Word of the Week: Tributary

A tributary is any type of stream that flows directly into a larger body of water, like a bay, lake, or larger river. They can vary in size, ranging from small creeks to significant rivers.

There are around 50 creeks leading into the Great South Bay between Massapequa and Mastic Beach. They serve as the arteries to the Bay pumping in fresh water.

The tributaries that flow into the Great South Bay are fundamentally important to the bay’s health.

If the tributaries themselves are polluted, then all of that dirty water will eventually end up polluting the bay, too.

That's why the volunteers at our annual creek defense programs are so important.

The work that they do to remove and track pollution BEFORE it gets into the bay, directly protects the health of the bay.

The term “creek” refers to the size and features of the stream of water itself, while “tributary” refers more to its relationship to the larger body of water such as the bay.

So all creeks are tributaries, but not all tributaries are creeks.

In the Great South Bay’s case most of its tributaries are considered creeks.

If you’d like to volunteer at one of this years creek cleanups, click the link here https://savethegreatsouthbay.o...

Save The Great South Bay is a local environmental non-profit whose mission is to restore water quality in the Great South Bay for future generations to enjoy. Our Word of the Week initiative aims to make the scientific vocabulary of environmentalism accessible to everyone. View past Words of the Week at www.savethegreatsouthbay.org under News & Events in the Photo Gallery.