East Branch Delaware River
East Branch Delaware River | |
---|---|
Hancock | |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Unnamed pond |
• location | SW of Grand Gorge |
• coordinates | 42°21′21″N 74°31′03″W / 42.35583°N 74.51750°W[1] |
• elevation | 1,560 ft (480 m) |
Mouth | Delaware River |
• location | Hancock |
• coordinates | 41°56′20″N 75°16′45″W / 41.93889°N 75.27917°W[1] |
• elevation | 883[1] ft (269 m) |
Length | 75[1] mi (121 km) |
Basin size | 828 sq mi (2,140 km2) |
Discharge | |
• average | 1,715 cu ft/s (48.6 m3/s) |
• maximum | 77,400 cu ft/s (2,190 m3/s) |
Basin features | |
Dry Brook | |
• right | Platte Kill |
The East Branch Delaware River is one of two branches that form the Delaware River. It is approximately 75 mi (121 km) long, and flows through the U.S. state of New York. It winds through a mountainous area on the southwestern edge of Catskill Park in the Catskill Mountains for most of its course, before joining the West Branch along the northeast border of Pennsylvania with New York. Much of it is paralleled by State Route 30.
The river was impounded just north of Downsville in the mid-20th century to create Pepacton Reservoir, part of the New York City water supply system supplying drinking water to the City. It is a popular destination for fly fishing for brown trout.
In 1881 John Burroughs, a native of the area, published "A Summer Voyage", recounting a solo boat trip down the East Branch from Arkville to Hancock.[2]
There are many variant names for the river that include: Papaconck, Papakonk River, Papotunk River, Pepachton River, Pepacton Branch, Popacton River, Popaxtunk Branch.[1]
Course
The East Branch Delaware River rises in eastern
Route 30 remains parallel as the East Branch returns to the southwest, flowing through the small village of Margaretville, the first significant settlement along the river, where NY 28 joins Route 30. The two roads remain alongside for the next few miles as the East Branch widens into Pepacton Reservoir. A short distance from the north end of the reservoir, Route 28 leaves Route 30 at the hamlet of Dunraven cleared to make room for the reservoir.
Pepacton Reservoir continues, with the Blue Line along its north shore, carrying the river through the towns of
It continues winding through a wider valley alongside Route 30 to East Branch, where the East Branch's most significant tributary, the
Tributaries
Not including tributaries of Pepacton Reservoir
Right
- Pleasant Valley Brook
- Platte Kill
- Downs Brook
- Trout Brook
- Clauson Brook
- Baxter Brook
- Morrison Brook
- Bolton Brook
- Read Creek
- City Brook
- Cadosia Creek
Left
- Batavia Kill
- Dry Brook
- Huckleberry Brook
- Campbell Brook
- Beaver Kill
- Fish Creek
- Peas Eddy Brook
- Gee Brook
See also
- List of New York rivers
- Peas Eddy Island
References
- ^ a b c d e "East Branch Delaware River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^ "Pepacton: A Summer Voyage". Writings of John Burroughs. oldandsold.com. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
External links
- Fly fishing the East Branch of the Delaware River
- "A Summer Voyage" at oldandsold.com