NAVIGATION

DCSWCD

PROJECT MAP

SMIP

STREAM GAGES

West & East Branch Delaware River

The West Branch Delaware River and its tributaries are the source waters for the Cannonsville Reservoir, part of the Catskill/Delaware drinking water supply system for the New York City water supply system operated by NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The watershed above the Cannonsville Reservoir encompasses an area of 353 square miles with approximately 662 total stream miles. The East Branch of the Delaware River is located principally in Delaware County on the eastern portion of the Allegheny Plateau physiographic province. The upper portions of the East Branch, with its eight tributaries, contribute water to the Pepacton Reservoir. The total drainage area of the East Branch Delaware River watershed above the reservoir is 371 square miles with approximately 644.4 total stream miles.

Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District

Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District’s (DCSWCD) Stream Management Program (Stream Program) is a partnership formed between the DCSWCD and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  Delaware County hosts two NYC drinking water supply systems which are part of the largest unfiltered water supply in the United States. In order to protect this irreplaceable natural resource, the United States Environmental Protection Agency requires NYC DEP to develop comprehensive and innovative watershed protection programs as part of their requirement of the 1997 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD).

map credit: https://www.delawarecountystreams.org/

Stream Management

  • Delaware County SWCD • Jeff Russel: 607-865-5223
    NYC DEP Stream Management • Dave Burns: 845-340-7850
    Delaware County Planning • Shelly Johnson: 607-746-2944
    Watershed Agricultural Council • Ryan Naatz: 607-865-7790
    Click here for Delaware Riverkeeper

  • Streams Management Plans provide a comprehensive review of stream characteristics, data, maps and recommended management strategies.

    Management strategies consist of measures to individually and collectively reduce the risks of living along Catskill streams, improve the ecology of the stream and floodplain, while protecting the stream’s many resources values.

    Ultimately, the plans are meant to assist watershed municipalities and residents in planning for a sustainable future for their property, infrastructure, water and biological resources. Ensuring the health of the watershed’s environmental resources will also help to secure a future of prosperous economic growth and a good quality of life for watershed residents.

    WB Stream Management Plan

    EB Stream Management Plan

  • Delaware Watershed Advisory Committee

    The Delaware Watershed Advisory Committee allows for collaboration on watershed efforts that benefit both water quality and the watershed communities.  Watershed towns within Delaware County have adopted Stream Management Plans and Stream Stewardship Principles, signed Memoranda of Understanding with the Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District and have assigned representatives to the Delaware Watershed Advisory Committee.

    Delaware Basin Project Advisory Committee Membership

    The Project Advisory Committee (PAC) was formed to help empower local communities to take ownership of stream management on the local level. PAC role is to be leader in the SCMP implementation of the recommendations, identify local needs, and work with the communities and resource agencies toward solutions and project implementation. The PAC assists the Stream Corridor Management Program Team in the further development and implementation of the Biennial Action Plans, review and scores on the Delaware Watershed Stream Management Grant Program and is a liaison with watershed stakeholders. Members also serve on one of the four Sub-committees: Fisheries and Habitat, Flood Issues, Highway and Infrastructure and Education and Outreach. For more information, contact Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District.

  • Throughout the development, adoption and implementation of these plans there are many opportunities for public involvement. 

    These include: attending public meetings, participating in focus group discussions, becoming familiar with plan contents, assisting on working groups, participating in workshops and activities like stream clean-ups or streamside plantings, supporting town adoption of stream management plans, and communicating interest in implementing plan recommendation.

  • Action Plan to Guide Stream Management Plan Implementation in the WB & EB Delaware Watershed, 2023-2025

    Action Plan to Guide Stream Management Plan Implementation in the WB & EB Delaware Watershed, 2022-2024

  • WB Delaware Studies

    EB Delaware Studies

    Click on the links below for the USGS Four-part Series: Hydrogeology and Water Quality of the Pepacton Reservoir Watershed in Southeastern New York

  • Delaware County Community Mapping Tool: https://spatial.vhb.com/comit/
    Delaware County All Hazard Mitigation Plan: https://delaware.mitigateny.org/

Delaware County Soil & Water Conservation District Website

Stream Management Plan Implementation Funding

The Delaware Watershed Stream Management Grant Program offers assistance to local communities, residents, and organizations to advance recommendations from the East and West Branch Delaware River Stream Corridor Management Plans. Categories of funding include: Flood Management, Highway and Infrastructure Improvement, Stormwater Implementation and/or Critical Area Seedling, Recreation-Based Opportunities or Habitat Enhancements, General Restoration Projects, Education/Outreach/Training, on Watershed Protection, and Planning & Assessment.

Project Maps

West Branch Project Map

East Branch Project Map

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.

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.

United States Geological Survey (USGS) Stream Gages

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maintains 11 continuous-recording stream gages in the West Branch Delaware River watershed above the Reservoir and seven continuous-recording stream gages in the East Branch. 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.

West Branch Delaware River

Station ID Station Name Drainage Area (Mi) Current Period of Record
1421610 WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HOBART 15.5 Aug 2000 – present
1421618 TOWN BROOK SOUTHEAST OF HOBART 14.3 Oct 1997 – present
1421900 WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER UPSTREAM FROM DELHI 134 Dec 1996 – present
1422500 LITTLE DELAWARE RIVER NEAR DELHI 49.8 Jan 1997 – present
1422747 EAST BROOK EAST OF WALTON 24.7 Oct 1998 – present
1423000 WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT WALTON 332 Oct 1950 – present
142400103 TROUT CREEK NEAR TROUT CREEK 20.2 Dec 1996 – present
1422779 WEST BROOK AT AUSTIN LINCOLN PARK AT WALTON 22.3 Dec 2017 – present

East Branch Delaware River

Station ID Station Name Drainage Area (Mi) Current Period of Record
1413088 EAST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT ROXBURY 13.5 June 2000 – present
1413398 BUSH KILL NEAR ARKVILLE NY 46.7 Oct 1997 – present
1413408 DRY BROOK AT ARKVILLE NY 82.2 Dec 1996 – present
1413500 EAST BRANCH AT MARGARETVILLE NY 163 Feb 1937 – present
1414000 PLATTE KILL AT DUNRAVEN NY 34.9 Oct 1941 – Sept 1962, Dec 1996 – present
1414500 MILL BROOK NEAR DUNRAVEN NY 25.2 Feb 1937 – present
1415000 TREMPER KILL NEAR ANDES NY 33.2 Feb 1937 – present