East Branch Delaware River
Encyclopedia
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
. 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.
, 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. At the Middletown
town line, it turns more to the south, receiving the Bush Kill, whose tributaries drain the town of Halcott
, the only part of Greene County
in the Delaware's watershed, from the east just outside of 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.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, is one of two branches, along with the West Branch
West Branch Delaware River
The West Branch Delaware River, approximately 90 mi long in the U.S. states of New York and Pennsylvania, is one of the two branches, along with the East Branch, that join to form the Delaware River...
, that join to form the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
. It flows through a mountainous area on the southwestern edge of the Catskill Park. For a long stretch it serves as the Blue Line
Blue Line (New York State)
The Blue Line is the term used in New York state for the boundaries of the Adirondack and Catskill parks, within which can be found the state's Forest Preserve...
, the park's boundary. Much of it is paralleled by state highway
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
NY 30
New York State Route 30
New York State Route 30 is a state highway in the central part of New York in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with NY 17 in the Southern Tier to the Canadian border in the state's North Country, where it continues into Quebec as Route 138. On a regional level,...
The river is a popular destination for fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
for brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
. It was impounded just north of Downsville
Downsville, New York
Downsville, New York is a hamlet and former village within the town of Colchester in Delaware County, New York.It is the site of the Downsville Bridge, a covered bridge and the historic Union Free School....
in the mid-20th century to create Pepacton Reservoir
Pepacton Reservoir
The Pepacton Reservoir, also known as the Downsville Reservoir or the Downsville Dam, is a reservoir in Delaware County, New York that was formed by impounding over ¼ of the East Branch of the Delaware River...
, which supplies drinking water to New York City. In 1881 John Burroughs
John Burroughs
John Burroughs was an American naturalist and essayist important in the evolution of the U.S. conservation movement. According to biographers at the American Memory project at the Library of Congress,...
, a native of the area, published "A Summer Voyage", recounting a solo boat trip down the East Branch from Arkville
Arkville, New York
Arkville is a hamlet of the Town of Middletown, New York, United States. It is located along state highway NY 28 a mile north of the village of Margaretville in the western Catskill Mountains. It has the ZIP Code 12406....
to Hancock.
Course
It rises in eastern Delaware CountyDelaware County, New York
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of 2010 the population was 47,980. The county seat is Delhi. It is named after the Delaware River, which was named in honor of Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, appointed governor of Virginia in 1609.-History:When counties...
, from a small pond next to a gas station on Route 30 just below the divide with the Hudson
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
watershed southwest of the hamlet of Grand Gorge and flows initially SSW, through the town of Roxbury
Roxbury, New York
Roxbury is a town in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 2,509 at the 2000 census.The Town of Roxbury is at the eastern end of the county.- History :...
. Its upper course winds through a narrow valley containing the river and Route 30. At the Middletown
Middletown, Delaware County, New York
Middletown is a town in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 4,051 at the 2000 census.The Town of Middletown is in the southeast part of the county.- History :...
town line, it turns more to the south, receiving the Bush Kill, whose tributaries drain the town of Halcott
Halcott, New York
Halcott is a town in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 258 at the 2010 census.The Town of Halcott is located in the southwestern corner of the county.- History :...
, the only part of Greene County
Greene County, New York
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Its name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. Its county seat is Catskill...
in the Delaware's watershed, from the east just outside of Arkville
Arkville, New York
Arkville is a hamlet of the Town of Middletown, New York, United States. It is located along state highway NY 28 a mile north of the village of Margaretville in the western Catskill Mountains. It has the ZIP Code 12406....
. This confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
also puts the Catskill Park Blue Line
Blue Line (New York State)
The Blue Line is the term used in New York state for the boundaries of the Adirondack and Catskill parks, within which can be found the state's Forest Preserve...
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
Margaretville, New York
Margaretville is a village in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 643 at the 2000 census.The Village of Margaretville is in the Town of Middletown. The village is on the border of the Catskill Park...
, the first significant settlement along the river, where NY 28
New York State Route 28
New York State Route 28 is a state highway extending for in the shape of a "C" between the Hudson Valley city of Kingston and southern Warren County in the U.S. state of New York. Along the way, it intersects several major routes, including Interstate 88 , U.S. Route 20 , and the...
joins
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
Route 30. The two roads remain alongside for the next few miles as the East Branch widens into Pepacton Reservoir
Pepacton Reservoir
The Pepacton Reservoir, also known as the Downsville Reservoir or the Downsville Dam, is a reservoir in Delaware County, New York that was formed by impounding over ¼ of the East Branch of the Delaware River...
. 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
Andes (town), New York
Andes is a town in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 1,356 at the 2000 census.The Town of Andes formerly contained a village with the same name...
and Colchester
Colchester, New York
Colchester is a town in Delaware County, New York, USA. The population was 2,042 at the 2000 census.The Town of Colchester is in the southwest part of the county.- History :Colchester was formed from part of the Town of Middletown in 1792....
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
Downsville, New York
Downsville, New York is a hamlet and former village within the town of Colchester in Delaware County, New York.It is the site of the Downsville Bridge, a covered bridge and the historic Union Free School....
marks the reservoir's southern end. Below the dam and its spillway the river narrows again, to where routes 30 and 206
New York State Route 206
New York State Route 206 is a state highway in the Southern Tier of New York, United States. It runs through some lightly populated regions along the state's southern border, from Central New York to the Catskills. It begins near a busy intersection with Interstate 81 at Whitney Point...
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
Ulster County, New York
Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
, flows in from the east. Here Route 30 ends and the NY 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
expressway, slowly being converted into Interstate 86
Interstate 86 (east)
Interstate 86 is an Interstate Highway that extends for through northwestern Pennsylvania and southern New York in the United States...
, parallels the river, crossing back and forth. At the Hancock
Hancock (town), New York
Hancock is a town in Delaware County, New York, United States. The town contains a village, also named Hancock. The town is in the southwest part of the county...
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
Hancock (village), New York
Hancock is a village in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 1,189 at the 2000 census.The Village of Hancock is in the west part of the Town of Hancock at the junction of NY Routes 17 and 97....
, it turns south and joins the West Branch
West Branch Delaware River
The West Branch Delaware River, approximately 90 mi long in the U.S. states of New York and Pennsylvania, is one of the two branches, along with the East Branch, that join to form the Delaware River...
to create the Delaware's main stem.
External links
- Fly fishing the East Branch of the Delaware River
- "A Summer Voyage" at oldandsold.com