View to the north of the Catskill Creek, Schoharie County
Catskill Creek Watershed
The Catskill Creek is a beautiful and vibrant stream that runs through the mostly rural landscape of the Catskill Mountains’ northern foothills. The Catskill Creek is approximately 36 miles in length and is a major tributary to the Hudson River Estuary. The creek begins in the FranklintonVlaie in the Town of Broome, Schoharie County, and meets the Hudson River at the Historic Catskill Point in the Village of Catskill.
Upstream reaches of the Catskill Creek are considered prime trout habitat; portions of the stream are classed as supporting trout spawning by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. The lower 1.5 miles of the creek are influenced by the Hudson River’s tides and provide spawning grounds for many species of fish, including herring.
The Catskill Creek Watershed is 416 square miles in size and is located in 14 towns in the four counties of Schoharie, Albany, Greene and Ulster. Located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, the Catskill Creek watershed comprises 927 miles of tributary streams, making it the third largest contributor of water to the Hudson River Estuary.
Catskill Creek Watershed Management Plan
Resources and Reference Literature
Catskill Creek Summit
On October 15, 2015, representatives from towns along the Catskill Creek corridor gathered with state and county officials to discuss issues related to the waterway. The meeting was hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension and the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program, and was held at the Agroforestry Resource Center. The meeting featured presentations on the Catskill Creek Watershed Awareness Project and the work of the Hudson River Estuary Program in the Catskill Creek watershed. Group discussions focused on challenges and opportunities that towns face, and the potential for inter-municipal cooperation to address them. Challenges identified include flooding, erosion and protecting habitat. Opportunities include recreation, education and tourism. It is expected that more discussions involving Catskill Creek municipalities will take place in the future.
Catskill Creek Watershed Awareness Project
The Catskill Creek Watershed Awareness Project (CCWAP) was started by Cornell Cooperative Extension in 2008 with support from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program. CCWAP has a mission "to foster appreciation and understanding of the Catskill Creek Watershed through outreach to regional stakeholders to promote protection, conservation and stewardship of our natural environment for the benefit of all.”
The members of the Catskill Creek Watershed Advisory Committee invite you to get involved with clean water stewardship in your community. There are several projects underway that require the help of volunteers and we’d love to have you participate!
RiverKeeper Water Quality Sampling – The Catskill Creek Watershed Awareness Project is cooperating with RiverKeeper to test the levels of Enterococcus bacteria in portions of the Catskill Creek. Each month from May to October, volunteers collect water samples and deliver them to the RiverKeeper patrol boat for testing. For more information about the RiverKeeper water quality sampling project website.
Catskill Creek Watershed Advisory Committee Meetings – Meetings are held periodically at the Agroforestry Resource Center. Come to an Advisory Committee meeting to get updates on our latest projects, help decide the action agenda for the Catskill Creek and meet others who care about clean water. If you are interested in attending a meeting, please contact Connor Young.
Acknowledgements:
Cornell Cooperative Extension wishes to acknowledge our funders and volunteers for their support of the CCWAP. Funders include the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Estuary Program, New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission and the Bank of Greene County.
Last updated May 25, 2021
Watershed Map
[If there is a bigger version/pdf of this map, we can make this image clickable so people can see a version with detail]
CCE and Transparent Glass Eels featured on WAMC
Transparent baby eels, sometimes called "glass eels," are making their way up the Hudson River. Teams of scientists, students and community volunteers are waiting for them. Coordinated by the DEC and partner agencies, there is an annual tracking and counting of baby American Eels which are tiny transparent little wisps of a fish. Listen to CCE's Tracey Testo talk about the Hudson River Eel Project on WAMC's Spring Series.