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Elevations in the watershed vary from a high of approximately 3,948 feet above sea level on the top of Black Dome Mountain in Southeast Jewett, to a low point of 1,400 feet above sea level at the Schoharie Creek/East Kill confluence. The average elevation of the watershed is approximately 2,674 feet above sea level.

The East Kill is a tributary of the Schoharie Creek, which eventually empties into the Schoharie Reservoir where part of the water is transfer through the Shandaken portal to the Ashokan Reservoir. The Ashokan Reservoir supplies approximately 10% of NYC’s drinking water. The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) operates this drinking water supply under a Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD) issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Health. Central to the maintenance of the FAD are a series of partnership programs between NYC and the upstate communities, as well as a set of rules and regulations administered by the DEP. Due to its location within the NYC Watershed, the residents and landowners in the East Kill watershed are subject to the DEP rules and regulations written to protect this watershed.

The East Kill watershed is located in the southeastern region of New York State. Most of the 36.25 mi² or (23,199 acres) watershed lies within the Greene County town of Jewett, with small parts entering into Windham, Ashland, and Lexington.

The East Kill begins in a large wetland complex upstream from Capra Lake on NYS owned land. The surrounding landscape is mountainous including the high peaks of Thomas Cole, Black Dome and Blackhead Mountains. As the East Kill flows west through Jewett it roughly parallels County Route 23C until entering the Schoharie Creek near the County Route 17/23A intersection.

The East Kill mainstem is 16 miles long with approximately 83 miles of tributaries including Halsey and Roaring Brook, along with numerous other unnamed tributaries.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maintains a network of stream gages throughout the country, with a number of active gages on the Schoharie Creek and its tributaries. A stream gage, a device that primarily measures water level, is necessary to monitor stream discharge and develop hydrographs or a graph depicting amount or depth of stream flow over time. Hydrologists use a hydrograph of a stream to analyze flow patterns and trends such as flood frequency or drought cycles.

There is one continuously recording stream gage located on the East Kill near Jewett Center at the Mill Hollow Road Bridge (established 1996, drainage area 35.6 mi², USGS ID# 01349700). Prior to 1996, a crest stage gage was maintained starting in 1929.

All gage information including real time discharge and gage height is available online at the USGS website:

Jewett Center gage house which holds stream gaging equipment.

Jewett Center Gage http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ny/nwis/uv/?site_no=01349700

For more detailed information and hydrographs for the Schoharie Creek see the East Kill Management Plan Section 2.4 Hydrology and Flood History.