BirdTrout

Seneca River Watershed, New York

6,928 miles of mapped stream across 3,460 square miles of drainage in Cayuga, Ontario, Onondaga, Tompkins, Seneca, Yates, Wayne, Schuyler counties, in 193 named streams. New York designates 595 of those miles as trout water, on 130 streams.

Open in BirdTrout
Map key
Public land — where the bank is open to walk and fish
USGS gauge — live water temperature
Water temperature — the colour of every stream in the basin

50°F and colder is cold, through cold-transitional and cool, to warm above 70°F — the same four bands the app paints. On this map the colour is NYSDEC's own classification of the stream, not a measurement, except at the gauge dots, which read live. Grey is water NYSDEC has not typed.

The watershed in numbers

HUC8 04140201 in the USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset. Every figure below adds up the river pages in this basin — same records, one basin at a time.

6,928 mi
of mapped stream
12,216 NHD reaches
3,460 sq mi
drainage area
2,214,319 acres
64,861 ac
public land
2.9% of the basin · 29 units

Cold, cool and warm water

NYSDEC classifies every surface water in New York under 6 NYCRR Parts 800-941, and the class is a best usage — what the water is protected for — rather than a temperature. The temperature statement is the (T) or (TS) suffix beside it: the water DEC designates for trout, or for trout spawning, which 6 NYCRR 704.2(b) protects with a 70 °F ceiling on any discharge. That suffix is what this page counts and what the map paints by; the class letter is printed beside it and is not a thermal grade. It covers 19% of this basin's stream miles (1303.3 of 6,928); the rest is untyped and is drawn grey on the map above.

1303.3 of the 1303.3 typed miles in this basin — 100% — are cold or cold-transitional water. Every typed reach carries the same class, which is as likely to be the coverage as the water: NYSDEC has typed 19% of it.

Every named stream in the basin

All 193 of them, longest first. 7 have a page of their own and are linked; the rest are in the app. The class column is NYSDEC's designation of that stream. "Now" is the live USGS reading where a gauge stands in that stream.

