Esopus

Creek

Ashokan Reservoir

ULSTER

GREENE

DUTCHESS

COLUMB

Kingston

Saugerties

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Open-File Report 2007−1036

Flood of April 2−3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin,

New York

Prepared in cooperation with Federal Emergency Management Agency
Cover. “Flooded house on Tongore Road, Kingston, N.Y.” Photo courtesy of Kingston Daily 

Freeman, Kingston, N.Y. Photo taken by Freeman photographer Tania Barricklo.

Back Cover. “Ashokan Reservoir spillway, Ashokan, N.Y.” Photos courtesy of James Werner.
Flood of April 2-3, 2005, Esopus Creek 

Basin, New York

By Thomas P. Suro and Gary D. Firda

Prepared in cooperation with the 

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Open-File Report 2007–1036

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Mark D. Myers, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2007

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reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Suro, T.P. and Firda, G.D., 2007, Flood of April 2-3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 2007–1036, 85 p.
iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Rainfall in the Esopus Creek Basin .............................................................................................................1

Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Discharge and Frequency .................................................................................3

Effect of the Ashokan Reservoir on Downstream Flooding..................................................................10

Peak Water-Surface Elevations at Flood Study Sites............................................................................10

Flood Damage...............................................................................................................................................14

Summary........................................................................................................................................................20

Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................................20

Selected References...................................................................................................................................20

Appendix 1. Site Descriptions and High-Water Marks at Study Sites, Flood of April 2–3, 

2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York...............................................................................23

Appendix 2. Selected Photographs of Flood Damage during the Flood of April 2–3, 2005, 

Esopus Creek Basin and Surrounding Areas .................................................................79

Figures

1. Map showing pertinent geographic features of southeastern New York and rainfall 

amounts from the storm of April 2­–3, 2005....................................................................................2

2. Graph showing cumulative rainfall during April 2-3, 2005, recorded at New York City 

Department of Environmental Protection station at Ashokan Reservoir, N.Y.....................5

3. Map showing locations of selected U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging stations 

in the Hudson River Basin, N.Y. ..................................................................................................6

4–6. Graphs showing:

4. Discharge hydrographs for selected stream-gaging stations in the Esopus 

Creek Basin, N.Y., March 27 to April 6, 2005....................................................................8

5. Peak discharges at selected stream-gaging stations in the Hudson River 

Basin, N.Y., as a function of drainage area during the flood of April 2-3, 2005, 

and previous maximum known discharges.....................................................................9

6. Hourly inflow, outflow, diversion, and water-surface elevation at the Ashokan 

Reservoir, N.Y., for March 27 to April 6, 2005.................................................................11

7. Map showing locations of high-water-mark sites chosen for study in the Esopus 

Creek Basin, N.Y. during the flood of April 2-3, 2005.............................................................13

8. Graph showing peak water-surface elevations at selected sites in the Esopus 

Creek Basin, N.Y., during flood of April 2-3, 2005, and flood-recurrence values from 

Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-insurance studies .................................17

9A–B. Photographs showing A. Study site no. 9, County Route 29A (Wynkoop Road) 

bridge over the Esopus Creek at Hurley, N.Y on April 3 at about 2:30 p.m. B. Area 

between study sites 12 and 13 at the Kingston Circle, junction of Interstate Route 

587, Route 28 and Washington Ave., Kingston, N.Y...............................................................19
iv

Tables

1. Total rainfall for April 2-3, 2005, at selected locations in the Esopus Creek Basin 

and surrounding areas.................................................................................................................4

2. Rainfall-frequency relations for storms of 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-hour duration at 

Ashokan Reservoir, N.Y. ..............................................................................................................5

 3. Historical flood peak discharges and peak discharges during the flood of 

April 2-4, 2005, at selected U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging stations in 

the Hudson River Basin, N.Y. ......................................................................................................7

4. Historical flood peak discharges and peak discharges during the flood of 

April 2-3, 2005, at selected U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging stations in 

the Esopus Creek Basin, N.Y. ....................................................................................................12

5. Peak water-surface elevations at 25 high-water-mark sites in the Esopus Creek 

Basin, N.Y., during the flood of April 2-3, 2005, and corresponding flood elevations 

for 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year flood-recurrence intervals .................................................15

Conversion Factors, Datum and Acronyms

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

acre 0.4047 hectare (ha)

acre 0.004047 square kilometer (km2)

square foot (ft2) 0.09290 square meter (m2)

square mile (mi2) 259.0 hectare (ha)

square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) 

Volume

cubic foot (ft3) 0.02832 cubic meter (m3) 

acre-foot (acre-ft) 1,233 cubic meter (m3)

million gallons (Mgal) 3,785 cubic meter (m3) 

Flow rate

acre-foot per day (acre-ft/d) 0.01427 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

cubic foot per second per square

mile [(ft3/s)/mi2]

 0.01093 cubic meter per second per square 

kilometer [(m3/s)/km2]

million gallons per day (Mgal/d) 0.04381 cubic meter per second (m3/s)
v

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows:

°C=(°F-32)/1.8

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 

(NGVD 29). 

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

ACRONYMS USED IN REPORT

NWS National Weather Service

NYCDEP New York City Department of Environmental Protection

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

NGS National Geodetic Survey
This page has been left blank intentionally. 
Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York

By Thomas P. Suro and Gary D. Firda

Abstract

On April 2–3, 2005, heavy rain moved into southern 

New York and delivered rainfall amounts that ranged from 

about 2 in. to almost 6 in. within a 36-hour period. Significant 

flooding occurred on many small streams and tributaries in 

the area, and extensive flooding occurred on the Esopus and 

Roundout Creeks in Ulster and Greene Counties, New York. 

The flooding damaged many homes, caused millions of dollars 

worth of damage, and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate 

their homes. A total of 20 New York counties were declared 

Federal disaster areas.

Disaster recovery assistance for those people affected 

stands at almost $35 million, according to the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency, as more than 3,400 New 

Yorkers registered for Federal aid. U.S. Geological Survey 

stream-gaging stations on the Esopus Creek above the 

Ashokan Reservoir at Allaben, N.Y., and below the Ashokan 

Reservoir at Mount Marion, N.Y., each recorded a new record 

maximum water-surface elevation and discharge for the 

respective periods of record as a result of this storm. The peak 

water-surface elevation and discharge recorded during the 

April 2–3, 2005, storm at the U.S. Geological Survey streamgaging station on the Esopus Creek at Cold Brook, N.Y. were 

the third highest elevation and discharge since the station 

was put into operation in 1914. Most of the study sites along 

the Esopus Creek indicated water-surface elevations near the 

50-year flood elevations, as documented in flood-insurance 

studies by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Introduction

Widespread rainfall amounts ranging from about 2 in. to 

almost 6 in. in some locations produced extensive flooding 

in the Rondout and Esopus Creek Basins during April 2–3, 

2005. The National Weather Service (NWS) recorded rainfall 

amounts of 2.97 inches in Cairo, N.Y. and 4.83 inches at Slide 

Mountain, N.Y. to as much as 5.69 inches in East Jewett, 

N.Y. The New York City Department of Environmental 

Protection (NYCDEP) recorded over 3.3 inches of rainfall at 

their Ashokan Reservoir recording station, which is centrally 

located in Ulster County. A state of emergency was declared 

for Ulster County on the evening of April 2 (Saturday) as 

hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate their homes. In 

addition, Ulster County emergency personnel had to complete 

over 40 water rescues of people stranded in their cars or 

homes (Daily Freeman, 2005a). Subsequently, 20 counties 

(11 eligible for individual assistance) including Ulster County 

in New York were declared Federal disaster areas.

This report documents the rainfall amounts and peak 

water-surface elevations in the Esopus Creek Basin during 

April 2–3, 2005. Federal Emergency Management Agency 

(FEMA) personnel selected 25 study sites along the Esopus 

Creek to be included for study in this report. Peak watersurface elevations were surveyed, described, and photographed 

by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) personnel. Descriptions 

and maps of individual sites are presented in Appendix 1. Peak 

water-surface elevations at most study sites were nearest the 

50-year flood elevations, as documented in FEMA floodinsurance studies. Record peak discharges were set at two 

USGS stream-gaging stations located on the Esopus Creek. 

The Ashokan Reservoir was full and spilling at the start of 

the storm, but did manage to attenuate the peak outflow to 

downstream communities.

Rainfall in the Esopus Creek Basin

Although total statewide precipitation for March 2005 

in New York was slightly below normal, the Hudson Valley, 

Eastern Plateau and Coastal divisions of New York all 

reported above normal precipitation (National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, 2005d). The storm system of 

April 2–3, 2005, moved up the Appalachians and through 

the Mid-Atlantic region into New York and New England, 

delivering heavy rain to southeastern New York (fig. 1). This 

system caused widespread rainfall of more than 3 inches with 

some local areas reporting rainfall totals of more than 5 inches 

in a 36-hour period (National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 2005b).

The rainfall in early April followed 1 to 2 inches of 

rain that fell during March 28–29 that left the Esopus Creek 
Figure 1. Pertinent geographic features of southeastern New York and rainfall amounts from the 

storm of April 2­–3, 2005 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2005b) and New York City 

Department of Environmental Protection (written commun., 2005)).

3.50

EXPLANATION

ESOPUS CREEK BASIN

RAINFALL MEASUREMENT SITE AND AMOUNT, IN INCHES AND

SITE NUMBER

LINE OF EQUAL RAINFALL, IN INCHES

Figure 1. Pertintent geographic features of southeastern New York and rainfall amounts from the storm of April 2−3, 2005.

(Data provided by National Weather Service and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.)

NEW JERSEY

PENNSYLVANIA New York

City

NEW YORK Area shown

74°30' 74°

42°30'

41°30'

42°

Ashokan

Reservoir

East Jewett

Port Jervis

0 5 10 20 MILES

0 5 10 20 KILOMETERS

Cairo

Esopus Creek

Rondout Creek

NEW YORK

NEW JERSEY

ULSTER

DELAWARE

PIKE

OTSEGO

WAYNE

SULLIVAN

ORANGE

GREENE

MONROE SUSSEX

ALBANY

SCHOHARIE

LACKAWANNA

DUTCHESS

PASSAIC

ROCKLAND

PUTNAM COLUMBIA

3.00

4.00

4.60

3.50

1.90

2.40

4.10

3.85 4.24 3.88

1.84

1.96

2.01

2.09

2.12

2.25 2.25

2.33 2.58

2.62

2.65

2.66

2.73

2.81

2.95

2.96

2.97

3.35

3.36

3.37

3.45

3.46

3.51

3.65

3.69

3.74

3.74

3.79

4.83

5.69

WESTCHESTER

1.80

3.80

3.36

2

3

3

3

4

4

5

4

2

4

PENNSYLVANIA

NEW JERSEY

2

Olivebridge

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10) (11)

(12)

(13)

(14)

(15)

(16)

(17)

(18)

(19)

(20)

(21)

(22) (23)

(24)

(25)

(26)

(27)

(28)

(29)

(31) (30)

(32)

(33) (34)

(35) (36)

(37)

(38)

(39)

(40)

(41)

(42)

(43)

(16)

Slide

Mountain

   Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
flowing at an above normal level. On April 1 the daily mean 

flow at the USGS stream-gaging station Esopus Creek at 

Allaben, N.Y. was at a level that is exceeded less than 10 

percent of the time. The flow level on April 1 at the USGS 

stream-gaging station Esopus Creek at Coldbrook, N.Y., was 

at a level that is exceeded less than 15 percent of the time. The 

maximum recorded rainfalls for the period of April 2–3, 2005, 

near the headwaters of the Esopus Creek at Slide Mountain, 

N.Y. , and at Ashokan Reservoir (fig. 1), located midway along 

the Esopus Creek, were 4.83 and 3.37 inches, respectively. 

