East Branch Delaware River

East Branch Delaware River
River
East Branch at Margaretville
Country United States
State New York
Region Catskills
County Delaware
Towns Roxbury, Middletown,
Andes, Colchester, Hancock
Part of Delaware River
Tributaries
 - left Beaver Kill, Dry Brook
 - right Platte Kill
Landmark Pepacton Reservoir
Source Unnamed pond
 - location SW of Grand Gorge
 - elevation 1,560 ft (475 m)
 - coordinates 42°21′21″N 74°31′03″W / 42.35583°N 74.51750°W / 42.35583; -74.51750[1]
Mouth Delaware River
 - location Hancock
 - elevation 883[1] ft (269 m)
 - coordinates 41°56′20″N 75°16′45″W / 41.93889°N 75.27917°W / 41.93889; -75.27917Coordinates: 41°56′20″N 75°16′45″W / 41.93889°N 75.27917°W / 41.93889; -75.27917[1]
Length 75[1] mi (121 km)
Basin 828 sq mi (2,145 km2)
Discharge
 - average 1,715 cu ft/s (49 m3/s)
 - max 77,400 cu ft/s (2,192 m3/s)

The East Branch Delaware River, approximately 75 miles (120 km) long in the U.S. state of New York, is one of two branches, along with the West Branch, that join to form the Delaware River.[2] It flows through a mountainous area on the southwestern edge of the Catskill Park. For a long stretch it serves as the Blue Line, the park's boundary. Much of it is paralleled by state highway NY 30.

The river is a popular destination for fly fishing for brown trout. It was impounded just north of Downsville in the mid-20th century to create Pepacton Reservoir, which supplies drinking water to New York City.

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.[3]

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

It rises in eastern Delaware County, from a small pond next to a gas station on Route 30 just below the divide with the Hudson watershed southwest of the hamlet of Grand Gorge and flows initially SSW, through the town of Roxbury. Its upper course winds through a narrow valley containing the river and Route 30. Just past the Middletown town line, the river flows through Wawaka Lake and then receives Dry Brook, whose tributaries drain the town of Halcott, the only part of Greene County in the Delaware's watershed, from the east just outside Arkville. This confluence also puts the Catskill Park Blue Line in the middle of the channel

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 former 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 Andes and Colchester as its course moves more to the west. Route 30 crosses it midway along its length. The Downsville Dam just north of the village of that name marks the reservoir's southern end. Below the dam and its spillway the river narrows again, to where routes 30 and 206 cross just outside the village.

It continues winding through a wider valley alongside Route 30 to East Branch, where the East Branch's most significant tributary, the Beaver Kill, a world-renowned trout stream that rises in western Ulster County, flows in from the east. Here Route 30 ends and the NY 17 expressway, slowly being converted into Interstate 86, parallels the river, crossing back and forth. At the Hancock town line, the Blue Line turns to follow it south, taking the East Branch out of the Catskill Park. A few miles below that, at the village of Hancock, it turns south and joins the West Branch to create the Delaware's main stem.

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

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "East Branch Delaware River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  2. ↑ "Fly fishing the East Branch of the Delaware River". Fly Fishing Connection. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Pepacton: A Summer Voyage". Writings of John Burroughs. oldandsold.com. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
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