The station by the Village of Delhi, in operation since 1937, but making daily measurements since November 1996, is located .6 miles (0.97 km) upstream from the bridge on Route 28, and 1.9 miles (3.1 km) upstream from the confluence of the Little Delaware River.[5] This station had a maximum discharge of about 13,000 cubic feet per second (370 m3/s) and a gauge height of 9.8 feet (3.0 m) from floodmark on January 19, 1996 and a maximum gage height of 12.53 feet (3.82 m) on August 28, 2011 as Hurricane Irene passed through the area. It had minimum discharge of 2.6 cubic feet per second (0.074 m3/s) on September 25, 1964 and a minimum gauge height of 1.72 feet (0.52 m) on September 16–17, 2016.[5]
The Hobart station, in service since 2000, located 300 feet (91 m) upstream from Maple Street in the Hamlet of Hobart. This station had a maximum discharge of about 995 cubic feet per second (28.2 m3/s) and a gauge height of 3.22 feet (0.98 m) on August 28, 2011 caused by Hurricane Irene. It had minimum discharge of .05 cubic feet per second (0.0014 m3/s) on November 13, 2001 and November 19, 2001.[6]
The Walton station, in service since 1950, located 100 feet (30 m) downstream from West Brook in the Village of Walton. This station had a maximum discharge of about 28,600 cubic feet per second (810 m3/s) and a gauge height of 16.85 feet (5.14 m) on June 28, 2006 during the 2006 Mid-Atlantic United States flood. It had minimum discharge of 12 cubic feet per second (0.34 m3/s) on September 15 and November 22, 1964.[7]
The Hale Eddy station, in service since 1912, located 9 miles (14 km) upstream from the confluence of East and West Branches. Since the construction of the Cannonsville Reseevoir this station had a maximum discharge of 43,400 cubic feet per second (1,230 m3/s) and a gauge height of 19.1 feet (5.8 m) on June 28, 2006 during the 2006 Mid-Atlantic United States flood. It had minimum discharge of 17 cubic feet per second (0.48 m3/s) on October 20, 1963. The maximum discharge, prior to construction of Cannonsville Reservoir in 1963, was 28,900 cubic feet per second (820 m3/s) on March 22, 1948. Outside the period of record: In the flood of October 10, 1903 this station reached a discharge of roughly 46,000 cubic feet per second (1,300 m3/s)[8]
Fishing
The West Branch is 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 and excellent environment for trout to thrive in.[9]
The trout population in this river is naturally reproducing, during the warm months stocked trout from smaller and warmer tributaries will seek sanctuary in its 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 numbered 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.[10] This section is considered one of the best fly fishingtrout streams in the United States, due to the cold water released from the reservoir.[11]