Rainfall amounts recorded at 43 selected sites in New York, 

New Jersey, and Pennsylvania are listed in table 1. Selected 

rainfall amounts with respect to frequency and duration at 

Ashokan Reservoir, N.Y., which is centrally located along the 

Esopus Creek (fig. 1), are listed in table 2.

The rainfall intensity was not very high in the Esopus 

Creek Basin, with only a 2-year recurrence interval for a 

24-hour storm at Ashokan Reservoir. Generally, the rainfall 

frequency associated with this storm across the Esopus Creek 

Basin was less than a 5-year recurrence interval. Most of the 

rainfall at Ashokan Reservoir fell at a fairly constant rate from 

the early morning hours on Saturday, April 2, 2005, until 

about midnight. Rainfall continued at a lower intensity until 

late afternoon on Sunday, April 3 (New York City Department 

of Environmental Protection, written commun. 2005). A plot 

of cumulative rainfall at the NYCDEP station at Ashokan 

Reservoir, N.Y. (fig. 2) illustrates this rainfall pattern from 

the early morning of Saturday, April 2, until late afternoon on 

Sunday, April 3, 2005.

Although rainfall intensity did not approach record 

rates, 3 or more inches of rain falling on snow-covered terrain 

combined with daytime temperatures of 50 οF or greater 

at several locations in the Hudson River Basin produced 

significant runoff. The National Weather Service (NWS) 

observations at Slide Mountain, N.Y. (located near the 

headwaters of the Esopus Creek and West Branch Neversink 

River) reported about 41 inches of snow in March (the deepest 

snow reported in New York during March 2005 according to 

the National Weather Service, 2005d). Before the rainfall in 

late March there were about 22 inches of snow remaining at 

Slide Mountain; on April 1 the reported snow on the ground 

was down to 12 inches and by April 3 only 4 inches of snow 

was reported at Slide Mountain. The 7-day runoff for the 

period prior to April 4 was almost 9.0 inches for the streamgaging station Esopus Creek at Coldbrook, N.Y.

Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Discharge 

and Frequency

The locations of 19 USGS stream-gaging stations in 

the Hudson River Basin cited in this report are presented in 

figure 3. Historical flood peak discharges and peak discharges 

for the flood of April 2–3, 2005, at these stations are presented 

in table 3.

Peak discharges at the USGS stream-gaging stations on the 

Esopus Creek located upstream from Ashokan Reservoir were 

recorded between about 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, and 

1:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 3. The USGS stream-gaging station 

Esopus Creek at Mount Marion, N.Y., located downstream from 

the Ashokan Reservoir, recorded the peak discharge late in the 

evening on Sunday, April 3, 2005. The general trend of peaks 

occurring between late in the evening on April 2 and midday 

on April 3 was consistent for many of the USGS stream-gaging 

stations in the Hudson River Basin (table 3).

Frequency analysis of annual flood peak data recorded 

at stream-gaging stations provides a means of estimating 

the probability of occurrence of a given discharge. Flood 

frequency is commonly expressed in terms of recurrence 

interval or the probability of being exceeded (one is the 

reciprocal of the other). The 100-year flood, for example, has 

a probability of 0.01 (1 percent chance) of being equaled or 

exceeded in any given year. Recurrence intervals for streamgaging stations listed in this report were calculated by fitting 

systematic annual peak discharge data to a log-Pearson type III 

distribution (Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data, 

1982). Recurrence intervals at stream-gaging stations with 

significant regulation were calculated from statistical analyses 

of annual peak discharges during the regulated period only. 

No adjustments were made for the amount of available storage 

in the reservoirs before or during floods, or for changes in 

regulation procedures during the period of regulation.

Recurrence intervals for Esopus Creek at Allaben and 

Esopus Creek at Coldbrook, N.Y. (stations located upstream 

from Ashokan Reservoir) were 60 and 30 years, respectively, 

whereas the recurrence interval for Esopus Creek at Mount 

Marion, N.Y. (located downstream of Ashokan Reservoir) 

was 80 years. The stream-gaging stations Esopus Creek at 

Allaben, in operation since 1963, and Esopus Creek at Mount 

Marion, in continuous operation since 1970, recorded new 

period-of-record maximums of 21,700 ft3/s and 30,500 ft3/s, 

respectively. The peak discharge of 55,200 ft3/s at Esopus 

Creek at Coldbrook, N.Y. stream-gaging station was about 15 

percent less than the period-of-record maximum of 65,300 

ft3/s set in March 1980. Discharge hydrographs for these three 

USGS stream-gaging stations (two stations are upstream from 

the Ashokan Reservoir and one is downstream) in the Esopus 

Creek Basin for the period March 27 to April 6, 2005, are 

presented in figure 4.

Peak streamflow frequencies at other stations in the 

Hudson River Basin generally remained below a 30-year 

recurrence interval with a few exceptions. The peak at 

Rondout Creek at Rosendale, N.Y. had a recurrence interval of 

50 years while the peak at Bushnellsville Creek at Shandaken, 

N.Y. had a recurrence interval greater than 100 years. Peak 

discharges at selected sites in the Hudson River Basin are 

plotted as a function of drainage area in figure 5 as well as 

previous maximum discharges at stations with regulated and 

unregulated streamflows.

Flood of April 2-3, 2005, Discharge and Frequency   
Table 1. Total rainfall for April 2-3, 2005, at selected locations in the 

Esopus Creek Basin and surrounding areas.­—(Continued)

[Data provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2005b) 

and New York City Department of Environmental Protection (written commun., 

2005); selected data shown in fig. 1]

Site 

number

Site 

name

Total rainfall

(inches)

1 East Jewett, N.Y. 5.69

2 Slide Mountain, N.Y. 4.83

3 Highland Lakes, N.J. 4.60

4 Canistear Reservoir, N.J. 4.24

5 Claryville, N.Y. 4.10

6 Greentown, Pa 4.00

7 West Milford, N.J. 3.88

8 Hewitt, N.J. 3.85

9 Milanville, Pa 3.79

10 Mohonk Lake, N.Y. 3.80

11 North Branch, N.Y. 3.74

12 Gouldsboro, Pa 3.74

13 Liberty, N.Y. 3.69

14 Long Eddy, N.Y. 3.65

15 Fishs Eddy, N.Y. 3.51

16 Montague, N.J. 3.50

17 Matamoras, Pa 3.46

18 Monticello, N.Y. 3.45

19 Ashokan Reservoir, N.Y. 3.37

20 West Point, N.Y. 3.36

21 Windham, N.Y. 3.36

22 Middletown, N.Y. 3.35

23 Port Jervis, N.Y. 3.00

24 Cairo, N.Y. 2.97

25 Schoharie Reservoir, N.Y. 2.96

26 Rondout Reservoir, N.Y. 2.95

27 Cannonsville Reservoir, N.Y. 2.81

28 Sterling Twp, Pa 2.73

29 Delhi, N.Y. 2.66

30 Walton , N.Y. 2.65

31 Deposit, N.Y. 2.62

32 Neversink Reservoir, N.Y. 2.58

33 Lordville, N.Y. 2.40

34 Rosendale, N.Y. 2.33

35 Davenport, N.Y. 2.25

36 West Davenport, N.Y. 2.25

37 Masonville, N.Y. 2.12

38 Roxbury, N.Y. 2.09

39 Margaretville, N.Y. 2.01

40 Unadilla, N.Y. 1.96

41 Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 1.90

42 Lansing Manor, N.Y. 1.84

43 Rhinebeck, N.Y. 1.80

 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
Table 2. Rainfall-frequency relations for storms of 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-hour 

duration at Ashokan Reservoir, N.Y. 

[Data from U.S. Weather Bureau, 1961. Location is shown in fig. 1]

Recurrence 

interval 

(years)

Rainfall, in inches for selected duration

3 hours 6 hours 12 hour 24 hours

2 2.0 2.5 3.5 4.0

5 2.6 3.5 4.0 5.0

10 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0

25 3.5 4.5 5.5 6.5

50 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0

100 4.1 5.5 7.0 8.0

Figure 2. Cumulative rainfall during April 2-3, 2005, recorded at New York City Department 

of Environmental Protection station at Ashokan Reservoir, N.Y.

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

4.50

3 7 11 15 19 23 3 7 11 15

ENDING HOUR

CUMULATIVE RAINFALL, IN INCHES

4/02/2005 4/03/2005

5 9 13 17 21 1 5 9 13

Figure 2. Cumulative rainfall during April 2−3, 2005, recorded at New York City

Department of Environmental Protection station at Ashokan Reservoir, N.Y.

Flood of April 2-3, 2005, Discharge and Frequency   
01351500

01358000

01357500

01350355

01350180

01350140

01350120

01350101 01350080

01350000

01361500

01362197

01362200

01362500

01364500

01367500

01365000

01371500

01372500

01371500

0 5 10 15 20 25 MILES

0 5 10 15 20 25 KILOMETERS

Map created with TOPO!®

©2003 National Geographic

(www.nationalgeographic.com/topo)

NEW JERSEY

PENNSYLVANIA New York

City

NEW YORK Area shown

74°43' 74°32' 74°21' 74°10' 73°59' 73°48' 73°28'

42°

45'

42°

36'

42°

27'

42°

18'

42°

9'

42°

41°

51'

41°

39'

EXPLANATION

STREAM-GAGING STATION

Figure 3. Locations of selected U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging stations in the Hudson River basin,

N.Y. (See table 3 for station names and flood-related data.)

Figure 3. Locations of selected U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging stations in the Hudson River 

Basin, N.Y. (See table 3 for station names and flood-related data.)

   Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
 Table 3. Historical flood peak discharges and peak discharges during the flood of April 2-4, 2005, at selected U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging stations in the Hudson River 

Basin, N.Y. [mi2, square miles; ft, feet; ft3/s, cubic feet per second; ft3/s/mi2, cubic feet per second per square mile; <, less than; > greater than. Recurrence intervals equal to and above 25 years include the April 2005 flood discharge in the statistical analysis]

Previous maximum of record Flood of April 2-4, 2005

 USGS 

station 

number

 Station 

name 

Drainage 

area 

(mi2)

Period 

of 

record

Date 

of 

peak

Peak 

stage 

(ft)

Peak 

discharge 

(ft3/s)

Date 

of 

peak

Time 

of 

peak 

(hr)

Peak 

stage 

(ft)

Peak 

discharge 

(ft3/s)

Peak 

discharge 

(ft3/s/mi2)

Recurrence 

interval 

(years)

Hudson River Basin

01350000 Schoharie Creek at Prattsville, 237 1902-2005 01/19/96 19.39 52,800 04/03/05 0115 17.23 41,500 175.1 2001350080 Manor Kill at West Conesville near 

Gilboa

32 1986-2005 01/19/96 10.20 5,050 04/02/05 2330 7.49 2,960 91.4 9

01350101 Schoharie Creek at Gilboa* 316 1975-2005 01/19/96 30.60 70,800 04/03/05 0345 25.27 49,400 156.3 2501350120 Platter Kill at Gilboa 11 1975-2005 01/19/96 6.7 1,370 04/03/05 0145 4.06 396 36.3 <201350140 Mine Kill near North Blenheim 16 1974-2005 01/19/96 5.20 2,550 04/02/05 2300 5.51 1,810 111.7 1201350180 Schoharie Creek at North Blenheim* 358 1970-2005 01/19/96 17.61 75,600 04/03/05 0400 14.78 51,700 144.4 2501350355 Schoharie Creek at Breakabeen* 444 1975-2005 01/19/96 20.51 80,200 04/03/05 0515 17.40 56,600 127.5 2501351500 Schoharie Creek at Burtonsville* 886 1939-2005 01/20/96 12.88 81,600 04/03/05 1345 10.30 56,100 63.3 2501357500 Mohawk River at Cohoes* 3,450 1917-2005 03/06/64 23.15 143,000 04/03/05 2230 20.80 98,100 28.4 1501358000 Hudson River at Green Island* 8,090 1946-2005 12/31/48 27.05 181,000 04/04/05 0100 24.22 132,000 16.3 701361500 Catskill Creek at Oak Hill* 98 1911-2005 04/04/87 16.6 15,400 04/03/05 14.22 11,600 118.4 2501362197 Bushnellsville Creek at Shandaken 11 1951,56,

72-05

10/15/55 12.4 1,830 04/02/05 12.52 2,700 236.8 >100 & <500

01362200 Esopus Creek at Allaben 64 1963-2005 03/30/51 abc15.1 b 20,000 04/02/05 2245 14.44 21,700 340.7 6001362500 Esopus Creek at Coldbrook 192 1931-2005 03/21/80 21.94 65,300 04/03/05 0045 20.57 55,200 287.5 3001364500 Esopus Creek at Mount Marion* 419 d1970-2005 04/05/87 24.78 d22500 04/03/05 2215 26.46 30,500 72.8 8001365000 Rondout Creek near Lowes Corners 38 1937-2005 07/22/38 a8.20 7,600 04/02/05 2215 9.09 6,170 161.1 15

01367500 Rondout Creek at Rosendale* 383 d1951-2005 10/16/55 36.8 d35800 04/03/05 1045 24.96 30,500 79.6 5001371500 Wallkill River at Gardiner 695 1924-2005 10/16/55 19.81 30,800 04/03/05 0900 13.81 19,200 27.6 15

01372500 Wappinger Creek near Wappingers Falls 181 1928-2005 08/19/55 19.60 18,600 04/03/05 1415 7.09 2,370 13.1 <2

* Sites in pink indicate significant regulation. Recurrence intervals at these sites were calculated from statistical analyses of annual peak discharges during the regulated period. 

No adjustments were made for the amount of available storage in the reservoirs before or during floods, nor for changes in regulation procedures during the period of regulation.Other studies, such as flood-insurance studies and other procedures, can be investigated for alternate methods of determining discharge recurrence intervals at these sites. 

 aFrom floodmarks. bAbout. cAt former site. dSince current degree of regulation.

Flood of April 2-3, 2005, Discharge and Frequency 
Figure 4. Discharge hydrographs for selected stream-gaging stations in the Esopus Creek Basin, N.Y., March 27 to April 6, 2005. (Locations shown in fig. 3).

27

12H

28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6

March, 2005 April, 2005

502010

500200100

5,000

2,000

1,000

80,00050,00020,00010,000

01362200 ESOPUS CREEK AT ALLABEN NY

01362500 ESOPUS CREEK AT COLDBROOK NY

01364500 ESOPUS CREEK AT MOUNT MARION NY

0H 12H 0H 12H 0H 12H 0H 12H 0H 12H 0H 12H 0H 12H 0H 12H 0H 12H 0H 12H 0H 0H

Figure 4. Discharge hydrographs for selected stream-gaging stations in the Esopus Creek basin, March 27 to April 6, 2005. (Locations shown in Fig. 3)

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
Figure 5. Peak discharges at selected stream-gaging stations in the Hudson River Basin, N.Y., as a function of drainage area during the flood of 

April 2-3, 2005, and previous maximum known discharges.

100

1,000

10,000

100,000

1,000,000

1 10 100 1,000 10,000

DRAINAGE AREA, IN SQUARE MILES

PEAK DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND 

Flood of April 2−3, 2005 -- unregulated streamflowFlood of April 2−3, 2005 -- regulated streamflowPrevious maximum -- unregulated streamflowPrevious maximum since regulation

Figure 5. Peak discharges at selected stream-gaging stations in the Hudson River basin, N.Y., as a function of drainage area duringthe flood of April 2−3, 2005, and previous maximum known discharges.

Flood of April 2-3, 2005, Discharge and Frequency 
Effect of the Ashokan Reservoir on 

Downstream Flooding

The Ashokan Reservoir, which began storage operations 

on September 9, 1913, is divided into two basins separated 

by a weir containing a gatehouse. The usable capacity of the 

west basin is 47,180 million gallons between the minimum 

operating level of 495.50 ft above NGVD 29 and the crest 

of the spillway to the east basin at elevation 590.00 ft above 

NGVD 29. The dead storage of the west basin is 2,237 million 

gallons below the minimum operating level. Usable capacity 

of the east basin is 80,678 million gallons between elevation 

500.00 ft above NGVD 29 and the crest of the spillway to 

Esopus Creek at elevation 587.10 ft above NGVD 29. There is 

no dead storage in the east basin.

The reservoir water-surface elevation was 590.3 ft above 

NGVD 29 in the west basin and 587.2 ft above NGVD 29 

in the east basin on April 1 (fig. 6), and the reservoir was 

spilling before the storm. Maximum contents observed for the 

west and east basins of the Ashokan Reservoir prior to this 

storm occurred on March 31, 1951, at elevations of 594.33 

and 592.23 ft above NGVD 29, respectively. The maximum 

observed water-surface elevation of the reservoir for the 

period of March 27 to April 6, 2005, occurred on April 3. The 

west basin of the reservoir reached a new period-of-record 

maximum elevation of 594.86 ft above NGVD 29, while the 

east basin reached a maximum elevation of 591.38 ft above 

NGVD 29.

The USGS stream-gaging station (inflow to reservoir) 

Esopus Creek at Coldbrook, N.Y., recorded a peak discharge 

of 55,200 ft3/s at 12:45 a.m. on April 3, 2005. The drainage 

area above this stream-gaging station is about 75 percent of 

the total contributing area to the Ashokan Reservoir. The 

peak discharge recorded at this station per unit of contributing 

drainage area yields a peak runoff of 288 cubic feet per second 

per square mile (ft3/s/mi2). Applying this peak runoff to the 

entire Ashokan Reservoir drainage area yields an estimated 

maximum inflow of about 73,700 ft3/s on April 3, 2005. 

The period-of-record maximum discharge recorded at the 

Esopus Creek at Coldbrook, N.Y., stream-gaging station was 

65,300 ft3/s during the March 1980 flood. The calculated peak 

runoff from March 1980 would yield an estimated maximum 

inflow 18 percent greater than the April 2005 event. The 

estimated peak outflow from the Ashokan Reservoir was about 

29,700 ft3/s at 8:00 a.m. on April 3, 2005. The USGS streamgaging station Esopus Creek at Mount Marion, N.Y., recorded 

a peak discharge of 30,500 ft3/s at 10:15 p.m. on April 3, 2005. 

Although the Ashokan Reservoir was at full capacity and 

spilling at the beginning of the storm, the peak outflow was 

attenuated by about 60 percent because of storage effects in 

the reservoir.

Hourly inflow and outflow hydrographs, diversions, 

and water-surface elevations for the Ashokan Reservoir for 

the period March 27 to April 6 are presented in figure 6. 

The maximum computed daily mean inflow to the Ashokan 

Reservoir was estimated as about 23,200 ft3/s on April 3, 

2005. The combined flow through the release valves and over 

the spillway was estimated as a maximum daily mean outflow 

of about 22,900 ft3/s on April 3, 2005.

Historical flood peak discharges and peak discharges 

for the flood of April 2–3, 2005, at stations on the Esopus 

Creek before and after regulation from the Ashokan Reservoir 

began are presented in table 4. These peak discharges show 

that during the floods of 1980, 1996, and again in 2005, the 

presence of the reservoir significantly reduced the effects of 

flooding on downstream communities.

Improvements to the right bank of the Esopus Creek 

located between Interstate Route 587/State Route 28 and 

Washington Avenue have been referred to as the “Kingston 

Flood Control Project” in the FEMA flood-insurance studies 

for the City of Kingston and the Towns of Ulster, Hurley, 

and Saugerties, New York (FEMA 1984b, 1984c, 1992a, 

1992b). The design flow for this flood-control project was 

37,400 ft3/s, which at the time represented the 100-year flood 

discharge and was 10 percent greater then the maximum 

known flood discharge of 34,000 ft3/s. The maximum known 

flood discharge measured at Kingston, N.Y., is documented 

as occurring during the March 1951 flood in the previously 

mentioned FEMA flood-insurance studies. The second highest 

flood discharge of 30,400 ft3/s was documented as occurring 

during the October 1955 flood and also was measured at 

Kingston, N.Y. The water-surface elevation as a result of the 

April 2005 flood was found to be about 3.5 feet below the top 

of the flood-control wall on the right bank of the Esopus Creek 

at the Interstate Route 587/State Route 28 bridge. These data 

are documented in Appendix 1 at study site 14, high-water 

mark 14.2.

Peak Water-Surface Elevations at 

Flood Study Sites

Included in this report are measurements of peak watersurface elevations at 25 sites along the Esopus Creek from 

immediately downstream from the Ashokan Reservoir in the 

Town of Marbletown to the US Route 9W/State Route 32 

bridge over the Esopus Creek in the Village of Saugerties, 

N.Y. (fig. 7).

High-water marks at each site were surveyed to obtain 

peak water-surface elevations and were referenced to NGVD 

29. A data correction to convert elevations from NGVD 

29 to North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88) 

at each site was calculated by using the National Geodetic 

Survey (NGS) North American Vertical Datum Conversion 

(VERTCON) Utility (National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 2005g). At sites associated with a bridge, 

high-water marks were obtained upstream and downstream 

of the structure. The accuracy of high-water marks was rated 

subjectively by field personnel as “excellent,” “good,” “fair,” 

or “poor” according to guidelines of Benson and Dalrymple 

10 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
Figure 6. Hourly inflow, outflow, diversion, and water-surface elevation at the Ashokan Reservoir, N.Y., for March 

27 to April 6, 2005.

