Otter Kill
Encyclopedia
Otter Kill is a 16 miles (25.7 km) tributary
of Moodna Creek
that flows through central Orange County, New York
, in the United States. Via the Moodna, which it forms at a confluence
with Cromline Creek north of the village of Washingtonville
, its waters eventually reach the Hudson River
.
The Otter Kill flows primarily through rural, undeveloped areas of the towns of Goshen
, Hamptonburgh
and Blooming Grove
. Development pressures in those areas have led the state Department of Environmental Conservation
to classify it and a major tributary, Black Meadow Creek
, as threatened streams.
. Two miles from its source, in the swamps east of the village of Goshen
, it receives its largest tributary, Black Meadow Creek
. It continues in the same direction, through more swamps surrounded by farmland, into the town of Hamptonburgh
.
Just east of the Campbell Hall Metro-North
station
, the stream begins to bend toward the east. After crossing under the tracks and then NY 207
just east of the hamlet of Campbell Hall, the largest settlement the Otter comes near, it widens and turns even more sharply to the east, paralleling Route 207.
At Brown's Pond near the hamlet of Rock Tavern, it goes over a small dam, crosses under Routes 207 and 208
, then turns to the south, paralleling the latter highway. It crosses under the Port Jervis Line once again. Just after flowing under Route 208 again at an eastward bend of the highway, it meets Cromline Creek and the two continue as Moodna Creek
to the Hudson at Cornwall
.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of Moodna Creek
Moodna Creek
Moodna Creek is a small tributary of the Hudson River that drains eastern Orange County, New York. At 15.5 miles in length from its source at the confluence of Cromline Creek and Otter Kill west of Washingtonville, it is the longest stream located entirely within the county.Despite its small...
that flows through central Orange County, New York
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
, in the United States. Via the Moodna, which it forms at a confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
with Cromline Creek north of the village of Washingtonville
Washingtonville, New York
Washingtonville is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 5,851 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
, its waters eventually reach the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
.
The Otter Kill flows primarily through rural, undeveloped areas of the towns of Goshen
Goshen (town), New York
Goshen is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 12,913 at the 2000 census.The Town of Goshen contains a village also called Goshen, the county seat of Orange County. The town is centrally located in the county....
, Hamptonburgh
Hamptonburgh, New York
Hamptonburgh is a town located in the northern part of Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 4,686 at the 2000 census. The name was provided by an early settler, William Bull....
and Blooming Grove
Blooming Grove, New York
Blooming Grove is a town in Orange County, New York, USA. The population was 17,351 at the 2000 census.The Town of Blooming Grove is in the central part of the county, located southwest of Newburgh.- History :...
. Development pressures in those areas have led the state Department of Environmental Conservation
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for the conservation, improvement, and protection of natural resources within the U.S. state of New York. It was founded in 1970, replacing the previous Conservation Department...
to classify it and a major tributary, Black Meadow Creek
Black Meadow Creek
Black Meadow Creek is a tributary of the Otter Kill in Orange County, New York, in the United States. Via the Otter Kill, it is part of the Moodna Creek watershed, flowing onward to the Hudson River, in one of New York State's most biodiverse natural areas. Home to 13 species of salamander as well...
, as threatened streams.
Course
The Otter Kill traces a semicircular route through the northwestern Moodna valley. It rises from the north end of Goshen's Reservoir #2 and flows generally in that direction, under NY 17New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
. Two miles from its source, in the swamps east of the village of Goshen
Goshen (village), New York
Goshen is a village in and the county seat of Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 5,676 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
, it receives its largest tributary, Black Meadow Creek
Black Meadow Creek
Black Meadow Creek is a tributary of the Otter Kill in Orange County, New York, in the United States. Via the Otter Kill, it is part of the Moodna Creek watershed, flowing onward to the Hudson River, in one of New York State's most biodiverse natural areas. Home to 13 species of salamander as well...
. It continues in the same direction, through more swamps surrounded by farmland, into the town of Hamptonburgh
Hamptonburgh, New York
Hamptonburgh is a town located in the northern part of Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 4,686 at the 2000 census. The name was provided by an early settler, William Bull....
.
Just east of the Campbell Hall Metro-North
Metro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
station
Campbell Hall (Metro-North station)
The Campbell Hall Metro-North station is located just south of the eponymous hamlet in the town of Hamptonburgh in Orange County, New York. It is served by trains on the Port Jervis Line, which either go west to Port Jervis or south to Hoboken, 65.6 miles away. Travel time to the latter is around...
, the stream begins to bend toward the east. After crossing under the tracks and then NY 207
New York State Route 207
New York State Route 207 is a state highway located entirely within Orange County, New York, in the United States. It serves as a connector between the village of Goshen and the city of Newburgh. It has for a long time provided the main access to Stewart International Airport...
just east of the hamlet of Campbell Hall, the largest settlement the Otter comes near, it widens and turns even more sharply to the east, paralleling Route 207.
New York State Route 208
New York State Route 208 is a state highway located in southern New York in the United States. The southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 17M in the Orange County village of Monroe...
, then turns to the south, paralleling the latter highway. It crosses under the Port Jervis Line once again. Just after flowing under Route 208 again at an eastward bend of the highway, it meets Cromline Creek and the two continue as Moodna Creek
Moodna Creek
Moodna Creek is a small tributary of the Hudson River that drains eastern Orange County, New York. At 15.5 miles in length from its source at the confluence of Cromline Creek and Otter Kill west of Washingtonville, it is the longest stream located entirely within the county.Despite its small...
to the Hudson at Cornwall
Cornwall on Hudson, New York
Cornwall-on-Hudson is a riverfront village in Orange County, New York. The estimated population in 2007 was 3,066. The village was founded in 1609 by famed explorer Henry Hudson...
.