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I A Short Description of the NY Chesapeake Bay Subwatersheds (Addition or Attachment)
Chemung River Basin
Cohocton River
The Cohocton River is the northwestern headwaters of the Chemung River Basin, where
originates near Wayland, the site of a large valley fill aquifer. This watershed includes Lamoka
and Waneta lakes, which are the largest in the Chemung Basin in NY.
Streambank erosion and road ditch erosion are common in the tributary’s subwatersheds,
especially in such drainages as Meads Creek.
Agriculture is found throughout this rural
watershed, and nutrient runoff and erosion from cropland and pastures also are nonpoint source
contributors. Failing on-site septic systems may be potential problems along the lakeshores and
are also problems in some small villages along the mainstem of the Cohocton, including Avoca,
Kanano, Savona, Campbell and Coopers Plains. Sewage treatment plants and other point sources
are also nutrient sources. The Cohocton is an important high quality trout stream.
Canisteo River
The Canisteo River originates in Allegany County and flows southeast to join the Tioga River in
the Town of Erwin just south of Corning. Agriculture is found throughout this watershed.
Almond Lake, just west of Hornell, is this watershed’s largest lake.
It was artificially
constructed for flood attenuation and suffers from sedimentation due to streambank erosion.
Streambank erosion is an important problem; Colonel Bill’s and Bennets creeks are major
sediment sources from streambank erosion and possibly agriculture. Throughout the watershed
nutrients from agriculture, road ditch erosion and urban development are also contributors.
Other nutrient sources include sewage treatment plants (i.e., Alfred). The Canisteo drains into
the Chemung River, and is a major surface water supply to that river’s large gravel aquifer.
Cowanesque River
The Cowanesque River Watershed encompasses 300 square miles in Potter and Tioga Counties,
Pennsylvania and portions of New York State. Overall, water quality in the Cowanesque is good.
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More locally, the Troups Creek drainage has nutrient and pathogen problems due to failing onsite systems.
Land use is predominantly rural with small communities dotted along the main stem. Agriculture
was and still is the main industry in the watershed. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains
the Cowanesque Lake near the mouth of the River, which serves the dual purpose of providing
flood control and recreational opportunities.
One of the most notable characteristics of the Cowanesque is its unstable nature. Although the
watershed is rural with little impact from development, the river continues to suffer from
massive stream bank instability. Because most of the watershed lies within the glaciated low
plateau section of the Appalachian Plateau, with exception to the headwaters which lie in the
glaciated high plateau, the soils that comprise the river valley are mostly unconsolidated glacial
till which is easily eroded. In addition to the glacial till, most stream banks lack riparian buffers
due to traditional farming practices. The Cowanesque Valley Watershed Association (CVWA)
formed in 2000 to plan and implement projects to alleviate erosion and improve stream bank
stability. The CVWA recently had an erosion and riparian assessment completed and are still in
the process of becoming organized.
Tioga River
The Tioga River Watershed encompasses 461 square miles in Bradford and Tioga Counties,
Pennsylvania and a small portion of New York State. The Tioga River flows north into New
York State and into the Chemung River.
Like the Cowanesque, a variety of communities dot
the main stem, however, land use varies greatly. Historic mining occurred in the headwaters,
which is largely forested, while agriculture dominated the remainder of the main stem. Today,
manufacturing is the main industry in most of the communities with the exception of Mansfield,
which is home to Mansfield University. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also has a flood
control project in the watershed. The Tioga-Hammond Dams are two connecting dams—one on
Crooked Creek (Hammond Dam) and the other on the Tioga River (Tioga Dam). In this unique
situation a connecting channel was cut through a ridge that historically kept the two streams
separate. The alkaline water from Hammond Dam (Crooked Creek) is mixed with the acid mine
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drainage water of the Tioga River. Water quality at the outlet of the Tioga Dam has significantly
better pH than the stream flow in the Upper Tioga.
