Flushing Meadows–Corona Park

===Ecology===
{{multiple image
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| image1 = Flushing Meadow Park.JPG
| alt1 = Looking across Meadow Lake.
| image2 = Flushing Meadows Willow Lake td (2019-04-10) 09.jpg
| alt2 = Looking south at Willow Lake.
| width = 250
| footer = Meadow Lake (top) and Willow Lake (bottom).
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The two lakes and the remainder of Flushing Creek are separated by a flood gate or dam called the "Porpoise Bridge" or "Tide Gate Bridge", located just south of the [[Long Island Rail Road]]'s [[Port Washington Branch]] trestle, at the north end of the Flushing Meadows Golf Center. The dam only permits northward flows towards Flushing Bay to pass, while blocking south-flowing waters.{{sfn|PANYNJ Airport Transit Environmental Impact Statement|1994|p=1⋅11}}<ref name="Kadinsky2016"/> As its name implies, the dam also acts as a bridge, carrying pedestrian and vehicular traffic over the creek. It measures {{convert|37|ft|m}} wide and {{convert|370|ft|m}} long.<ref>{{cite web|title=Request for Proposals: Porpoise Bridge|url=http://ddcftp.nyc.gov/rfpweb//docs/rfp/205.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://ddcftp.nyc.gov/rfpweb//docs/rfp/205.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|publisher=[[New York City Department of Design and Construction]]|access-date=April 26, 2017|date=May 8, 2013|page=RFP 5}}</ref> The lakes are fed by [[groundwater]].<ref>{{harvnb|PANYNJ Airport Transit Environmental Impact Statement|1994|p=1⋅11}}; {{harvnb|ps=.|Mankiewicz|Mankiewicz|2002|p=19}}</ref><ref name="Kadinsky2016">{{cite Hidden Waters NYC|page=101}}</ref>

Prior to human development, Flushing Meadows was originally a [[tidal marsh]], with Flushing Creek receiving south-flowing waters from the tides of Flushing Bay. Although the lakes were built as freshwater lakes and dammed to mitigate tidal effects, flooding continues to affect the park.<ref>{{harvnb|ps=.|Strategic Framework Plan|p=43}}</ref><ref name="IFLA-FlushingTheMeadows"/> The lakes are also highly [[Eutrophication|eutrophic]], due to nutrients such as [[phosphorus]] from the former marshland seeping into the water, leading to the [[Fish kill|death of fish]] in the lakes. The regular tidal action that would filter the lakes is prevented by the dam.<ref>{{harvnb|Strategic Framework Plan|p=37}}; {{harvnb|Mankiewicz|Mankiewicz|2002|p=1}}; {{harvnb|ps=.|PANYNJ Airport Transit Environmental Impact Statement|1994|p=1⋅11}}</ref> In addition, the lakes are subject to pollution and storm runoff from the nearby highways, via pipes which feed into the lakes.<ref>{{harvnb|Strategic Framework Plan|p=37}}; {{harvnb|Mankiewicz|Mankiewicz|2002|p=19}}; {{harvnb|ps=.|PANYNJ Airport Transit Environmental Impact Statement|1994|p=1⋅11}}</ref><ref name="IFLA-FlushingTheMeadows"/>

Because of its connection with Flushing Bay, several fish species native to marine habitats regularly swim into and inhabit Meadow and Willow Lakes.<ref name="NYDEC-MeadowLake">{{cite web|title=Meadow Lake|url=http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/92715.html|publisher=[[New York State Department of Environmental Conservation]]|access-date=April 3, 2017|archive-date=November 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118174105/https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/92715.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Fish species native to Meadow Lake include [[American eel]], [[largemouth bass]], [[northern snakehead]] (an invasive species), and [[white mullet]].<ref name="NYDEC-MeadowLake"/> Willow Lake is named for the many species of [[willow]] plants which inhabit the area.<ref name="NYCPk-FMCP-WillowTrail">{{cite web|title=Flushing Meadows Corona Park: Willow Lake Trail|url=https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/flushing-meadows-corona-park/highlights/12907|publisher=[[New York City Department of Parks and Recreation]]|access-date=April 3, 2017|archive-date=April 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407073636/https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/flushing-meadows-corona-park/highlights/12907|url-status=live}}</ref> Invasive [[phragmites]], a genus of wild grasses, are also abundant.{{sfn|Mankiewicz|Mankiewicz|2002|p=2}}<ref name="NYCPk-FMCP-WillowTrail"/><ref name="NYDaily-WillowLake-Fishy-2014"/> Attempts to kill the phragmites with pesticides have led to further fish kill.<ref name="NYDaily-WillowLake-Fishy-2014"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Flushing Meadows Corona Park: Willow Lake Park – Invasive Phragmites|url=https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/flushing-meadows-corona-park/highlights/12911|publisher=[[New York City Department of Parks and Recreation]]|access-date=April 27, 2017|archive-date=April 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407073605/https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/flushing-meadows-corona-park/highlights/12911|url-status=live}}</ref> Numerous berry-producing trees and shrubs near Willow Lake attract several migratory bird species.<ref name="NYCPk-FMCP-WillowTrail"/> The [[biodiversity]] of the lakes has been found to be much lower than other water bodies of comparable size.{{sfn|Mankiewicz|Mankiewicz|2002|p=2}}