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East Branch Delaware River at Harvard

National Weather Service gauge HVDN6 · New York · Delaware County · 42.0247, -75.1203 · USGS 01417500

Flood levels

Official flood levels at this gauge: action stage begins at 7.0 ft; minor flooding begins at 10.0 ft; moderate flooding begins at 12.0 ft; major flooding begins at 15.0 ft.

Action stage7.0 ft
Minor flooding10.0 ft
Moderate flooding12.0 ft
Major flooding15.0 ft

Highest recorded crests

What the water does

National Weather Service impact statements for this gauge, in the Weather Service's own words.

7.0 ftIsland Road in the Town of Colchester is normally closed at this level.
10.0 ftMinor flood stage. Low lying roads along the river from Downsville to East Branch begin to flood.
11.0 ftHarvard Road, Fox Lane and Harvard Cemetery Road become impassable in spots due to increasing river flooding. Camp cottage properties along Route 30 flood.
12.0 ftModerate Flood Stage. Between 12 and 15 feet, river flooding begins at the Oxbow Campground in Harvard. Significant backwater flooding from Baxter Brook is also likely. Residences along Harvard Road and Route 30 from Harvard to East Branch are threatened.
12.6 ftThis is the flood level from January, 1996 and is considered to be moderate flooding.
13.3 ftThis is the flood level from the remnants of Hurricane Irene in August, 2011 and is considered to be moderate flooding.
14.7 ftThis is the flood level from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee in September, 2011 and is considered to be moderate flooding.
15.0 ftMajor flood stage. Above 15 feet, river flooding is widespread from Downsville to East Branch with several residential and commercial properties affected between Harvard Road and Route 30. Significant backwater flooding from Baxter Brook is also likely. River water crosses O and W Road between East Branch and Fishs Eddy. Evacuations typically begin throughout the Town of Colchester.
16.1 ftThis is the flood level from September, 2004 and is considered to be major flooding.
16.3 ftThis is the flood level from April, 2005 and is considered to be major flooding.
16.6 ftThis is the flood level from June, 2006 and is the modern flood of record. Widespread flooding, resulting in catastrophic property and infrastructure damage, occurred from Downsville to East Branch.
16.9 ftThis level, from September 1938, is the historic flood of record prior to the construction of Downsville Dam.
19.6 ftFEMA flood insurance maps indicate that a river level at 19.6 feet corresponds to the water elevation associated with the 1 percent (100 year) flood risk zone. If your property is determined to be in this zone, then it is at high risk for flooding during a record flood event. A flood of this magnitude has a 1 percent chance of occurring in any year.
24.4 ftFEMA flood insurance maps indicate that a river level of 24.4 feet corresponds to the water elevation associated witih the 0.2 percent (500 year) flood risk zone. If your property is determined to be in this zone, then it is at high risk for flooding during a record flood event. This magnitude of flooding has a 0.2 percent chance of occurring in any year.

Forecast office: NWS Johnson City · River Forecast Center: Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center.

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