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

3/27/2005

0:00

3/29/2005

0:00

3/31/2005

0:00

4/2/2005

0:00

4/4/2005

0:00

4/6/2005

0:00

Date

HOURLY DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND 

580.00

582.00

584.00

586.00

588.00

590.00

592.00

594.00

596.00

WATER-SURFACE ELEVATION, IN FEET ABOVE NGVD 29

inflow Ashokan west elevation

3/27/2005

0:00

3/29/2005

0:00

3/31/2005

0:00

4/2/2005

0:00

4/4/2005

0:00

4/6/2005

0:00

Date

HOURLY DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND 

586.00

587.00

588.00

589.00

590.00

591.00

592.00

WATER-SURFACE ELEVATION, IN FEET ABOVE NGVD 29

outflow diversions Ashokan east elevation

Figure 6. Hourly inflow, outflow, diversion, and water-surface elevation at the Ashokan Reservoir, N.Y., March 27 to April 6, 2005.

(Data provided by New York City Department of Environmental Protection.)

East basin spillway

Crest elevation = 587.1 feet

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

Peak Water-Surface Elevations at Flood Study Sites 11
 Table 4. Historical flood peak discharges and peak discharges during the flood of April 2-3, 2005, at selected U.S. Geological Survey stream-gaging stations in the Esopus 

Creek Basin, N.Y.  [mi2, square miles; --- ,no data available]

Peak discharges for historical floods and flood of April 2-3, 2005, in cubic feet per second

 USGS 

station 

number

 Station 

name 

*Drainage 

area 

(mi2

)

Period 

of 

record

Flood 

of 

April 

1910

Flood 

of 

Aug. 

1933

Flood 

of 

Mar. 

1951

Flood 

of 

Nov. 

1977

Flood 

of 

Mar. 

1980

Flood 

of 

Jan. 

1996

Flood 

of 

Dec. 

2000

Flood 

of 

April 

2005

01362200 Esopus Creek at Allaben 63.7 1963-2005 --- --- abc 20,000 b 4,860 b15,900 15,000 5,820 21,70001362500 Esopus Creek at Coldbrook 192.0 d1914-31, 

1931-2005

--- 55,000 59,600 30,000 65,300 53,600 29,200 55,200

01364500 Esopus Creek at Mount 

Marion

419.0 1907-13, 

1914-18,1970-2005

e28000 --- --- 13,000 19,500 11,600 12,400 30,500

aInformation supplied by local residents.bFrom previous site and datum then in use. cEstimate.dMonthly discharges only.ePrior to construction of Ashokan Reservoir.*Drainage areas based on most recent location of stream-gaging station.

12 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
Figure 7. Locations of high-water-mark sites chosen for study in the Esopus Creek Basin, N.Y. during the flood of 

April 2-3, 2005.

1

2

3

4 5

6

7

8

9

10

11 12

13 14

16 15

17

18

19 20

21

22

23

24

25

4

41°

51'

41°

59'

42°

15'

74°22' 74°12' 74°2' 73°52'

42°

7'

0 5 10 15 20 25 MILES

0 5 10 15 20 25 KILOMETERS

Map created with TOPO!®

©2003 National Geographic

(www.nationalgeographic.com/topo)

NEW JERSEY

PENNSYLVANIA New York

City

NEW YORK Area shown

EXPLANATION

High-water-mark site chosen for the

Esopus Creek Basin, N.Y., flood

of April 2−3, 2005.

Figure 7. Locations of 25 high-water-mark sites chosen for study in the Esopus Creek basin, N.Y., during the

flood of April 2−3, 2005. (Site numbers are listed in table 5.)

Peak Water-Surface Elevations at Flood Study Sites 13
(1967). “Excellent” means the reported high-water mark 

is within 0.02 ft of the true high-water elevation; “good” 

within 0.05 ft; “fair” within 0.10 ft; and “poor” less than 

“fair” accuracy. High-water-mark descriptions, photographs, 

locations (latitude and longitude), and locations with respect 

to a nearby bridge or other structure were documented and are 

presented in Appendix 1. High-water-mark locations described 

as “left bank” or “right bank” are in relation to an observer 

facing downstream.

Peak water-surface elevations for the April 2005 flood 

were compared with flood-profile elevations published 

in FEMA flood-insurance studies (Federal Emergency 

Management Agency, 1984a, 1984b, 1984c, 1985, 1988, 1991, 

1992a, 1992b). High-water-mark elevations and published 

FEMA 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year flood elevations are 

compiled in table 5. Flood elevations at 10-, 50-, 100-, and 

500-year recurrence intervals and those determined for the 

flood of April 2–3, 2005, for the Esopus Creek are plotted in 

figure 8.

FEMA flood-profile elevations were not determined 

in the Town of Marbletown flood-insurance study for the 

area immediately downstream from Ashokan Reservoir (site 

1) to the upstream side of the County Route 5 bridge (site 

3); therefore, a comparison of high-water-mark elevations 

could not be performed at study sites 1 and 2. Comparison 

of high-water-mark elevations with the 100-year flood 

profile from the FEMA flood-insurance study for the 

area downstream from the County Route 5 bridge near 

Lomontville (site 3) to Creekside Road at Riverside Park 

(site 7) indicated that peak water-surface elevations were 

lower than the 100-year flood profile (only 100-year elevations 

were determined in the flood-insurance study). Comparison 

of high-water-mark elevations with FEMA flood-insurance 

studies for the areas of Riverside Avenue at Riverside Park to 

County Route 29A (Wynkoop Road) at Hurley (sites 8 and 9), 

and Farm To Market Road at Kingston to Glenerie Boulevard 

(south) at Glenerie Lake Park (sites 17–22) indicated peak 

water-surface elevations at or lower than the 50-year flood 

profile, but higher than the 10-year flood profile. Comparison 

of high-water-mark elevations with FEMA flood-insurance 

studies for the areas of U.S. Route 209 at Kingston to Buckley 

Street at Kingston (sites 10–16), and Glasco Turnpike at 

Glenerie to U.S. Route 9W/State Route 32 at Saugerties (sites 

24 and 25) indicated peak water-surface elevations at or higher 

than the 50-year flood profile, but lower than the 100-year 

flood profile. Peak water-surface elevations in the Glenerie 

Boulevard (north) at Glenerie Lake area (site 23) were higher 

than the 100-year flood profile, but lower than the 500-year 

flood profile. All flood-profile recurrence intervals noted 

above are based on published FEMA flood-insurance studies 

and associated profiles.

Flood Damage

A flood watch was issued on Thursday, March 31, 2005, 

for the Catskill and surrounding regions, and by early Saturday 

morning a flood warning for the Esopus Creek was issued by 

the NWS. A state of emergency was declared by officials in 

Ulster County at about 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 2 (Times 

Herald-Record, 2005a). Floodwaters from the Esopus and 

Rondout Creeks forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their 

homes. Ulster County emergency personnel had to complete 

over 40 water rescues of people stranded in their cars or homes 

(Daily Freeman, 2005a).

Damage from floodwaters extended beyond private 

homes to include public infrastructure and businesses in the 

area. Several major roadways, including stretches of State 

Route 209, Route 28, Route 42, Route 213, and Route 32, 

had to be closed as a result of the flooding (Times HeraldRecord, 2005a). County Route 29A (Wynkoop Road) and 

the Kingston Circle (junction of Interstate Route 587/ Route 

28 and Washington Ave ) also had to be closed due to the 

flooding (fig. 9). Among the hardest hit areas were Farm to 

Market Road and Orlando Street in the Town of Ulster (Daily 

Freeman, 2005b). The Holiday Inn in Kingston was one of 

several hotels in the area forced to close due to the flooding. 

Animals from the Ulster County Society for the Prevention of 

Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) had to be evacuated by boats as 

the shelter was also forced to close (Daily Freeman, 2005a). 

Ulster County officials estimated that it would cost at least 

$23 million to restore what was destroyed by floodwaters 

from the Wallkill River and the Esopus and Rondout Creeks. 

The American Red Cross indicated that at least 109 homes 

were destroyed as a result of the flooding (Times HeraldRecord, 2005e). Ulster County was among the counties 

declared as Federal disaster areas. Selected photographs of 

flood damage in the Esopus Creek Basin and surrounding 

areas during the flood of April 2–3, 2005, are presented in 

Appendix 2. More than 3,400 New York residents, business 

owners, and government agencies registered for disasterrecovery assistance from the April flooding in New York. This 

assistance reached almost $35 million (Federal Emergency 

Management Agency, 2005).

14  Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
Flood Damage 15

Table 5. Peak water-surface elevations at 25 high-water-mark sites in the Esopus Creek Basin, N.Y., during the flood of April 2-3, 2005, and corresponding flood elevations for 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year flood-recurrence intervals.[Recurrence-interval elevations are from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, 1984a,b,c; 1985; 1988; 1991; 1992a,b). --, no data available. Locations are shown in figure 7. Site descriptions are given in Appendix 1]

Site 

number

Selected 

high-water 

mark

Site name

Peak watersurface 

elevation, in 

feet above 

NGVD 29, 

April 2-3, 2005

FEMA flood elevations, in feet above NGVD 29

10-year 

flood

50-year 

 flood

100-year 

flood

500-year 

flood

1 1.2

 1.5

Esopus Creek at Spillway Road at Pacama 371.97

369.37

----

----

----

----

2 2.1

 2.8

Esopus Creek at Krom Road at Atwood 255.77 

254.30

---- 

----

----

----

3 3.12

 3.14

Esopus Creek at County Route 5 near Lomontville a208.61

b208.19

----

 -- --

 --

208.8

 --

 –-

4 4.3

 4.1

Esopus Creek at Town of Marbletown Recreation Park near 

Marbletown 

200.95201.81

----

----

205.2205.1

 -- --

5 5.1

 5.2

Esopus Creek at Fording Place Road at Marbletown 188.93

188.98

 ----

----

192.1191.9

 -- --

6 6.3

 6.2

Esopus Creek at U.S. Route 209 near Marbletown 177.11

176.87

----

----

180.5180.5

 -- --

7 7.1

 7.3

Esopus Creek at Creekside Road at Riverside Park 171.37

171.45

----

----

175.7175.6

 -- --

8 8.1

 8.3

Esopus Creek at Riverside Avenue at Riverside Park 165.34

165.07

159.0159.0

167.1

167.1

169.5

169.5

178.8

178.8

9 9.5

 9.9

Esopus Creek at County Route 29A (Wynkoop Road) at Hurley a162.32

b161.59

156.7156.0

165.3163.7

167.3166.1

177.4177.0

10 10.5

 10.2

Esopus Creek at U.S. Route 209 at Kingston a159.93

b158.32

148.4148.3

158.4158.4

163.4162.7

176.2175.7

11 11.4 Esopus Creek at Conrail Railroad at Kingston b157.54 146.7 154.9 159.2 173.612 12.8

