Massapequa Creek

Massapequa Creek is a 4.8 miles (7.7 km) long creek that runs through Nassau County, New York, and empties into South Oyster Bay. Most of the length of the creek exists within the Massapequa Preserve, a 432 acres (175 ha) wooded area that extends from the Southern State Parkway in the north to Merrick Road in the south. The creek's headwaters extend north to Farmingdale, draining an area of 6.67 square miles (17.3 km²).

Massapequa Lake in 2021

Massapequa Creek
The creek near the Clark Avenue crossing
Location
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Nassau
Towns	South Farmingdale, Massapequa Park, Massapequa
Physical characteristics
Source	Western Tributary
• location	Bethpage Parkway & Merritts Road, Farmingdale, New York
• coordinates	40.716605°N 73.458225°W / 40.716605; -73.458225
2nd source	Central Tributary
• location	Radcliffe Avenue, Farmingdale, New York
• coordinates	40.717374°N 73.451952°W / 40.717374; -73.451952
3rd source	Eastern Tributary
• location	Main Street & Junard Drive, Farmingdale, New York
• coordinates	40.717213°N 73.436797°W / 40.717213; -73.436797
Mouth
• location	Massapequa Cove, Massapequa, New York
• coordinates	40.6536111°N 73.4708333°W / 40.6536111; -73.4708333
Length	4.8 mi (7.7 km)
Basin size	6.67 sq mi (17.3 km2)

Like all other rivers on Long Island, Massapequa Creek is fed primarily by groundwater. The creek's three tributaries rise in South Farmingdale, two of which merge in a pond next to Farmingdale High School before crossing under the Southern State Parkway. It continues on the other side of the parkway, joined by the eastern tributary, and crosses Linden Street and into the Massapequa Preserve, passing through three ponds before reaching the Massapequa Reservoir. From there, a spillway takes it under Sunrise Highway into wetland areas, and then into the Massapequa Lake. Two spillways at the south end of the lake pass under Merrick Road into a canal, which leads into Massapequa Cove and South Oyster Bay.