NAVIGATION

STREAM GAGES

PROJECT MAP

AWSMP

Esopus Creek

The Upper Esopus Creek watershed covers a 192 mi2 area in the south-central Catskill Mountain region of southeast NYS. The entire 26-mile course of the creek flows “clockwise” in a sweeping arc from the headwaters at Winnisook Lake on Slide Mountain to the Ashokan Reservoir. Upper Esopus Creek and its tributary network drain some of the most rugged terrain in the Catskill Mountains. There are 21 peaks greater than 3000 feet above sea level (ft asl) that are drained by this network. Among them is Slide Mountain, the highest peak in the Catskills at 4,120 ft asl. The base elevation in the watershed at Ashokan Reservoir is 633 ft asl. The resulting streams are steep erosive forces as water and sediment make the quick descent from mountain top to the base of the watershed at the reservoir. The watershed includes at least 330 miles of stream.

Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program

The Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program (AWSMP) is a joint effort between Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, the Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. The three agencies work collaboratively to maintain the health of streams in the Ashokan Reservoir Watershed. The program aims to improve stream stability and reduce erosion threats to water quality and infrastructure, mitigate potential damage from flooding, and enhance aquatic and riparian habitat. AWSMP works to educate and inform the community about stream stewardship best management practices and coordinates stream management activities in the watershed. Stream management plans — comprehensive evaluations of stream characteristics with recommendations and strategies for improvement — provide the basis for the program’s activities. The New York City DEP is the primary funder of the AWSMP through contracts with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County (CCE) and with the Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).

Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Plan Implementation Funding

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County in collaboration with the Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection solicits grant applications for Stream Management Implementation Program (SMIP) projects in the Ashokan Reservoir Watershed.

The SMIP supports projects that implement stream and floodplain management recommendations included in Ashokan Reservoir watershed stream management plans, the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program (AWSMP) Action Plan, and to conduct Local Flood Analysis (LFA) and other studies.

Projects may address one or more of the following: Improve water quality and enhance stream stability; Protect or improve stream-related infrastructure; Enhance stream access and recreation; Plan and analyze for flood hazard mitigation; Complete a Local Flood Analysis planning process; Increase knowledge, skills, and information in watershed communities about stream stewardship; Protect and enhance aquatic and riparian habitats and ecosystems.

*See additional guidance on funding for infrastructure projects at: https://ashokanstreams.org/projectsand-funding/smip-funding-for-infrastructure-improvements/. The SMIP grant application form can be downloaded at https://ashokanstreams.org/projects-andfunding/.

Stream Management

AWSMP Website

Project Map

Ashokan Projects Webmap

Project Maps provide information on a selection of full channel stream restoration, stormwater and infrastructure, riparian buffer restoration, streambank stabilization, and floodplain restoration projects that have been constructed to meet multiple objectives including: infrastructure protection, improved flood conveyance and sediment transport, improved fish habitat, and improved riparian functions.

 

Stream projects are one component of the NYCDEP SMP). The primary goals of stream management projects include water quality improvement through the reduction of bed or bank erosion and the associated turbidity and other pollutants, infrastructure and/or property protection (flood hazard mitigation), aquatic habitat enhancement and riparian restoration and/or protection. These locally based demonstration projects support the education and training component of the SMP. Natural channel design principles are incorporated wherever possible into projects to ensure multiple benefits are achieved.

USGS Stream Gages

Esopus Creek

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maintains 11 continuous-recording stream gages in the West Branch Delaware River watershed above the Reservoir. These gages measure the stage, or height, of the water surface at a specific location, updating the measurement every 15 minutes. Click on the Station ID number of your gage of interest to receive real-time water surface data from USGS.

Station ID Station Name Drainage Area (Mi) Current Period of Record
01362200 ESOPUS CREEK @ ALLABEN, NY 63.7 Sep 1998 – present
01362500 ESOPUS CREEK @ COLDBROOK, NY 192 Oct 1931 – present
013621955 BIRCH CREEK @ BIG INDIAN 12.5 Oct 1998 – present
01362230 Diversion from SCHOHARIE RESERVOIR Dec 1996 – present
0136230002 WOODLAND CREEK above mouth @ PHOENICIA, NY 20.57 Oct 2003 – present
01362342 HOLLOW TREE BROOK @ LANESVILLE, NY 1.95 Oct 1997 – present
01362370 STONY CLOVE CREEK below OX CLOVE @ CHICHESTER, NY 31.5 Feb 1997 – present
01362497 LITTLE BEAVER KILL @ BEECHFORD near MT. TREMPER, NY 16.5 Oct 1997 – present