Stream Miles Class Now Designation
Seneca River 102.7 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class B — swimming and contact recreation
Flint Creek 47.8 Cold — Class C — fishing
Fall Creek 40.9 Cold — Class C — fishing
Erie Canal 37.9 untyped — —
Canandaigua Outlet 36.8 Cold — Class C — fishing
Ganargua Creek 33.6 untyped — —
Owasco River 33.0 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Skaneateles Creek 32.9 Cold — Class C — fishing
Sucker Brook 32.0 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Black Brook 31.9 untyped — —
Ninemile Creek 31.5 Cold — Class C — fishing
Mud Creek 30.8 Cold — Class C — fishing
Onondaga Creek 29.9 Cold — Class C — fishing
Red Creek 28.7 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Clyde River 25.1 untyped — —
Crane Brook 25.1 untyped — —
Owasco Inlet 24.4 Cold — Class C — fishing
Catharine Creek 23.0 Cold — Class C — fishing
Black Creek 22.7 untyped — —
Six Mile Creek 20.7 Cold — Class A — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Taughannock Creek 20.1 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class B — swimming and contact recreation, Class C — fishing
West River 18.2 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Mill Creek 18.2 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Cayuga Inlet 17.9 Cold — Class B — swimming and contact recreation, Class C — fishing
Virgil Creek 17.8 Cold — Class C — fishing
Dutch Hollow Brook 17.5 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Kashong Creek 17.3 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Yawger Creek 17.0 Cold — Class A — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Big Salmon Creek 16.8 Cold — Class C — fishing
Rocky Run 16.0 Cold — Class C — fishing
Beaver Creek 15.5 Cold — Class C — fishing
Big Stream 15.3 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Cold Spring Brook 14.6 Cold — Class C — fishing
Glen Creek 14.1 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class B — swimming and contact recreation, Class C — fishing
Sugar Creek 13.6 Cold — Class C — fishing
Kendig Creek 13.4 untyped — —
Keuka Lake Outlet 12.8 Cold — Class B — swimming and contact recreation, Class C — fishing
Muskrat Creek 12.7 untyped — —
North Brook 12.6 Cold — Class C — fishing
Hemlock Creek 11.6 Cold — Class C — fishing
Silver Creek 11.4 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Cascadilla Creek 11.2 Cold — Class C — fishing
Salmon Creek 11.1 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Sheldrake Creek 10.6 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Indian Creek 10.4 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Enfield Creek 10.4 Cold — Class B — swimming and contact recreation, Class C — fishing
Paines Creek 10.3 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Little Salmon Creek 10.2 Cold — Class C — fishing
Hector Falls Creek 10.1 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Fish Creek 9.9 Cold — Class C — fishing
Bolter Creek 9.9 Cold — Class C — fishing
Bear Swamp Creek 9.9 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Shequaga Creek 9.6 Cold — Class C — fishing
Catlin Mill Creek 9.2 Cold — Class C — fishing
Sawmill Creek 9.2 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Boardman Creek 9.1 untyped — —
Plum Point Creek 8.9 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Grout Brook 8.9 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Trumansburg Creek 8.8 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Little Creek 8.8 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Spafford Creek 8.8 Cold — Class C — fishing
Schaeffer Creek 8.6 untyped — —
Rock Stream 8.6 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Butler Creek 8.5 untyped — —
Burrell Creek 8.4 untyped — —
Dean Creek 8.4 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Pond Brook 8.4 untyped — —
Dublin Brook 8.4 untyped — —
Putnam Brook 8.4 untyped — —
Wilson Creek 8.3 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Buttermilk Creek 8.3 Cold — Class C — fishing
Carpenters Brook 8.3 Cold — Class C — fishing
Webster Brook 8.2 Cold — Class C — fishing
Crusoe Creek 8.1 untyped — —
Nettle Valley Creek 7.7 Cold — Class C — fishing
Grimes Creek 7.6 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Padelford Brook 7.5 untyped — —
Freshour Creek 7.5 untyped — —
Old Erie Canal 7.4 untyped — —
Willow Creek 7.4 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
White Brook 7.4 untyped — —
West Branch Onondaga Creek 7.4 Cold — Class C — fishing
Great Brook 7.2 untyped — —
Decker Creek 7.2 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Dresserville Creek 7.1 Cold — Class C — fishing
Dead Creek 7.1 untyped — —
Eelpot Creek 7.0 Cold — Class C — fishing
Breakneck Creek 6.9 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Gulf Creek 6.9 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Pine Hollow Creek 6.8 Cold — Class C — fishing
Castle Creek 6.7 Cold — Class B — swimming and contact recreation
Van Benthuysen Brook 6.7 Cold — Class C — fishing
West Branch Cayuga Inlet 6.5 Cold — Class C — fishing
North Branch Ley Creek 6.5 untyped — —
Reeder Creek 6.4 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Spring Brook 6.4 Cold — Class C — fishing
