• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Plan logo

ashokanstreams

Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Plan

  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Action Plans
    • Ashokan Watershed Stakeholder Council
    • Working Groups and Committees
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Areas of Focus
    • Assistance to Streamside Landowners
    • Enhancing and Protecting Water Quality
    • Floodplain Management
    • Improving Aquatic and Riparian Habitat
    • Increasing Public Access to Streams
    • Streamside Infrastructure
  • Explore the Watershed
    • Stream Recreation and Activities
    • Esopus Creek
    • Beaver Kill
    • Birch Creek
    • Broadstreet Hollow Creek
    • Bush Kill
    • Bushnellsville Creek
    • Fox Hollow Creek
    • Little Beaver Kill
    • Peck Hollow Creek
    • Stony Clove Creek
    • Warner Creek
    • Woodland Valley Creek
  • Projects & Funding
    • Featured Projects
    • SMIP Funding for Infrastructure Improvements
    • SMIP Project Insurance Requirements
    • Copyrights and Access to Information
    • Subcontractor Approval Policy
  • Conferences & Training
    • Catskill Environmental Research & Monitoring Conference (CERM)
    • Ashokan Watershed Conference 2017
    • Ashokan Watershed Weekend Events — Summer 2020
    • Ashokan Watershed Month
    • Stream Explorers Youth Adventure Day
    • Past Conferences
  • Publications & Resources
    • Technical Data & Resources
    • Stream Management Plans
  • News & Events
  • Contact Us
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Birch Creek

Birch Creek
Birch Creek

Birch Creek is located in the northeastern most part of the Ashokan Watershed. Its headwaters begin above Crump Road in the Town of Shandaken on the southern slopes of Halcott Mountain. Below Crump road, the main stem flows approximately 8 miles, entirely through the town of Shandaken, eventually draining into the Esopus Creek at Big Indian. The drainage area is approximately 12.8 sq. miles. Birch Creek is joined by several tributaries along the way including Cathedral Brook, Giggle Hollow, Rose Mountain Brook, and Rochester Hollow. In fact, most of the Belleayre Ski Resort is located within Birch Creek’s watershed and the runoff from Belleayre’s snowpack drains into Cathedral Brook.

Like many of the Ashokan Watershed streams and creeks, Birch Creek has an outstanding population of wild trout including Rainbow, Brown and native Brook Trout. The majority of brook trout can be located in the headwaters of Birch Creek and its tributaries, whereas brown and rainbow trout often inhabit the lower stream reaches below Upper Birch Creek Road. There are several recreational access locations along this stream: NYSDEC access at the Pine Hill day use area, NYCDEP Public Use Parcel along Lower Birch Creek Road, and access near the top of the watershed along Upper Birch Creek Road which includes both DEC and NYCDEP land. Handicap fishing access for stocked trout is available at the end of Upper Birch Creek Road at the former Doc Riser estate.

Birch Creek was assessed in 2011 by Ulster County Soil & Water Conservation District staff with assistance from interns from the Student Conservation Association and Ulster County Community College. The assessment focused on recording locations of bank erosion, suspended sediment source areas, potential private property riparian buffer restoration locations, native plant material source areas, and infrastructure threats.  This inventory of stream features and corridor condition is being used in conjunction with historical data to develop a stream management plan for the creek that will describe the stream health and condition in order to offer recommendations for future management.

map of Birch Creek
Click to view larger image.

The Birch Creek was assessed in 2012. A full report on Birch Creek conditions and recommendations will be available on this website when it becomes available.

Ashokan Watershed Stream Management logo (in white)

Footer

Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program

PO Box 667
3130 State Route 28
Shokan, NY 12481
845 688 3047
845 688 3130 (fax)

Copyright © 2023 ·

Keep In Touch

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Homepage
  • About Us
  • Areas of Focus
  • Explore the Watershed
  • Projects & Funding
  • Conferences & Training
  • Publications & Resources
  • News & Events
  • Contact Us