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Newton Creek (New Jersey)

Newton Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River in southwestern New Jersey in the United States. The confluence of the Newton Creek with the Delaware River is in Camden. Newton Creek serves as a border between Collingswood and Oaklyn, Oaklyn and Audubon Park, Camden and Gloucester City, West Collingswood Heights, Camden, Mt Ephraim, and Gloucester City. Newton Creek derives its name from the Newton Colony that was founded in 1682. Newton Colony was the third English settlement in West Jersey. This tributary of the Delaware River is 4 miles (6.4 km) long measuring from its headwater in Haddon Township. The Newton Creek Watershed covers 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2), and includes the tributaries Peter Creek, the North Branch, and the South Branch. Although historically a tidal river, all present tidal influence stops at the Black Horse Pike, in Haddon Township and Oaklyn, where it is impounded. Newton Creek flows through Audubon Park, Camden, Collingswood, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Haddon Township, Oaklyn, and Mt. Ephraim. Newton Creek has two impoundments: Crystal Lake, and Newton Lake.

History

Newton Colony was founded in 1682 by a group of Quakers, who had emigrated from Ireland, on the banks of Newton Creek, in present-day Camden County, New Jersey. The founders of Newton Colony were William Bates, George Goldsmith, Mark Newbie, Thomas Sharp, Thomas Thackara and Robert Zane. The Thackara house exists in Collingswood New Jersey near Newton Creek. Saddler’s Woods is a 26-acre area off Newton Creek that was settled by Joshua Saddler in the early 1800s.

Recreation

Newton Creek maintains a number of recreational offerings:

3 Picnic Area – Lees Lane, Newton Lake Pavilion and Collingswood playground

2 Playgrounds

Bike Paths – 2.43 miles

Fishing (piers at Matrimony, Lees Lane & Bettlewood Ave.)

Matrimony Garden

Boat Ramp – small car-top only Newton Lake Drive and White Horse Pike

Improvements

Creation of Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA) improved water quality in numerous tributaries terminating in the Delaware River at Camden City. Newton Lake is undergoing a dredging program to counter sediment build up and bank erosion. "Newton Lake is classified as eutrophic, contains murky water, and has a soft bottom. It also has algal blooms and excessive aquatic plant growth." The improvements from the dredging program are scheduled to be complete 2021.