 12.5

Esopus Creek at Interstate Route 87 (N.Y.S. Thruway) at Kingston a156.19

a155.00

146.4 146.3 

154.1154.0

158.3158.0

172.5172.4
16 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York Table 5. Peak water-surface elevations at 25 high-water-mark sites in the Esopus Creek Basin, N.Y., during the flood of April 2-3, 2005, and corresponding flood elevations for 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year flood-recurrence intervals. [Recurrence-interval elevations are from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, 1984a,b,c; 1985; 1988; 1991; 1992a,b). --, no data available. Locations are shown in figure 7. Site descriptions are given in Appendix 1] Site number Selected high-water mark Site name Peak water- surface elevation, in feet above NGVD 29, April 2-3, 2005 FEMA flood elevations, in feet above NGVD 29 10-year flood 50-year flood 100-year flood 500-year flood 13 13.12 13.14 13.15 13.16 Esopus Creek at Washington Avenue at Kingston a154.51 b154.16 b154.10 b154.04 145.8 145.7 145.6 145.6 153.2 152.9 152.8 152.8 156.9 156.4 156.2 156.1 170.0 169.2 169.1 169.1 14 14.2 14.12 14.10 Esopus Creek at Interstate Route 587 and State Route 28 at Kingston a153.46 b152.65 b152.68 145.5 145.5 145.5 152.6 152.4 152.4 155.6 155.6 155.6 169.0 168.8 168.8 15 15.4 15.1 Esopus Creek at Manor Lake at Kingston 152.87 152.76 145.0 145.0 152.0 152.0 155.6 155.6 168.8 168.8

16 16.2 Esopus Creek at Buckley Street at Kingston 151.16 143.3 150.6 154.6 168.417 17.1 Esopus Creek at Farm To Market Road at Kingston 150.02 141.9 150.1 154.3 168.018 18.1

 18.4

Esopus Creek at U.S. Route 209 at Lake Katrine a147.11

b146.76

140.2 140.1

148.4148.2

152.7152.5

167.6166.8

19 19.1 Esopus Creek at Parish Lane at Lake Katrine 146.28 139.6 147.7 152.0 165.820 20.2

 20.4

Esopus Creek at Sawmill Road at Lake Katrine 142.17

141.85

136.0135.9 

143.1143.0

147.6147.5

163.0162.9

21 21.2

 21.8

Esopus Creek at Leggs Mills Road at Lake Katrine a141.46

b138.80

131.6

131.3 

141.3

140.7

146.5146.0

162.5160.4

22 22.1 Esopus Creek at Glenerie Boulevard (south) at Glenerie Lake Park 136.33 129.8 137.5 142.6 155.523 23.2

 23.1

Esopus Creek at Glenerie Boulevard (north) at Glenerie Lake Park 133.59

133.59

121.9121.3

126.0125.7

129.5129.4

143.4143.4

24 24.2

 24.4

Esopus Creek at Glasco Turnpike at Glenerie a67.80

b66.19

55.354.4 

64.262.4

70.068.8

96.891.4

25 25.1

 25.4

Esopus Creek at U.S. Route 9W and State Route 32 at Saugerties a54.64

b54.61

49.8 49.7

54.654.5

58.658.2

72.971.1

aUpstream from bridge.bDownstream from bridge.
Flood Damage 17

Figure 8. Peak water-surface elevations at selected sites in the Esopus Creek Basin, N.Y., during flood of April 2-3, 2005, and 

flood-recurrence values from Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-insurance studies. Site names and locations are 

listed in table 5.

EXPLANATION

150

155

160

165

170

175

180

7 8 9

SITE NUMBER

ELEVATION, IN FEET ABOVE NGVD 29

140

145

150

155

160

165

170

175

180

10 11 12

ESOPUS CREEK

 FLOOD ELEVATIONS

200

220

240

260

280

300

320

340

360

380

400

1 2 3

SITE NUMBER

ELEVATION, IN FEET ABOVE NGVD 29

500-year elevation (FEMA, 1984a,b,c; 1985; 1988; 1991; 1992a,b)

100-year elevation (FEMA, 1984a,b,c; 1985; 1988; 1991; 1992a,b)

50-year elevation (FEMA, 1984a,b,c; 1985; 1988; 1991; 1992a,b)

10-year elevation (FEMA, 1984a,b,c; 1985; 1988; 1991; 1992a,b)

April 2−3, 2005, flood elevation (USGS)

ESOPUS CREEK

 FLOOD ELEVATIONS

4 5 6

Figure 8. Peak water-surface elevations at selected sites in the Esopus Creek basin, N.Y., during April 2−3, 2005, and

flood-recurrence values from Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-insurance studies.

(Site names and locations are listed in table 5.)

170

175

180

185

190

195

200

205

210
ESOPUS CREEK

FLOOD ELEVATIONS

130

135

140

145

150

155

160

165

170

13 14 15 16

ELEVATION, IN FEET ABOVE NGVD 29

130

135

140

145

150

155

160

165

170

17 18 19 20

120

125

130

135

140

145

150

155

160

165

21 22 23

SITE NUMBER

ELEVATION, IN FEET ABOVE NGVD 29

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

24 25

SITE NUMBER

ESOPUS CREEK

FLOOD ELEVATIONS

500-year elevation (FEMA, 1984a,b,c; 1985; 1988; 1991; 1992a,b)

100-year elevation (FEMA, 1984a,b,c; 1985; 1988; 1991; 1992a,b)

50-year elevation (FEMA, 1984a,b,c; 1985; 1988; 1991; 1992a,b)

10-year elevation (FEMA, 1984a,b,c; 1985; 1988; 1991; 1992a,b)

April 2−3, 2005, flood elevation (USGS)

Figure 8 (con’t). Peak water-surface elevations at selected sites in the Esopus Creek basin, N.Y., during April 2−3, 2005, and

flood-recurrence values from Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-insurance studies.

(Site names and locations are listed in table 5.)

EXPLANATION

Figure 8. Peak water-surface elevations at selected sites in the Esopus Creek Basin, N.Y., during flood of April 2-3, 2005, and 

flood-recurrence values from Federal Emergency Management Agency flood-insurance studies. Site names and locations are 

listed in table 5.­—Continued

18  Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
Figure 9a. Study site no. 9, County Route 29A (Wynkoop Road) bridge over the Esopus Creek at 

Hurley, N.Y on April 3 at about 2:30 p.m. (Photo courtesy of Times Herald-Record, Middletown, N.Y.)

Figure 9b. Area between study sites 12 and 13 at the Kingston Circle, junction of Interstate Route 587, 

Route 28 and Washington Ave. Kingston, N.Y. (Photo courtesy of Times Herald-Record, Middletown, N.Y.)

Figure 9a. Study site number 9, County Route 29A (Wynkoop Road) bridge over the Esopus Creek at

Hurley, N.Y. , on April 3 at about 2:30 P.M. (photo courtesy of Times Herald-Record, Middletown,

New York).

Figure 9b. Area between study sites 12 and 13 at the Kingston Circle, junction of Interstate 587, State

Route 28 and Washington Avenue, (photo courtesy of Times Herald-Record, Middletown, New York).

Figure 9a. Study site number 9, County Route 29A (Wynkoop Road) bridge over the Esopus Creek at

Hurley, N.Y. , on April 3 at about 2:30 P.M. (photo courtesy of Times Herald-Record, Middletown,

New York).

Figure 9b. Area between study sites 12 and 13 at the Kingston Circle, junction of Interstate 587, State

Route 28 and Washington Avenue, (photo courtesy of Times Herald-Record, Middletown, New York).

Flood Damage 19
Summary

Heavy rain ranging from about 2 inches to almost 6 

inches in some locations produced widespread flooding in the 

Rondout and Esopus Creek basins during April 2–3, 2005. 

This rain came only days after the March 28–29 storm that 

soaked the area with 1 to 2 inches of rain, leaving the Esopus 

Creek flowing at above-normal levels on April 1. This storm 

produced peak water-surface elevations with recurrence 

intervals of about 50 years, as indicated by elevations 

documented in FEMA flood-insurance studies. The Ashokan 

Reservoir was at greater than 100 percent capacity and already 

spilling at the start of this storm.

Hundreds of people had to evacuate, and more than 

100 homes were severely damaged because of the flooding 

in Ulster County. Ulster County was among the counties in 

New York declared as Federal disaster areas and eligible 

for assistance. Federal disaster-recovery assistance in New 

York was almost $35 million for this flood. Although flood 

damage from this storm was present throughout southeastern 

New York, floodwaters from the Esopus and Rondout Creeks 

caused extensive damage to several communities, including 

the Towns of Hurley and Kingston, N.Y. Portions of several 

roads had to be closed because of floodwaters, including 

State Route 213, State Route 209, State Route 42, State 

Route 32, and State Route 28. Peak water-surface elevations 

at 25 study sites along the Esopus Creek were surveyed and, 

where possible, were compared to flood-profile elevations in 

the flood-insurance studies published by FEMA. These peak 

water-surface elevations were near the 50-year flood elevations 

in most areas. The USGS stream-gaging station Esopus Creek 

at Cold Brook is located upstream from the Ashokan Reservoir 

and includes flow draining from 75 percent of the contributing 

drainage area to the reservoir. This stream-gaging station 

has been in operation since 1914 and recorded a maximum 

discharge of 55,200 ft3/s on April 3 (period-of-record 

maximum discharge of 65,300 ft3/s on March 21, 1980). 

The USGS stream-gaging station Esopus Creek at Allaben, 

N.Y., has been in operation since 1963 and recorded a new 

period-of-record maximum discharge of 21,700 ft3/s during 

this storm. The USGS stream-gaging station Esopus Creek at 

Mount Marion, N.Y., located downstream from the Ashokan 

Reservoir has been in continuous operation since March 1970 

and also recorded a new period-of-record maximum discharge 

of 30,500 ft3/s on April 3, 2005.

Acknowledgments

Thanks are extended to the following USGS hydrologists 

and hydrologic technicians who collected the data for this 

report during and after the flood: L.T. Brooks, A.M. Gearwar, 

M.E. Hendricks, T.F. Hoffman, R. Lumia, K. McGrath, K.D. 

Metzker, C.J. Ostheimer, K.D. Reisig, S.A. Vivian, M.T. 

Whitehead, and B.J. Zatorsky.

Selected References

Benson, M.A., and Dalrymple, Tate, 1967, General field and 

office procedures for indirect discharge measurements: 

U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources 

Investigations, book 3, chap. A1, 30 p.

Daily Freeman, 2005a, Flood of ’05: Kingston, N.Y., April 4.

Daily Freeman, 2005b, Mop-up from floods just beginning 

in Shandaken: Kingston, N.Y., April 6, accessed May 12, 

2006, at http://www.zwire.com http://www.zwire.com.

