A River Runs Through It
If you're into fishing and you think that you have to head out to the isolated country streams to get some good action... think again. The early spring edition of Chrome on Chrome, a blog that touts itself as 'the foremost blog on progressive trout angling, sites a spot along the Scajaquada Creek as "the oddest little urban steelhead fishery you’ve ever seen!" Check out this neat account that offers a description of the trail that so many of us can easily visualize. Despite the inclusion of shopping malls, tunnels and garbage impounds the tale is a real eye opener as to what a treasure we have despite past mishandlings. This story should give any nature lover hope that Mother Nature is more persistent than we ever imagined (see The Scar). From the post:
One more note, this is near and dear to my heart, but since they are almost fully protected I don’t mind broadcasting this into space. There is the most amazing run of steelhead in the oddest place – you could never imagine! Right in the center of the city of Buffalo, NY proper – 1 block from the intersection of Main St. and West Delevan you will find at least 30 odd steelhead spawning beneath willow trees, in complete forested silence. If you’re having a hard time imagining how this could be true take a moment to follow these directions. The window is short so leave now! Go to Forrest Lawn Cemetery in the heart of Buffalo, NY, and inspect the section of stream from the last bridge to the crematorium. If you have a little time try to back track downstream through the incredible route these amazingly resilient fish must travel to find this oddly secluded urban wonderland. Over several garbage impoundments, past 2 major shopping installations, and under 1 long underground tunnel these beautiful fish must travel. And they do. Remember, there is no stocking effort in Scajaquada creek – these fish are either devout crossovers or… or…. could I even dare to suggest: naturally spawning steelhead. The water may look dirty, but the substrate vaguely resembles something suitable. Add to that a “moratorium” on any kind of fishing and you may just have the ingredients my friend for the oddest little urban steelhead fishery you’ve ever seen!
The reworking of the Scajaquada Expressway that bounds the creek (in coming years) is a golden opportunity to reclaim much of what the past has destroyed.
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Comment Options
RisingDamp666
"Chrome on Chrome". How appropriate. Anybody check the chromium levels in the fishery there?
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icecreamsub
steelhead or carp?.....I'll have to check this out. can people fish in the cemetary? there's also a herd of deer (at least 8) living in the section of land in the top photo.....between the creek and old Tee-2 Green golf range....what a crappy place to live
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Hoss
Supposedly it's a great place to not live.
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Caleb
Scajaquada creek is unfortunatly very polluted from the 20+ combined sewer outfalls (cso) that empty into it. Couple that with de-icer from the airport and it does have a toxic legacy. Most of the industry on the western end have been long closed and a large section contaminated with PCB's was cleaned up but there is still much to do.
I have been involved with the Scajaquada Creek Cleanup, held this year on April 19th, for many years. We have a large group of volunteers that do all they can to keep the banks free of debris, shopping carts and garbage. The next step is to go after the sewer inflows and quit dumping raw sewage into this quite spectacular little creek. Buffalo State has been making some efforts on their end and are putting in a large settling pond for all the storm drains on campus so that the water released into the creek will be crystal clear. This is a good solution, now we must convince Buffalo and Cheektowaga to do the same for their storm drains and to remove the raw sewage from the equasion. When you drive over the creek on Elmwood and notice that large pile, almost an island now, that is sewage buildup from Cheektowaga. What a shame.
The creek does have a large steelhead spawning in the spring along with walleye in the lower reaches. There are bass, perch, turtles and of course carp. We have had a beaver in residence until the state relocated him to prevent flooding from his dams. There are multitudes of birds including blue heron and yes, a large herd of deer. One of the Bucks I spotted there last fall was a very healthy 12 point. It is a wonderful resource that needs attention to clean it up for the people who enjoy it. I have often seen kids from the neighborhood fishing and playing along its banks. The comment from people often is "don't they know better? they shouldn't be there" I think that they should be there, doing what all kids should be able to do. It is our job to make it safe for them to fish, canoe and wade through a little piece of the country nestled in the middle of the city.
