West Branch Delaware River

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Template:Use American English Template:Infobox river

The West Branch Delaware River is one of two branches that form the Delaware River. It is approximately 90 mi (144 km) long, and flows through the U.S. states of New York and Pennsylvania. It winds through a mountainous area of New York in the western Catskill Mountains for most of its course, before joining the East Branch along the northeast border of Pennsylvania with New York.<ref name=mouth/> Midway or so it is impounded by the Cannonsville Dam to form the Cannonsville Reservoir, both part of the New York City water supply system for delivering drinking water to the City.<ref name=cr>Template:Cite gnis</ref><ref name=cd>Template:Cite gnis</ref>

Course

File:2025-10-15 15 42 39 View east and upstream at the headwaters of the West Branch Delaware River at Veley Road-Higgins Road in Jefferson, Schoharie County, New York.jpg
Headwaters of the West Branch Delaware River; the river flows audibly but nearly invisibly through the overgrown portion of the field

It rises in Jefferson, Schoharie County, New York and flows generally southwest, entering Delaware County and flowing past Stamford and Delhi. In southwestern Delaware County it flows in an increasingly winding course through the mountains, generally southwest. At Stilesville it is impounded to form the Cannonsville Reservoir. At Deposit, on the border between Broome and Delaware counties, it turns sharply to the southeast and is paralleled by New York State Route 17. It joins the East Branch at Hancock to form the Delaware. For the lower 6 mi (10 km) it forms part of the boundary between New York and Pennsylvania.

Hydrology

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maintains many stream gauges along the West Branch Delaware River.

The station by the Village of Delhi, in operation since 1937, but making daily measurements since November 1996, is located Template:Convert upstream from the bridge on Route 28, and Template:Convert upstream from the confluence of the Little Delaware River.<ref name=delhi>Template:Cite web</ref> This station had a maximum discharge of about Template:Convert and a gauge height of Template:Convert from floodmark on January 19, 1996 and a maximum gauge height of Template:Convert on August 28, 2011 as Hurricane Irene passed through the area. It had a minimum discharge of Template:Convert on September 25, 1964 and a minimum gauge height of Template:Convert on September 16–17, 2016.<ref name=delhi/>

The Hobart station, in service since 2000, is located Template:Convert upstream from Maple Street in the Hamlet of Hobart. This station had a maximum discharge of about Template:Convert and a gauge height of Template:Convert on August 28, 2011 caused by Hurricane Irene. It had a minimum discharge of Template:Convert on November 13, 2001 and November 19, 2001.<ref name=hobart>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Walton station, in service since 1950, is located Template:Convert downstream from West Brook in the Village of Walton. This station had a maximum discharge of about Template:Convert and a gauge height of Template:Convert on June 28, 2006 during the 2006 Mid-Atlantic United States flood. It had a minimum discharge of Template:Convert on September 15 and November 22, 1964.<ref name=walton>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Hale Eddy station, in service since 1912, is located Template:Convert upstream from the confluence of East and West Branches. Since the construction of the Cannonsville Reseevoir this station had a maximum discharge of Template:Convert and a gauge height of Template:Convert on June 28, 2006 during the 2006 Mid-Atlantic United States flood. It had a minimum discharge of Template:Convert on October 20, 1963. The maximum discharge, prior to the construction of Cannonsville Reservoir in 1963, was Template:Convert on March 22, 1948. Outside the period of record: In the flood of October 10, 1903 this station reached a discharge of roughly Template:Convert<ref name=heddy>Template:Cite web</ref>

Fishing

The West Branch is a tailwater fishery. This means the same cold water releases that keep it cooler in the summer, keep the river a little warmer in the winter and early spring. The upper section can be cleaner than other rivers during periods of heavy runoff. During high water on the Cannonsville Reservoir, many bait fish spill over the dam. These factors all provide an excellent environment for trout to thrive in.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The trout population in this river is naturally reproducing. During the warm months stocked trout from smaller and warmer tributaries will seek sanctuary in their cool water. The West Branch Delaware River was divided into two sections when the Cannonsville Reservoir was formed. Downstream of the Cannonsville Reservoir, there are large numbers of wild populations of brown trout and rainbow trout and an occasional brook trout can be caught although none are stocked. Seasonal anadromous runs of American shad with reports of occasional striped bass.<ref name=pfr>Template:Cite web</ref> This section is considered one of the best fly fishing trout streams in the United States, due to the cold water released from the reservoir.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tributaries

Not including tributaries of Cannonsville Reservoir

Right

Left

See also

References

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