Lake Nockamixon | |
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view of the lake near the boat rentals | |
Location | Bucks County, Pennsylvania |
Coordinates | 40°27′56″N75°13′16″W / 40.46549°N 75.22099°W Coordinates: 40°27′56″N75°13′16″W / 40.46549°N 75.22099°W |
Type | Reservoir |
Primary inflows | Tohickon Creek |
Primary outflows | Tohickon Creek |
Basin countries | United States |
Max. depth | 90 ft (27 m) |
Lake Nockamixon is a reservoir in southeastern Pennsylvania, United States, and the largest lake in Bucks County. It is formed by a dam on Tohickon Creek and is the centerpiece of Nockamixon State Park. Swimming is not allowed in the lake, but boating is popular. The park maintains a marina and a boat rental as well as three other boat-launch areas.
Sailboating is popular on the lake, with an active sail club organizing activities. Kayaking and small motor (up to 20 hp permitted) boating for fishing and recreation is also plentiful.
Fishing from boats and the bank is popular, and common species include striped bass, walleye, pickerel, carp, largemouth and smallmouth bass, muskellunge, and catfish. The water is stained by vegetation and has a very faint current, since the lake is part of the course of Tohickon Creek. It is also fed by two other creeks known as Haycock Run and Three Mile Run. [1]
In the winter, the water sometimes freezes over, allowing for ice skating and ice fishing. The lake is surrounded by horse trails which provide for hiking as well.
Visitors to the lake can stay in one of several cabins, at nearby Weisel Youth Hostel, or at one of the many local private campgrounds.
Water is released from the dam (assuming the reservoir has enough water) on the 3rd full weekend of March and the first full weekend of November to facilitate whitewater paddling on Tohickon Creek. The releases provide enough water to paddle all of the creek, from below the dam to confluence with the Delaware River. The most popular section is the last 3 miles, from Ralph Stover State Park to the Delaware River. Releases are timed to provide sufficient flows in that section from about 9 AM until 4 PM on both Saturday and Sunday. [2] [3]
Creation of the lake was first proposed by the Secretary of the Department of Forests and Water, Dr. Maurice K. Goddard, for recreational uses. It was originally to be called Tohickon Lake, after the creek, but its name was later changed to Nockamixon, meaning "place of soft soil" in the Lenape language. The park today contains several historic Native American sites.
Following its proposal in 1958, the dam was built by the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters. The state park was opened to the public in December 1973.
In order to create the lake, the state bought 5,286 acres of what was known as the Tohickon Valley, including the community of Tohickon, and surrounding Bucks County areas. [4]
Hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa)
Climate data for Lake Nockamixon, Bucks County, Pennsylvania (1981 – 2010 averages). | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average high °F (°C) | 37.6 (3.1) | 41.1 (5.1) | 49.6 (9.8) | 61.9 (16.6) | 71.8 (22.1) | 80.2 (26.8) | 84.3 (29.1) | 82.6 (28.1) | 75.8 (24.3) | 64.4 (18.0) | 53.3 (11.8) | 41.8 (5.4) | 62.1 (16.7) |
Average low °F (°C) | 20.2 (−6.6) | 22.1 (−5.5) | 29.0 (−1.7) | 38.8 (3.8) | 48.4 (9.1) | 57.9 (14.4) | 62.7 (17.1) | 61.2 (16.2) | 53.2 (11.8) | 41.9 (5.5) | 33.4 (0.8) | 24.9 (−3.9) | 41.2 (5.1) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.51 (89) | 2.86 (73) | 3.75 (95) | 4.19 (106) | 4.25 (108) | 4.33 (110) | 5.01 (127) | 4.05 (103) | 4.46 (113) | 4.49 (114) | 3.79 (96) | 4.15 (105) | 48.84 (1,239) |
Source: PRISM [5] |
The average annual snowfall total at Lake Nockamixon is greater than 24 inches (61 cm) but less than 36 inches (91 cm).
Bedminster Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The population was 6,574 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Delaware Valley metropolitan region. Bedminster is part of Pennridge School District.
East Rockhill Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The original Rockhill Township was established in 1740 and was divided into East and West Rockhill Townships in 1890. The population was 5,706 at the 2010 Census. East Rockhill is part of Pennridge School District. Pennridge Airport is located in East Rockhill Township.
Haycock Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,225 at the 2010 census.
Nockamixon Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,441 at the 2010 census.
Springfield Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The population was 5,035 at the 2010 census.
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Tohickon Creek is a 29.5-mile-long (47.5 km) tributary of the Delaware River. Located entirely in Bucks County, in southeastern Pennsylvania, it rises in Springfield Township and has its confluence with the Delaware at Point Pleasant. It is dammed to form Lake Nockamixon.
Nockamixon State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on 5,283 acres (2,138 ha) in Bedminster and Haycock Townships in northern Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The park is one of the most popular in southeastern Pennsylvania, with most tourists visiting in the summer months.
Tyler State Park is a day-use Pennsylvania state park on 1,711 acres (692 ha) in Newtown and Northampton Townships, Bucks County, Pennsylvania in the United States.
Ralph Stover State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on 45 acres (18 ha) in Plumstead and Tinicum Townships, Bucks County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is a very popular destination for whitewater kayaking on Tohickon Creek and rock climbing on High Rocks. Ralph Stover State Park is two miles (3.2 km) north of Point Pleasant near Pennsylvania Route 32.
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Neshaminy State Park is a 330-acre (134 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Bensalem Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Visitors to the park can catch a glimpse of the Philadelphia skyline from a hiking trail on Logan Point. The park is located at the confluence of Neshaminy Creek and the Delaware River. Neshaminy State Park is just off Interstate 95 on Pennsylvania Route 132.
Pennsylvania Route 563 (PA 563) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The route runs 21.15 mi (34.04 km) from PA 63 in Upper Salford Township northeast to PA 412 in Nockamixon Township. The road runs through mostly rural areas in the northern parts of Montgomery and Bucks counties. Along the way, the route passes through the northern part of Perkasie and forms a concurrency with PA 313 in East Rockhill Township. North of here, PA 563 runs through Nockamixon State Park, heading to the northwest of Lake Nockamixon.
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Haycock Creek is a tributary of the Tohickon Creek in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in the United States and is part of the Delaware River watershed.
Threemile Run is a tributary of the Tohickon Creek in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in the United States and is part of the Delaware River watershed.