CONFLUENCE - Ellicott Creek - Tonawanda Creek/Erie Canal
Posted by: 
Rayman
N 43° 01.266 W 078° 52.632
17T E 672969 N 4765344
Ellicott Creek empties into Tonawanda Creek near downtown Tonawanda and North Tonawanda, NY.
Waymark Code: WM1NAA
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 06/07/2007
Views: 125
When the Erie Canal was built in the early 1800s, they utilized natural waterways whenever possible instead of building an actual canal. At the western end, Tonawanda Creek was convenient, so it was used to route boats on their way to or from Buffalo.
Ellicott Creek reaches it's destination at Tonawanda Creek. It was named after Joseph Ellicott, who worked for the Holland Land Company and surveyed most of Western New York. The creek flows in a generally western direction from its origin near Darien Lake State Park in Darien, then through Alden; Lancaster; Cheektowaga, where it flows under the runway of the Buffalo airport; Williamsville, where it falls over the Onondaga Escarpment to create
Glen Falls; Amherst; and Tonawanda before reaching Tonawanda Creek. In the Tonawanda and Amherst area, it is commonly used by kayakers.
The area of the confluence has been heavily developed in recent years to cater to boaters, both locally and from other parts of the region. Both sides of Tonawanda Creek and one side of Ellicott Creek has hookups for providing water and electrical for a minimal charge. The historic 1825
Long Homestead is also in the vicinity, which was occupied by one of the first settlers who came to the area. Free concerts are held during the summer on several nights per week, including national touring bands on Saturday nights as part of the
Canal Concert Series. In July, the week-long annual
Canal Fest celebrates the history of the canal and it's importance to the Tonawandas.