The Town of Clifton Park's entire southern border is the Mohawk
River, the most significant water feature is Town, and the Erie
Canal. The Town's Mohawk River waterfront is part of the
greater Erie Canal Greenway regional canal corridor. The Erie
Canal Greenway is part of a state-wide Empire State Greenway
Alliance linking to the other major greenway systems across New York
State, including the existing Hudson River Valley Greenway to the
south of the Capital District, and the Niagara River Greenway in
Western New York. This special Erie Canal history is also
recognized by the area's inclusion in the Erie Canalway Heritage
Corridor, a federal level designation.
The Town's riverfront and historic heritage along Riverview Road
and the Mohawk River is also part of the Mohawk Towpath Scenic
Byway, a state- and national-designated scenic byway.
The Town has several significant streams that flow into the
Mohawk River: including a portion of the Alplaus Kill in the far
western part of Town. The Stony Creek is a major stream in the
southeast area of Town that also flows into the Mohawk River in the
vicinity of the Vischer Ferry hamlet. In the early 20th
century, a dam was constructed on the Stony Creek to create the
Stony Creek Reservoir. Today, the Stony Creek Reservoir, also
known as the Colonie or Latham Reservoir, is owned and managed by
the Town of Colonie, Albany County, NY as a drinking water supply
reserve source for Latham, and a local source for some Clifton Park
residents. A significant fisheries habitat is associated with
the Stony Creek Reservior and the Stony Creek.
Many other major streams flow eventually in a more easterly
direction draining eventually into the Hudson River to the east:
namely the Long Kill, the Cooley Kill, the Dwaas Kill, along with
their smaller tributaries and intermittent streams. The Long
Kill, Cooler Kill and the Dwaas Kill are classified by the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation as streams that
support trout spawning, for most of their lengths. Land for a
new Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve has been acquired in and around the
Dwaas Kill near Kinns Road, Pierce Road and Carlton Road.
Several large-scale wetland systems are within the Town, as well
as smaller wetlands throughout the landscape. One of the
largest wetland areas is within and adjacent to the Vischer Ferry
Nature & Historic Preserve located due east of the Vischer Ferry
hamlet to the boundary with the Town of Halfmoon. The New York
State Canal Corporation owns the land of Vischer Ferry Nature &
Historic Preserve, but the Town of Clifton Park has an arrangement
to maintain and manage the nature and historic preserve. The
Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve is also within an
extensive floodplain area along the Mohawk River.
The Vischer Ferry Nature & Historic Preserve is just east of the
hamlet of Vischer Ferry and the Vischer Ferry National Historic
District. This entire area is also recognized as a priority
"Heritage Hub" in the Saratoga County Green Infrastructure Plan.
Saratoga County's Kinns Road Park, a county forest area of
approximately 64 acres, is located in the Town of Clifton Park along
the south side of Kinns Road.
Approximately 105 acres of state forest, the majority of the
Ushers Road State Forest, is located in the Town of Clifton Park,
along Ushers Road and English Road. The state forest preserve
area continues eastward with additional acreage and access located
in the Town of Halfmoon. In 2006-2007, local stewards and
volunteers from the Town of Clifton Park and the Town of Halfmoon
worked with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to
establish a nature trail loop for this site. The site is
adjacent to the regional Zim Smith Trail.
The very southernmost tip of Round Lake and its adjacent wetlands
are located in the furthest northeast corner of the Town of Clifton
Park, with the majority of this waterbody located within the Town of
Malta and the Village of Round Lake due north of Clifton Park.
A significant wetlands habitat and forest area is located in the
vicinity of Wood Road in the northeast area of Town.
The most northwestern corner edge of the Town of Clifton Park is
adjacent to the southern tip of Ballston Lake, with some residents
enjoying lakefront views.
Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve. The Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve,
about 250 acres, was acquired by the Town of Clifton Park in 2006 as
an important large natural area along the Dwaas Kill. The
preserve is slated for future creation of appropriate nature trails
to offer access to the public for viewing nature and quiet
enjoyment. No motorized vehicles are allowed in this nature
preserve area.
North Woods Nature Preserve (the former Round Lake Reservoir),
about 80 acres, is located within the heart of the Country Knolls
residential neighborhood, off of Shadow Wood Way. This
preserve was acquired by the Town of Clifton Park from the Village
of Round Lake with funding assistant from the New York State
Environmental Protection Fund. The site had been a former
drinking supply for the Village of Round Lake. Today the
primarily forested site includes a small pond, a stream, and
informal paths. No motorized vehicles are allowed in this
nature preserve area.
Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve, Riverview Road,
primary access at the Historic Whipple Bridge at the intersection of
Riverview Road and Van Vranken Road.