Daily Freeman, 2005c, Bush OKs federal aid for Ulster, 

Greene, 11 other counties: Kingston, N.Y., April 20, 

accessed May 12, 2006, at http://www.zwire.com http://www.zwire.com.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1984a, Flood 

Insurance Study, Town of Olive, Ulster County, New York: 

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Insurance 

Administration, 14 p.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1984b, Flood 

Insurance Study, City of Kingston, Ulster County, New 

York: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal 

Insurance Administration, 23 p.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1984c, Flood 

Insurance Study, Town of Ulster, Ulster County, New York: 

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Insurance 

Administration, 23 p.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1985, Flood 

Insurance Study, Village of Saugerties, Ulster County, New 

York: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal 

Insurance Administration, 21 p.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1988, Flood 

Insurance Study, Town of Kingston, Ulster County, New 

York: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal 

Insurance Administration, 13 p

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1991, Flood 

Insurance Study, Town of Marbletown, Ulster County, New 

York: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal 

Insurance Administration, 13 p.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1992a, Flood 

Insurance Study, Town of Hurley, Ulster County, New York: 

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Insurance 

Administration, 25 p.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1992b, Flood 

Insurance Study, Town of Saugerties, Ulster County, New 

York: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal 

Insurance Administration, 22 p.

20 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2005, News 

Release, Disaster Assistance to New York nears $35 

million: Federal Emergency Management Agency, 

no. 1589–078.

Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data, 1982, 

Guidelines for determining flood flow frequency, Bulletin 

17B of the Hydrology Subcommittee: Reston, Va., U.S. 

Geological Survey, Office of Water Data Coordination, 

183 p.

Lumia, Richard, 1998, Flood of January 19–20, 1996 in New 

York State: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 97–4252, 61 p.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2005, 

Climatological Data, New York, March 2005: Asheville, 

N.C., National Climatic Data Center, v. 117, no. 4, 42 p.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2005, 

Climatological Data, New York, April 2005: Asheville, 

N.C., National Climatic Data Center, v. 117, no. 4, 42 p.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2005, 

Hourly Precipitation Data, New York, April 2005: 

Asheville, N.C., National Climatic Data Center, v. 55, 

no. 4, 20 p.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2005, 

New York Climate, March 2005: Ithaca, N.Y., Northeast 

Regional Climate Center, Cornell University, v. 105, 13 p.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2005, 

New York Climate, April 2005: Ithaca, N.Y., Northeast 

Regional Climate Center, Cornell University, v. 105, 11 p.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2005, 

Flood of April 2005: Binghamton, N.Y., National Weather 

Service, accessed Feb. 2006, at http://www.erh.noaa.gov/

bgm/WeatherEvents/Flood/april2005/

The River Reporter, 2005, Flood ravages valley: Narrowsburg, 

N.Y., April 7–13.

Times Herald-Record, 2005a, Heavy rains cause widespread 

flooding, N.Y., April 3, accessed Feb. 28, 2006, at http://

recordonline.com.

Times Herald-Record, 2005b, Massive flooding, N.Y., April 4.

Times Herald-Record, 2005c, Massive flooding: 

Middletown, N.Y., April 4, accessed Feb. 28, 2006, 

at http://recordonline.com http://recordonline.com.

Times Herald-Record, 2005d, Hundreds left homeless: 

Middletown, N.Y., April 6, accessed Feb. 28, 2006, at http://

recordonline.com.

Times Herald-Record, 2005e, Flood Bill could be $80M plus: 

Middletown, N.Y., April 7, accessed Feb. 28, 2006, at http://

recordonline.com.

U.S. Geological Survey, 1960, Compilation of records of 

surface waters of the United States through September 

1950, Part 1-B North Atlantic Slope Basins, New York to 

York River: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 

1302, 679 p.

U.S. Geological Survey, 1964, Compilation of records of 

surface waters of the United States, October 1950 to 

September 1960, Part 1-B North Atlantic Slope Basins, 

New York to York River: U.S. Geological Survey WaterSupply Paper 1722, 578 p.

U.S. Weather Bureau, 1961, Rainfall frequency atlas of the 

United States: Washington, D.C., Technical Paper no. 40, 

115 p.

Selected References 21
This page has been left blank intentionally. 

22 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
Appendix 1. Site Descriptions and High-Water Marks at Study 

Sites, Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York 

The term “quad map” in Appendix 1 refers to a USGS 7.5' Topographic Quadrangle Map.

High-water-marks listed in table 5 are shown on the maps in Appendix 1.

All horizontal location coordinates are referenced to the North American Datum of 1983

(NAD 83); lat, latitude; long, longitude.

Appendix 1 23
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 1: Esopus Creek at Spillway Road at Pacama, N.Y. 

Site Location: Bridge on Spillway Road, lat 41o 55’ 57.0”, long 74o 10’ 10.8”, NAD 83 

Town of Marbletown, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Ashokan USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Eight high-water marks were surveyed: six debris lines and two wash lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by K.D. Metzker, C. J. Ostheimer, S.A. Vivian, and M.T. Whitehead on June 7, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a reference mark that is a USGS chiseled square on the east end of the south 

concrete curbing of the Spillway Road bridge over Esopus Creek. Elevation is 417.59 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to 

NAVD 88, subtract 0.72 feet from all elevations at this site.

Thalweg Elevation: 340.8 feet above NGVD 29. 

Ashokan quad map with location of site 1, Esopus Creek at Spillway Road at Pacama, N.Y. 

24  Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 1.2 is a poor wash line on the ground, on the left bank, 100 feet downstream from the Spillway Road bridge, at 

elevation 371.97 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 55’ 56.7”, long 74o 10’ 10.8”). 

High-water mark 1.5 is a poor debris line on the ground, on the left bank, 200 feet downstream from the Spillway Road bridge, 

at elevation 369.37 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 55’ 55.9”, long 74o 10’ 10.7”). 

Appendix 1 25
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 2: Esopus Creek at Krom Road at Atwood, N.Y. 

Site Location: Krom Road, lat 41o 54’ 06.8”, long 74o 09’ 21.8”, NAD 83 

Town of Marbletown, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Ashokan USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Ten high-water marks were surveyed: eight debris lines and two seed lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by K.D. Metzker, C. J. Ostheimer, S.A. Vivian, and M.T. Whitehead on June 6, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a benchmark that is an NGS standard disk stamped W 272 1942 that is 1.0 

mile north along State Route 213 from the junction of Tongore Road, 0.3 mile north of a church, 48.7 feet west of the west 

corner of a red barn, 79 feet southwest of the centerline of the highway, in the top of a boulder, NGS PID LY0035. Elevation 

is 432.27 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.71 feet from all elevations at this site.

Ashokan quad map with location of site 2, Esopus Creek at Krom Road at Atwood, N.Y. 

26 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 2.1 is a good seed line about 5.5 feet above the ground, on a tree on the right bank, at elevation 255.77 feet 

above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 54’ 06.8”, long 74o 09’ 21.8”). 

High-water mark 2.8 is a fair debris line about 6 feet above the ground, on a tree on the right bank, at elevation 254.30 feet 

above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 54’ 04.8”, long 74o 09’ 17.8”). 

Appendix 1 27
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 3: Esopus Creek at County Route 5 near Lomontville, N.Y. 

Site Location: Bridge on County Route 5, lat 41o 52’ 44.4”, long 74o 08’ 40.8”, NAD 83 

Town of Marbletown, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Ashokan USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Fourteen high-water marks were surveyed: seven debris lines, four wash lines, and three seed lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by K.D. Metzker, C. J. Ostheimer, S.A. Vivian, and M.T. Whitehead on June 6, 2005, 

and G.D. Firda and B.J. Zatorsky on March 29, 2006. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a reference mark that is a railroad spike in pole NYT #26 on east side of 

Tongore Road, approximately 405 feet north along Tongore Road from its intersection with Bogart Lane. This is RM 5 in the 

Town of Marbletown FEMA flood-insurance study. Elevation is 200.78 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, 

subtract 0.73 feet from all elevations at this site.

Thalweg Elevation: 192.9 feet above NGVD 29. 

Ashokan quad map with location of site 3, Esopus Creek at County Route 5 near Lomontville, N.Y. 

28  Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 3.12 is a fair debris line about 2 feet above the ground, on a tree on the left bank, 80 feet upstream from the

County Route 5 bridge, at elevation 208.61 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 52’ 45.9”, long 74o 08’ 40.2”). 

High-water mark 3.14 is a good seed line about 2 feet above the ground, on a support post of guest house upstream from house 

2671 on County Route 5, on the left bank, 70 feet downstream from the County Route 5 bridge, at elevation 208.19 feet above 

NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 52’ 44.6”, long 74o 08’ 39.8”). 

Appendix 1 29
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 4: Esopus Creek at Town of Marbletown Recreation Park near Marbletown, N.Y. 

Site Location: Town of Marbletown Recreation Park, lat 41o 52’ 27.4”, long 74o 08’ 27.5”, NAD 83 

Town of Marbletown, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Mohonk Lake USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Three high-water marks were surveyed: three mud lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by K.D. Metzker, C. J. Ostheimer, S.A. Vivian, and M.T. Whitehead on June 6, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a benchmark that is an NGS standard disk stamped W 272 1942 that is 1.0 

mile north along State Route 213 from the junction of Tongore Road, 0.3 mile north of a church, 48.7 feet west of the west 

corner of a red barn, 79 feet southwest of the centerline of the highway, in the top of a boulder, NGS PID LY0035. Elevation 

is 432.27 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.74 feet from all elevations at this site.

Mohonk Lake quad map with location of site 4, Esopus Creek at Town of Marbletown Recreation Park near Marbletown, N.Y. 

30 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 4.1 is a good mud line at ground level, on the downstream side of the Town of Marbletown Recreation Park 

beach access stairs, on the right bank, at elevation 201.81 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 52’ 27.4”, long 74o 08’ 27.5”). 

High-water mark 4.3 is an excellent mud line 0.5 foot above the floor, inside of the Town of Marbletown Recreation Park 

concession building, on the right bank, at elevation 200.95 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 52’ 26.3”, long 74o 08’ 29.5”). 

Appendix 1 31
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 5: Esopus Creek at Fording Place Road at Marbletown, N.Y. 

Site Location: Fording Place Road, lat 41o 53’ 02.9”, long 74o 07’ 10.9”, NAD 83 

Town of Marbletown, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Four high-water marks were surveyed: two debris lines and two mud lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by K.D. Metzker, C. J. Ostheimer, S.A. Vivian, and M.T. Whitehead on June 5, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a benchmark that is an NGS standard disk stamped W 272 1942 that is 1.0 

mile north along State Route 213 from the junction of Tongore Road, 0.3 mile north of a church, 48.7 feet west of the west 

corner of a red barn, 79 feet southwest of the centerline of the highway, in the top of a boulder, NGS PID LY0035. Elevation 

is 432.27 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.74 feet from all elevations at this site.

Kingston West quad map with location of site 5, Esopus Creek at Fording Place Road at Marbletown, N.Y. 