Caleb
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rpmcmurphy
I agree Caleb. This is a beautiful stretch all the way from the black rock canal to forest lawn. We really need to make the Scajaquada Creek a greenway at some point. Sewer overflows have a devastating impact and need to stop. No one wants sewage in our local waterways.
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coolrobc
Huh, I always figured there were steelies in there, I never thought of fishing the cemetery. Not enough room for a backcast on the sections I've checked out, which admittedly isn't much.
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ElmwoodBoy
Cool - I heard Olmsted is going to open up the boathouse on Hoyt Lake soon. Does anyone know if that is going to be this year or next?
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Auburner
Thank you Robert Moses!
Where was Jane Jacobs when we needed her! I can honestly say that Nottingham Terrace would have rivaled any street in the country, had that expressway never was put in.
This is a lesson for current development. Stop, think, plan and develop according to need, not whim. Look at any major city today; developers purchased land because money was cheap and the Fed kept interest rates down. Today there are work stoppages at many half built projects. Basha bailing was probably a good thing. Who would have occupied that huge building?
The Scaquada was considered "progress" and Robert Moses rode in on his white horse. He did the same in the Bronx where his Cross County Expressway cut right through neighborhoods, displacing thousands.
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RisingDamp666
From the desk of Robert M. Moses:
Thank you Auburner for your interest in our work. We enjoy hearing from our constituents and look forward to many more progressive changes to come. This is an exciting time for the State of New York and we are equally excited about bringing you, our customer new roads, bridges and parks to enjoy now, and in the years to come.
His Majesty, Robert M.
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mark-buffalorising
I was very surprised to see this article & had to check it out myself. Yesterday I made my way all the way upstream from where the creek hits Delaware Ave to the falls by Canisius. At first I was disappointed with only seeing carp & had my doubts as to whether there really were any steelhead in the creek - but I saw the first one right around the crematorium & several more shortly thereafter. It really was an amazing site to see in the middle of the city.
As for the deer icecreamsub/Caleb mentioned, while I've driven the Scajaquada to 190 each day for newly two years, I had never seen them until just this Monday, when they were walking through the paved area between the Scajaquada & Fort Knox.
One thing that folks should keep in mind is that there are many geese along the river. At this time of year, they have eggs along the banks & aren't afraid to chase/bite humans they perceive as a threat. I tried to be mindful of this, but still had one fly out across the creek to the raised bank I was walking on across from the crematorium.
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Auburner
From the desk of Jane Jacobs,
Oh Robert, you tease... You gave us quicker access to the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean but in the process your roadways providing this quick access has ruined miles and miles of wetlands and natural habitats for so many different species.
Yes, you gave us some highways and thruways but in the process you wiped out neighborhoods by claiming eminant domain (are you working on the Peace Bridge again?).
You tried to run a highway right through one of New York State's most historic and landmarked areas, just crushing other neighborhoods and landmarks in your path. Thankfully it was at the twighlight of your career and you were stopped.
Robert, you put up the fight of your life to stop one of the most progressive ideas for urban planning in your hatred for "The Westway", if you recall, dear Robert, this was the underground highway with acres of parkland for all to enjoy. You battled against this because (as history has revealed) it was not your idea... Oh and Robert, this was all going to be Federally funded and after your death guess what happened to those funds? Robert, they went to Tip O'Niel and the City of Boston to build the big dig.
Yes Robert you did give us some parks but you compromised the environment to do so. You did take full advantage of the WPA to provide us with the New York State Thruway (why are we still paying for it?).
Yes Robert your legacy lives on, longer than you or I.
Jane Jacobs From the crypt
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RisingDamp666
Memo from R. Moses to J. E. Hoover: A certain Jane Jacobs has been stirring trouble up here. Can you see to this menace? Our liberty depends on your forthright attention to this matter. Call me in Havana, M.
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Auburner
From the desk of Lilly Pullitzer
J. Edgar, do I have a dress and design for you! Stop by my Palm Beach store on your way to Cuba...
LP
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