As you make your way =
down the=20
moraine, look at the small drainage valley on the north side of =
the=20
trail.
Head north, back up Ashton Road to East Bartlett =
Road, at=20
the intersection continue straight up east Bartlett for about a =
1.5 miles.=20
On your left or west side, you will start to see small ponds these =
are=20
part of the continuing kettle valley topography that drained into =
the=20
Ancient Valley from the west. (Look at your map to locate them). =
At the=20
stop sign, you will see the Spring Lake Golf Club on your left. =
Proceed=20
north, parallel to the course to a small park on the left (it is a =
gravel=20
parking lot with a few picnic tables) this is stop 7, and great =
place to=20
have a snack and enjoy the view.
Stop 7. Spring Lake-
Spring Lake is a kettle lake. A common =
misconception of=20
kettle lakes is that the source of water is the melting of the =
glacier ice=20
block. However, the melt waters would have seeped into the ground =
or been=20
diluted by rainwater shortly after their formation. The small =
ponds to the=20
north of the main body of water are man made. They were =
constructed as a=20
water hazard for the golf course, which was built in the 1950=92s. =
The ponds=20
were once a partially submerged fresh water wetland that continued =
across=20
RT 25, behind the strip mall and then a =BD-mile west before =
drying up. The=20
depressions were filled in to make way for new housing about the =
same time=20
the golf course was built.
Rt. 25 is just at the end of Bartlett Road you =
should be=20
able to find your way back home from there.
Visit the web site at www.geo.sunysb.edu/esp =
for copies=20
of this Science Drive and other science walks on Long Island.
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