Overall water quality of the Tioga River is good below the Tioga Dam. Upstream from there,
acid mine drainage (AMD) severely impacts the Tioga and many headwater tributaries. In fact,
over 19 miles of the upper Tioga River are impaired. The Tioga County Concerned Citizens
Committee (TCCCC), an environmental group which formed in 1984, have taken on the
challenge of treating the AMD issues in the watershed. Another looming concern is increased
urban impact and potential development due to the newly constructed U.S. Route 15, soon to be I
99 Corridor. Loss of farmland and streambank erosion is also an issue in the lower Tioga in the
Town of Erwin, NY. Fortunately, the concerns regarding development are shared locally and
proactive measures like improving stormwater ordinances are being seriously considered.
Chemung River
The Chemung River mainstem flows from the confluence of the Tioga and Cohocton rivers. Loss
of farmland is an issue along the main stem of the Chemung River (Big Flats), including the
nearby tributaries such as Monkey Run and Sing Sing Creek. Flooding, road ditch erosion and
streambank erosion is prevalent, especially in such drainages as the Seeley and Bentley creeks.
The Chemung River gravel aquifer is a drinking water source for Corning; Elmira uses both the
aquifer and surface water. The Chemung River mainstem, form Corning to Horseheads is
probably the fastest developing region in the entire Susquehanna Basin in NY.
Susquehanna River Basin
Cayuta Creek
Cayuta Lake is the headwaters of this watershed; it is a shallow eutrophic lake that may be
affected by septic systems and nutrient rich sediments.
Flashy tributaries characterize this
watershed, which result in streambank erosion. The stream has a robust wetlands complex along
its lower main stem and has fairly extensive reaches that support a good trout fishery.
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Catatonk Creek
Flooding, streambank erosion, road ditch erosion and gravel deposition are major issues in this
watershed. Locally, private bridges, past stream realignment by the NY DOT, building in
extremely narrow valleys have increased the flooding problems.
Owego Creek
This stream is similar to the Catatonk, its neighboring watershed to the west.
Flooding,
streambank and road ditch erosion are major issues. It does have a good trout fishery in some of
its reaches.
Nanticoke Creek
Tioughnioga River
In the Madison County headwaters are aquatic life is stressed. This river system is also a public
drinking water source, which is being jeopardized in the due primarily by nutrient loads and
sedimentation from various agricultural activities. In Cortland County drinking water for many
communities is from groundwater in this watershed. Highly permeable sand and gravel overlies
the recharge areas for these aquifer systems, making them susceptible to contamination. The loss
and removal of riparian buffers is also contributing to thermal stresses and streambank erosion.
The Upper T is comprised of the West and East Branches, which meet in the City of Cortland.
The headwaters of the West Branch are in Onondaga County, north of Cortland. The headwaters
of the East Branch are in Onondaga County and Madison County. Little York, Tully and Song
Lakes are in the West Branch and are “kettle” lakes, having numerous lakefront homes, and
serve as important recreational resources. The entire Upper T is designated as a Federal Sole
Source Aquifer.
The sand and gravel deposits in the valleys comprise a very productive
groundwater source. The upland areas provide recharge to the valley aquifers. There are four
municipal water supplies that draw water from this Sole Source Aquifer, as well as many smaller
public and private supplies. The biggest development pressure in Cortland County is currently
being felt along the Rt81 and Rt 281 corridors paralleling the West Branch, and bisects the
valley. Apart from the urbanized areas in the City of Cortland, the Village of Homer and a few
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other hamlets, much of the valley land in the Upper T watershed is currently used as productive
farmland, with scattered homes in a rural type setting. The upland areas are mostly forested and
farmlands, with scattered residential homes.
Nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) are somewhat elevated in both the East and West Branch, as
well as a number of the tributaries. Elevated nutrient levels occur in both urbanized and
rural/agricultural settings. Elevated levels of suspended sediment often occur following larger
wet-weather events or significant snow melt conditions, particular in the East Branch. Flow
originating in Madison and Onondaga County appears to contribute significantly to elevated
levels of nutrients and sediment in the East Branch.
While the aquifers are generally of high quality, there are localized areas with elevated nitrate
and
chloride levels, and there are several sites with localized organic contamination associated with
industrial activity. Development pressure presents a potential threat to the Otter-Dry Creek
aquifer,
which serves as the source water for the City of Cortland and Town of Cortlandville water
supplies.
The entire Trout Brook watershed is a Sole Source Aquifer, along with the Upper T watershed.
Hope Lake is a reservoir constructed by Greek Peak ski resort that serves as a recreational
resource
as well as providing water for snow making. Fishing is popular on many Lower T streams, and
canoeing is popular on the Tioughnioga River.
Otselic River
Elevated stream temperatures in the Otselic Watershed are stressing fish propagation and
survival as well as affecting public drinking water sources.
The main causes, from an
agricultural standpoint, are agricultural runoff, livestock access to streams and grazing and
cropping too close to the watercourses, which have insufficient riparian buffers.
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The Otselic River flows south from its headwaters in Madison County, and passes through
Chenango County before entering Cortland County. It continues to flow south through Cortland
County and discharges to Whitney Point Reservoir, which is located in Broome County a few
miles
south of Willet. Flow from Whitney Point Reservoir joins the Tioughnioga River.
A principal sand and gravel aquifer occurs along the Otselic valley from Taylor to Willet. There
may also be reasonably productive sand and gravel deposits along tributary valleys, however,
little
is currently known about them. The only municipal water supply is in the Town of Cincinnatus.
The Otselic River and many of its tributaries are excellent trout fisheries.
Otselic watershed is predominantly agriculture and forest.
Land use in the
For a number of water quality
parameters, wet-weather concentrations are significantly higher than during dry-weather,
suggesting nonpoint sources of pollution are an important factor. The Otselic River and its major
tributaries have generally lower nutrient and sediment levels that in the Tioughnioga River
watershed. This may be the result of a lower population density and fewer current and past land
use activities that impact water quality. There are no known reports of significant or widespread
groundwater quality problems in the Otselic watershed.
Chenango River
Aquatic life is stressed and fish consumption is impaired and public dinking water sources may
be affected due to nutrient loading and other nonagricultural pollution. Streambank erosion and
agricultural runoff are important agricultural issues. Farmers are typically grazing or cropping
too close to the watercourses, which could be prime candidates for riparian buffers to prevent
further streambank erosion and nutrient loading.
Unadilla River
Various agricultural activities in the watershed are a concern to water quality. Unrestricted
access to the watercourses by farm animals are resulting in nutrient and pathogen loads and also
contributing to stream destabilization. Row crop production on steep and/or flood prone fields
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also contribute to erosion and increase silt and sedimentation; improper manure application on
these fields is also a concern.
Otsego Lake Watershed
Susquehanna Upper Mainstem
This headwaters watershed is rural in nature; its largest municipality is Oneonta, located along
the mainstem of the river in Otsego County. It does boast a major thoroughfare, US Route 88,
which links Binghamton to Albany. Smaller hillside farms, especially in the east, where the river
drains the western slopes of the Catskill Mountains, characterize this watershed.
Susquehanna Great Bend
This watershed begins where the Unadilla River meets the Upper mainstem. It too is rural in the
upper reaches; about of third of this watershed lies in PA.
Susquehanna Lower Mainstem
Beginning on the east in the main river valley with the City of Binghamton and moving west past
including, Johnson City, Endicott and Owego, this is the most urbanized region in the entire NY
CB Watershed. It is characterized by an extensive urban and suburban landscape along the main
stem, overlaying a gravel aquifer. The smaller drainages are rural in nature with an everdecreasing agricultural component.
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