32 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 5.1 is a good mud line about 2 feet above the ground, on farm equipment 150 feet upstream from scale house 

on Fording Place Road, on the left bank, 200 feet upstream from Fording Place Road, at elevation 188.93 feet above NGVD 29 

(lat 41o

 53’ 02.9”, long 74o 07’ 10.9”). 

High-water mark 5.2 is a good mud line about 3 feet above the ground, on the downstream side of scale house on Fording Place 

Road, on the left bank, 30 feet upstream from Fording Place Road, at elevation 188.98 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 53’ 03.8”, 

long 74o

 07’ 09.2”). 

Appendix 1 33
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 6: Esopus Creek at U.S. Route 209 near Marbletown, N.Y. 

Site Location: U.S. Route 209, lat 41o 53’ 48.4”, long 74o 05’ 54.5”, NAD 83 

Town of Marbletown, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Seven high-water marks were surveyed: six debris lines and one seed line. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by K.D. Metzker, C. J. Ostheimer, S.A. Vivian, and M.T. Whitehead on June 7, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a benchmark that is an NGS standard disk stamped W 272 1942 that is 1.0 

mile north along State Route 213 from the junction of Tongore Road, 0.3 mile north of a church, 48.7 feet west of the west 

corner of a red barn, 79 feet southwest of the centerline of the highway, in the top of a boulder, NGS PID LY0035. Elevation 

is 432.27 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.76 feet from all elevations at this site.

Kingston West quad map with location of site 6, Esopus Creek at U.S. Route 209 near Marbletown, N.Y. 

34  Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 6.2 is a good debris line about 2.5 feet above the ground, on a tree on the right bank, at elevation 176.87 feet

above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 53’ 48.4”, long 74o 05’ 54.5”). 

High-water mark 6.3 is a good seed line about 2.5 feet above the ground, on a tree on the right bank, at elevation 177.11 feet 

above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 53’ 47.8”, long 74o 05’ 54.5”). 

Appendix 1 35
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 7: Esopus Creek at Creekside Road at Riverside Park, N.Y. 

Site Location: Creekside Road, lat 41o 54’ 22.9”, long 74o 05’ 23.2”, NAD 83 

Towns of Hurley and Marbletown, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Three high-water marks were surveyed: three debris lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by K.D. Metzker and C. J. Ostheimer on June 5, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a benchmark that is an NGS standard disk stamped W 272 1942 that is 1.0 

mile north along State Route 213 from the junction of Tongore Road, 0.3 mile north of a church, 48.7 feet west of the west 

corner of a red barn, 79 feet southwest of the centerline of the highway, in the top of a boulder, NGS PID LY0035. Elevation 

is 432.27 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.76 feet from all elevations at this site.

Kingston West quad map with location of site 7, Esopus Creek at Creekside Road at Riverside Park, N.Y. 

36 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 7.1 is a fair debris line about 8 feet above the ground, on a tree on the right bank, 40 feet upstream and 110 

feet streamward from house 606 on Creekside Road, at elevation 171.37 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 54’ 22.9”, long 74o 05’ 

23.2”). 

High-water mark 7.3 is a fair debris line about 7 feet above the ground, on a tree on the right bank, 60 feet downstream and 130

feet streamward from house 606 on Creekside Road, at elevation 171.45 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 54’ 23.8”, long 74o 05’ 

21.9”). 

Appendix 1 37
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 8: Esopus Creek at Riverside Avenue at Riverside Park, N.Y. 

Site Location: Riverside Avenue, lat 41o 55’ 01.4”, long 74o 04’ 35.9”, NAD 83 

Town of Hurley, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Three high-water marks were surveyed: three mud lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed by S.A. Vivian and M.T. Whitehead on June 5, 2005, and photos were taken by G.D. Firda and B.J. 

Zatorsky on March 29, 2006. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a benchmark that is an NGS standard disk stamped W 272 1942 that is 1.0 

mile north along State Route 213 from the junction of Tongore Road, 0.3 mile north of a church, 48.7 feet west of the west 

corner of a red barn, 79 feet southwest of the centerline of the highway, in the top of a boulder, NGS PID LY0035. Elevation 

is 432.27 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.77 feet from all elevations at this site.

Kingston West quad map with location of site 8, Esopus Creek at Riverside Avenue at Riverside Park, N.Y. 

38  Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 8.1 is a good mud line about 2 feet above the ground, on the streamward side of house 103 on Riverside 

Avenue, on the right bank, at elevation 165.34 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 55’ 01.4”, long 74o 04’ 35.9”). 

High-water mark 8.3 is a fair mud line about 1 foot above the ground, on the streamward side of house 103 on Riverside 

Avenue, on the right bank, at elevation 165.07 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 55’ 01.9”, long 74o 04’ 35.6”). 

Aappendix 39
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 9: Esopus Creek at County Route 29A (Wynkoop Road) at Hurley, N.Y. 

Site Location: Bridge on County Route 29A, lat 41o 55’ 38.4”, long 74o 04’ 05.4”, NAD 83 

Town of Hurley, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Ten high-water marks were surveyed: seven debris lines, two mud lines, and one seed line. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by K.D. Metzker, C. J. Ostheimer, S.A. Vivian, and M.T. Whitehead on June 5, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a benchmark that is an NGS standard disk stamped W 272 1942 that is 1.0 

mile north along State Route 213 from the junction of Tongore Road, 0.3 mile north of a church, 48.7 feet west of the west 

corner of a red barn, 79 feet southwest of the centerline of the highway, in the top of a boulder, NGS PID LY0035. Elevation 

is 432.27 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.78 feet from all elevations at this site.

Kingston West quad map with location of site 9, Esopus Creek at County Route 29A (Wynkoop Road) at Hurley, N.Y. 

40 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 9.5 is a fair debris line about 2.5 feet above the ground, on a tree on the left bank, 100 feet upstream from the

County Route 29A bridge, at elevation 162.32 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 55’ 37.7”, long 74o 04’ 07.8”). 

High-water mark 9.9 is a good mud line about 2 feet above the ground, on the upstream side of a detached garage downstream

of house 322 on County Route 29A, on the left bank, 150 feet downstream from the County Route 29A bridge, at elevation 

161.59 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 55’ 38.8”, long 74o 04’ 04.0”). 

Appendix 1  41
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 10: Esopus Creek at U.S. Route 209 at Kingston, N.Y. 

Site Location: Bridge on U.S. Route 209, lat 41o 56’ 08.4”, long 74o 03’ 12.6”, NAD 83 

Town of Ulster, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Nine high-water marks were surveyed: seven debris lines and two seed lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by K.D. Metzker, C. J. Ostheimer, S.A. Vivian, and M.T. Whitehead on June 5, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a reference mark that is the top of the pier of the U.S. Route 209 bridge over 

Esopus Creek at this site. Elevation is 161.14 feet above NGVD 29, from NYS DOT bridge plans. To convert to NAVD 88, 

subtract 0.79 feet from all elevations at this site.

Kingston West quad map with location of site 10, Esopus Creek at U.S. Route 209 at Kingston, N.Y. 

42 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 10.2 is a poor debris line on the ground, on the left bank, 50 feet downstream from the U.S. Route 209 bridge, 

at elevation 158.32 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 56’ 09.3”, long 74o 03’ 11.0”). 

High-water mark 10.5 is a poor seed line about 5 feet above the ground, on a tree on the right bank, 10 feet upstream from the 

U.S. Route 209 bridge, at elevation 159.93 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 56’ 05.9”, long 74o 03’ 14.5”). 

Appendix 1  43
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 11: Esopus Creek at Conrail Railroad at Kingston, N.Y. 

Site Location: Bridge on Conrail Railroad, lat 41o 56’ 28.2”, long 74o 02’ 16.8”, NAD 83 

City of Kingston, Town of Ulster, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Five high-water marks were surveyed: four debris lines and one seed line. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by S.A. Vivian and M.T. Whitehead on June 4, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a reference mark that is a chiseled square on the southwest corner of the 

northwest wingwall of the Leggs Mills Road bridge over Esopus Creek. This is RM 4 in the Town of Ulster FEMA floodinsurance study. Elevation is 157.07 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.79 feet from all elevations at 

this site.

Kingston West quad map with location of site 11, Esopus Creek at Conrail Railroad at Kingston, N.Y. 

44  Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 11.4 is a poor debris line about 2 feet above the ground, on a tree on the right bank, 150 feet downstream from

the Conrail Railroad bridge, at elevation 157.54 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 56’ 29.6”, long 74o 02’ 14.7”). 

Appendix 1  45
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 12: Esopus Creek at Interstate Route 87 (N.Y.S. Thruway) at Kingston, N.Y. 

Site Location: Bridge on Interstate Route 87, lat 41o 56’ 39.0”, long 74o 01’ 54.6”, NAD 83 

City of Kingston, Town of Ulster, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Eight high-water marks were surveyed: eight debris lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by G.D. Firda and R. Lumia on June 20, 2005, L.T. Brooks and G.D. Firda on June 27, 

2005, and G.D. Firda and B.J. Zatorsky on April 6, 2006. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a benchmark that is a USGS chiseled square, 0.15 mile east along the Conrail 

Railroad from Washington Avenue, on a concrete foundation (formerly of a railroad signal), about midway along the south 

edge, about 2 yards north of the north rail, and about 1 foot higher than the top of the rails, NGS PID LY0215. Elevation is 

158.87 feet above NGVD 1929. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.79 feet from all elevations at this site.

Thalweg Elevation: 129.4 feet above NGVD 29. 

Kingston West quad map with location of site 12, Esopus Creek at Interstate Route 87 (N.Y.S. Thruway) at Kingston, N.Y. 

46 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 12.5 is a fair debris line about 4 feet above the ground, on a tree on the right bank, 130 feet upstream from the

Interstate Route 87 bridge, at elevation 155.00 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 56’ 38.1”, long 74o 01’ 58.3”). 

High-water mark 12.8 is a poor debris line on the ground, on the right bank, 1,015 feet upstream from the Interstate Route 87 

bridge, at elevation 156.19 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 56’ 34.1”, long 74o 02’ 13.5”). 

Appendix 1  47
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 13: Esopus Creek at Washington Avenue at Kingston, N.Y. 

Site Location: Bridge on Washington Avenue, lat 41o 56’ 21.6”, long 74o 01’ 36.6”, NAD 83 

City of Kingston, Town of Ulster, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Sixteen high-water marks were surveyed: 13 debris lines, two seed lines, and one mud line. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by G.D. Firda and R. Lumia on June 21 and 29, 2005, L.T. Brooks and G.D. Firda on 

June 27, 2005, and G.D. Firda and K. McGrath on March 28, 2006. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a benchmark that is a USGS chiseled square, 0.15 mile east along the Conrail 

Railroad from Washington Avenue, on a concrete foundation (formerly of a railroad signal), about midway along the south 

edge, about 2 yards north of the north rail, and about 1 foot higher than the top of the rails, NGS PID LY0215. Elevation is 

158.87 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.79 feet from all elevations at this site.

Kingston West quad map with location of site 13, Esopus Creek at Washington Avenue at Kingston, N.Y. 

