Otsquago Creek

Otsquago Creek
Rapids on the creek by Vanhornesville
Otsquago Creek is located in New York Adirondack Park
Otsquago Creek
Location of the mouth of Otsquago Creek
Otsquago Creek is located in the United States
Otsquago Creek
Otsquago Creek (the United States)
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
RegionCentral New York Region
CountiesHerkimer, Montgomery
TownsStark, Minden
Physical characteristics
SourceUn-named Marshy Field
 • locationVan Hornesville, New York
 • coordinates42°54′27″N 74°50′25″W / 42.9075722°N 74.84015°W / 42.9075722; -74.84015[1]
 • elevation1,360 ft (410 m)
MouthMohawk River
 • location
Fort Plain, New York
 • coordinates
42°55′57″N 74°37′04″W / 42.9325727°N 74.6176423°W / 42.9325727; -74.6176423[1]
 • elevation
295 ft (90 m)[1]
Length18.6 mi (29.9 km)[2]
Basin size61.3 sq mi (159 km2)[3]
Discharge 
 • locationFort Plain
 • minimum.6 cu ft/s (0.017 m3/s)
 • maximum24,600 cu ft/s (700 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftLoyal Creek,
Otsquene Creek
 • rightOtstungo Creek
WaterfallsCreamery Falls, Van Hornesville Falls

Otsquago Creek is a river that enters the Mohawk River in Fort Plain, New York. Otsquago is a Mohawk Indian word meaning 'under the bridge,' probably referring to an early bridge of felled trees along the creek, a way of making small bridges.[4] It is also referred to as Otsquage on old maps, which is an Indian word for 'healing waters'.

The source of the Otsquago Creek is about 12 miles southeast from its outlet, 1,360 feet above sea level and about 1,000 feet above the Mohawk River, in a marshy field by Van Hornesville, New York.[5] Creamery Falls and Van Hornesville Falls are two waterfalls on the creek near Van Hornesville.

  1. ^ a b c "Otsquago Creek". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  2. ^ "emergency transportation infrastructure recovery water basin assessment and flood hazard mitigation alternatives otsquago creek - New York State Water Resources Institute". wri.cals.cornell.edu. New Paltz, NY: Malone and MacBroom Inc. April 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  3. ^ "USGS 0134900105 OTSQUAGO CREEK AT MOUTH AT FORT PLAIN NY". National Water Information System. United States Geological Survey. 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  4. ^ "Otsquago Creek". nygenweb.net. nygenweb.net. 1999. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  5. ^ knox, charles (1980). "Mohawk Turnpike Book". nygenweb.net. nygenweb.net. Retrieved 18 April 2017.