Ley Creek 6.4 untyped — —
Sixteen Falls Creek 6.2 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Mitchellsville Creek 6.1 untyped — —
Glenwood Creek 6.1 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Groves Creek 5.9 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Burroughs Creek 5.8 Cold — Class A — drinking water source
Mill Brook 5.7 Cold — Class C — fishing
Hathaway Brook 5.6 untyped — —
Benton Run 5.6 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Trap Brook 5.5 untyped — —
Sulphur Creek 5.5 Cold — Class C — fishing
Fivemile Creek 5.5 untyped — —
Hencoop Creek 5.5 Cold — Class C — fishing
Curry Creek 5.4 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Barnum Creek 5.4 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Trout Brook 5.3 untyped — —
Sleeper Creek 5.2 Cold — Class C — fishing
Gem Creek 5.2 untyped — —
Cranberry Creek 5.1 Cold — Class C — fishing
Glen Brook 5.0 untyped — —
Mack Creek 5.0 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Naples Creek 4.9 Cold — Class C — fishing
Melvin Brook 4.9 untyped — —
Spring Lake Outlet 4.9 untyped — —
Egypt Creek 4.8 untyped — —
Lively Run 4.8 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Big Hollow Creek 4.8 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Crooked Brook 4.7 untyped — —
Tommy Creek 4.6 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Simpson Creek 4.5 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Locke Creek 4.5 Cold — Class C — fishing
Kennedy Creek 4.5 Cold — Class C — fishing
Furnace Brook 4.5 untyped — —
Harbor Brook 4.5 Cold — Class C — fishing
Keuka Inlet 4.4 Cold — Class C — fishing
Big Hollow Run 4.4 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Bitter Brook 4.4 Cold — Class C — fishing
Johns Creek 4.2 untyped — —
Townsend Creek 4.2 untyped — —
Fish Kill 4.2 Cold — Class B — swimming and contact recreation, Class C — fishing
Bloomer Creek 4.2 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
White Bottom Creek 4.2 Cold — Class C — fishing
Bullhorn Creek 4.1 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Buttonwood Brook 4.0 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Morrow Creek 4.0 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Reservoir Creek 3.9 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Lick Brook 3.9 Cold — Class C — fishing
White Spring Brook 3.8 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Bergen Creek 3.8 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Canoga Creek 3.7 Cold — Class A — drinking water source, Class C — fishing
Willow Brook 3.7 untyped — —
Softwater Creek 3.6 untyped — —
Pleasant Grove Brook 3.6 untyped — —
Buttlers Hollow 3.6 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Veness Brook 3.6 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
South Branch Ley Creek 3.6 untyped — —
Powell Creek 3.5 untyped — —
Amber Brook 3.5 Cold — Class C — fishing
Deep Run 3.4 untyped — —
Butternut Run 3.4 untyped — —
Quarter Mile Creek 3.4 Cold — Class B — swimming and contact recreation
Renwick Brook 3.4 untyped — —
Williams Brook 3.4 untyped — —
Schuyler Creek 3.4 Cold — Class A — drinking water source
Gravel Run 3.2 untyped — —
Commissary Creek 3.2 untyped — —
Wilcox Creek 3.1 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Sampson Creek 3.1 untyped — —
Beartrap Creek 3.0 Cold — Class C — fishing
Indian Run 2.9 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
L'Hommedieu Creek 2.8 Cold — Class C — fishing
Cold Brook 2.8 Cold — Class C — fishing
Johnsons Creek 2.8 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Rainbow Creek 2.8 Cold — Class C — fishing
Military Run 2.7 Cold — Class C — fishing
Minnegar Brook 2.7 Cold — Class AA — drinking water source
Hemlock Run 2.6 untyped — —
Willow Glen Creek 2.1 Cold — Class C — fishing
Clintons Ditch 2.1 untyped — —
Demont Creek 2.0 untyped — —
Geddes Brook 1.9 Cold — Class C — fishing
Sanders Creek 1.9 untyped — —
Rice Brook 1.8 Cold — Class C — fishing
Randall Gulf 1.7 untyped — —
Hamilton Creek 1.6 untyped — —
Hall Creek 1.6 untyped — —
Cold Spring Branch 1.5 Cold — Class B — swimming and contact recreation
Fall Brook 1.5 untyped — —
Barber Gulf 1.5 untyped — —
Lower Basin 1.5 untyped — —
The Wide Waters 1.4 untyped — —
Diversion Channel 1.4 Cold — Class C — fishing
Linderman Creek 1.4 untyped — —
Cliff Park Brook 1.3 Cold — Class C — fishing
Lake Outlet 1.3 untyped — —
Lake Como Outlet 1.1 Cold — Class C — fishing
Seneca Lake Inlet 1.0 Cold — Class C — fishing

Public land in the watershed

64,861 acres in 29 units, which is 2.9% of the 2,214,319 acres the basin covers. Private inholdings carried in the same source file are excluded, here and on the map.

Managing agency Acres Share Units
State conservation department 31,944 49% 17
U.S. Forest Service 16,792 26% 1
US Fish & Wildlife Service 9,694 15% 1
State park agency 3,992 6% 3
County land 1,705 3% 4
Another state agency 700 1% 2
City and township land 34 0% 1

The biggest named blocks of it, each with its own page — the streams on that ground, what is open to hunt on it, and where the access sites are.

Neighbouring watersheds

The subbasins that share a boundary with this one and carry coldwater streams.