Piscataway Creek is a tributary of the Rappahannock River in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately 17 miles (27 km) in length. It is fed by the Sturgeon Swamp and Mussel Swamp, lowlands near US Route 360 on the Middle Peninsula, and empties into the Rappahannock River three miles (5 km) downstream from the town of Tappahannock. It is tidal for much of its course.
The creek drains an area of 57.4 square miles (149 km2). Its watershed is 63% forested. Agriculture encompasses 26.5 percent of the watershed, with 16.1 percent cropland and 10.4 pasture/hayland. The remainder consists of swampland and residential area.[1]
Descriptionedit
Piscataway Creek follows a winding path through the central part of Essex county. It is navigable for about four miles (6 km) upstream from the Rappahannock river. The navigable portion extends just beyond the US Route 17 bridge. There are no aids to navigation.
In 1883, the United States government considered improving the navigability of the creek to serve the agricultural and foresting interests of the area. The channel was found to be narrow, but deep enough to support commercial vessels. The major inhibitor to commercial navigation was the bar extending across the northern portion of the mouth of the creek. It was ultimately decided that improved access was not worth the cost of dredging, and goods continued to be taken to Ware's Wharf via wagon.[2]
piscataway, creek, virginia, piscataway, creek, tributary, rappahannock, river, eastern, virginia, united, states, approximately, miles, length, sturgeon, swamp, mussel, swamp, lowlands, near, route, middle, peninsula, empties, into, rappahannock, river, three. Piscataway Creek is a tributary of the Rappahannock River in eastern Virginia in the United States approximately 17 miles 27 km in length It is fed by the Sturgeon Swamp and Mussel Swamp lowlands near US Route 360 on the Middle Peninsula and empties into the Rappahannock River three miles 5 km downstream from the town of Tappahannock It is tidal for much of its course The creek drains an area of 57 4 square miles 149 km2 Its watershed is 63 forested Agriculture encompasses 26 5 percent of the watershed with 16 1 percent cropland and 10 4 pasture hayland The remainder consists of swampland and residential area 1 Description editPiscataway Creek follows a winding path through the central part of Essex county It is navigable for about four miles 6 km upstream from the Rappahannock river The navigable portion extends just beyond the US Route 17 bridge There are no aids to navigation In 1883 the United States government considered improving the navigability of the creek to serve the agricultural and foresting interests of the area The channel was found to be narrow but deep enough to support commercial vessels The major inhibitor to commercial navigation was the bar extending across the northern portion of the mouth of the creek It was ultimately decided that improved access was not worth the cost of dredging and goods continued to be taken to Ware s Wharf via wagon 2 The Tappahannock Essex County Airport opened in 2007 sits in the southern portion of the Piscataway s watershed See also editList of Virginia riversReferences edit Piscataway Creek Environmental Assessment Annual Report of the Secretary of War pp 1006 07 37 54 12 N 76 49 21 W 37 90333 N 76 82250 W 37 90333 76 82250 nbsp This Essex County Virginia state location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Piscataway Creek Virginia amp oldid 1146545105, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