48  Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 13.12 is a fair debris line on the ground, on the left bank, 15 feet landward from the Szymkowicz Service Inc. 

parking lot, and 180 feet upstream from the Washington Avenue bridge, at elevation 154.51 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 56’ 

26.9”, long 74o

 01’ 40.8”). 

High-water mark 13.14 is an excellent mud line about 4 feet above the ground, on the streamward side of building 15 on Sandy 

Road, on the left bank, 415 feet downstream from the Washington Avenue bridge, at elevation 154.16 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 

41o

 56’ 24.0”, long 74o 01’ 31.1”). 

Appendix 1  49
High-water mark 13.15 is an excellent seed line about 5 feet above the ground, on the landward side of a detached garage 

upstream from house 32 on Sandy Road, on the left bank, 715 feet downstream from the Washington Avenue bridge, at 

elevation 154.10 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 56’ 23.4”, long 74o 01’ 27.1”). 

High-water mark 13.16 is an excellent seed line about 5.5 feet above the ground, on the upstream side of house 42 on Sandy 

Road, on the left bank, 830 feet downstream from the Washington Avenue bridge, at elevation 154.04 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 

41o

 56’ 24.1”, long 74o 01’ 25.6”). 

50 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
Appendix 1 51

This page has been left blank intentionally. 
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 14: Esopus Creek at Interstate Route 587 and State Route 28 at Kingston, N.Y. 

Site Location: Bridge on Interstate Route 587 and State Route 28, lat 41o 56’ 19.8”, long 74o 01’ 06.0”, NAD 83 

City of Kingston, Town of Ulster, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Twelve high-water marks were surveyed: five debris lines, three mud lines, three seed lines, and one 

wash line. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by G.D. Firda and R. Lumia on June 23 and July 20, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a benchmark that is a USGS chiseled square, 0.15 mile east along the Conrail 

Railroad from Washington Avenue, on a concrete foundation (formerly of a railroad signal), about midway along the south 

edge, about 2 yards north of the north rail, and about 1 foot higher than the top of the rails, NGS PID LY0215. Elevation is 

158.87 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.79 feet from all elevations at this site.

Kingston West quad map with location of site 14, Esopus Creek at Interstate Route 587 and State Route 28 at Kingston, N.Y. 

52 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 14.2 is an excellent mud line about 6.5 feet above the ground, on the streamward side of flood wall (3.5 feet 

below top), on the right bank, 160 feet upstream from the Interstate Route 587 and State Route 28 bridge, at elevation 153.46 

feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 56’ 18.4”, long 74o 01’ 07.7”). 

High-water mark 14.10 is a good mud line about 6.5 feet above the ground, on the streamward side of a detached garage 

landward from house 8 on Weidy Road, on the left bank, 450 feet downstream from the Interstate Route 587 and State Route 28 

bridge, at elevation 152.68 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 56’ 28.4”, long 74o 01’ 13.0”). 

Appendix 1 53
High-water mark 14.12 is an excellent seed line about 1.5 feet above the ground, on the downstream side of the Ulster County 

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals downstream barnyard fence, on the left bank, 260 feet downstream from the 

Interstate Route 587 and State Route 28 bridge, at elevation 152.65 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 56’ 25.1”, long 74o 01’ 10.3”). 

54  Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
Appendix 1 55

This page has been left blank intentionally. 
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 15: Esopus Creek at Manor Lake at Kingston, N.Y. 

Site Location: Manor Lake, lat 41o 56’ 34.5”, long 74o 00’ 38.9”, NAD 83 

City of Kingston, Town of Ulster, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Four high-water marks were surveyed: two debris lines and two mud lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by K.D. Metzker and C. J. Ostheimer on June 4, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a reference mark that is a chiseled square on the southwest corner of the 

northwest wingwall of the Leggs Mills Road bridge over Esopus Creek. This is RM 4 in the Town of Ulster FEMA floodinsurance study. Elevation is 157.07 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.80 feet from all elevations at 

this site.

Kingston West quad map with location of site 15, Esopus Creek at Manor Lake at Kingston, N.Y. 

56 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 15.1 is a fair debris line about 3 feet above the ground, on a tree on the right bank, streamward of house 406 

on Manor Lake, 20 feet downstream from Manor Lake, at elevation 152.76 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 56’ 34.5”, long 74o 00’ 

38.9”). 

High-water mark 15.4 is a good mud line about 4 feet above the ground, on the downstream side of a storage shed streamward 

of house 406 on Manor Lake, on the right bank, 20 feet upstream from Manor Lake, at elevation 152.87 feet above NGVD 29 

(lat 41o

 56’ 34.0”, long 74o 00’ 38.0”). 

Appendix 1 57
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 16: Esopus Creek at Buckley Street at Kingston, N.Y. 

Site Location: Buckley Street, lat 41o 57’ 36.2”, long 74o 00’ 48.8”, NAD 83 

Town of Ulster, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Two high-water marks were surveyed: two mud lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by S.A. Vivian and M.T. Whitehead on June 3, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a reference mark that is a chiseled square on the southwest corner of the 

northwest wingwall of the Leggs Mills Road bridge over Esopus Creek. This is RM 4 in the Town of Ulster FEMA floodinsurance study. Elevation is 157.07 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.79 feet from all elevations at 

this site.

Kingston West quad map with location of site 16, Esopus Creek at Buckley Street at Kingston, N.Y. 

58  Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 16.2 is an excellent mud line about 5 feet above the ground, on the landward side of house 48 on Buckley 

Street, on the right bank, at elevation 151.16 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 57’ 36.2”, long 74o 00’ 48.8”). 

Appendix 1 59
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 17: Esopus Creek at Farm To Market Road at Kingston, N.Y. 

Site Location: Farm To Market Road, lat 41o 57’ 56.7”, long 74o 00’ 35.5”, NAD 83 

Town of Ulster, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Two high-water marks were surveyed: two mud lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed by S.A. Vivian and M.T. Whitehead on June 4, 2005, and photos were taken by G.D. Firda and K. 

McGrath on March 28, 2006. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a reference mark that is a chiseled square on the southwest corner of the 

northwest wingwall of the Leggs Mills Road bridge over Esopus Creek. This is RM 4 in the Town of Ulster FEMA floodinsurance study. Elevation is 157.07 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.79 feet from all elevations at 

this site.

Kingston West quad map with location of site 17, Esopus Creek at Farm To Market Road at Kingston, N.Y. 

60 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 17.1 is an excellent mud line about 5 feet above the ground, on the streamward side of house 58 on Farm To 

Market Road, on the left bank, at elevation 150.02 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 57’ 56.7”, long 74o 00’ 35.5”). No photos were 

taken of high-water mark 17.1. Photo of excellent seed line about 4.5 feet above the ground on upstream side of nearby well 

house. 

Appendix 1 61
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 18: Esopus Creek at U.S. Route 209 at Lake Katrine, N.Y. 

Site Location: Bridge on U.S. Route 209, lat 41o 58’ 34.2”, long 74o 00’ 14.4”, NAD 83 

Town of Ulster, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Six high-water marks were surveyed: four mud lines and two debris lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by K.D. Metzker and C. J. Ostheimer on June 4, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a reference mark that is a chiseled square on the southwest corner of the 

northwest wingwall of the Leggs Mills Road bridge over Esopus Creek. This is RM 4 in the Town of Ulster FEMA floodinsurance study. Elevation is 157.07 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.79 feet from all elevations at 

this site.

Kingston West quad map with location of site 18, Esopus Creek at U.S. Route 209 at Lake Katrine, N.Y. 

62 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 18.1 is a fair debris line on the ground, on the right bank, 150 feet upstream from the U.S. Route 209 bridge, at

elevation 147.11 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 58’ 31.6”, long 74o 00’ 11.1”). 

High-water mark 18.4 is an excellent mud line about 3.5 feet above the ground, on the landward side of a detached garage 

landward from house 18 on Mulvin Drive, on the right bank, 250 feet downstream from the U.S. Route 209 bridge, at elevation 

146.76 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 58’ 36.3”, long 74o 00’ 12.3”). 

Appendix 1 63
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 19: Esopus Creek at Parish Lane at Lake Katrine, N.Y. 

Site Location: Parish Lane, lat 41o 58’ 49.1”, long 74o 00’ 25.9”, NAD 83 

Town of Ulster, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Two high-water marks were surveyed: two mud lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by K.D. Metzker and M.T. Whitehead on June 3, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a reference mark that is a chiseled square on the southwest corner of the 

northwest wingwall of the Leggs Mills Road bridge over Esopus Creek. This is RM 4 in the Town of Ulster FEMA floodinsurance study. Elevation is 157.07 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.79 feet from all elevations at 

this site.

Kingston West quad map with location of site 19, Esopus Creek at Parish Lane at Lake Katrine, N.Y. 

64  Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 19.1 is an excellent mud line about 3 feet above the ground, on the downstream side of house 132 on Parish 

Lane, on the right bank, at elevation 146.28 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 58’ 49.1”, long 74o 00’ 25.9”). 

Appendix 1 65
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 20: Esopus Creek at Sawmill Road at Lake Katrine, N.Y. 

Site Location: Sawmill Road, lat 41o 59’ 30.5”, long 74o 00’ 03.5”, NAD 83 

Town of Ulster, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston West USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Four high-water marks were surveyed: three debris lines and one wash line. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by C. J. Ostheimer and S.A. Vivian on June 3, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a reference mark that is a chiseled square on the southwest corner of the 

northwest wingwall of the Leggs Mills Road bridge over Esopus Creek. This is RM 4 in the Town of Ulster FEMA floodinsurance study. Elevation is 157.07 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.79 feet from all elevations at 

this site.

Kingston West quad map with location of site 20, Esopus Creek at Sawmill Road at Lake Katrine, N.Y. 

66 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 20.2 is a fair debris line about 1 foot above the ground, on a tree on the right bank, streamward from house 

182 on Sawmill Road, at elevation 142.17 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 59’ 30.5”, long 74o 00’ 03.5”). 

High-water mark 20.4 is a fair debris line on the ground, on the right bank, streamward from house 174 on Sawmill Road, at 

elevation 141.85 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 59’ 31.2”, long 74o 00’ 04.1”). 

Appendix 1 67
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 21: Esopus Creek at Leggs Mills Road at Lake Katrine, N.Y. 

Site Location: Bridge on Leggs Mills Road, lat 41o 59’ 42.0”, long 73o 59’ 50.4”, NAD 83 

Town of Ulster, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Kingston East USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Nine high-water marks were surveyed: eight debris lines and one seed line. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by K.D. Metzker, C. J. Ostheimer, S.A. Vivian, and M.T. Whitehead on June 3, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a reference mark that is a chiseled square on the southwest corner of the 

northwest wingwall of the Leggs Mills Road bridge over Esopus Creek. This is RM 4 in the Town of Ulster FEMA floodinsurance study. Elevation is 157.07 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.79 feet from all elevations at 

this site.

Kingston East quad map with location of site 21, Esopus Creek at Leggs Mills Road at Lake Katrine, N.Y. 

68  Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 21.2 is a good debris line about 2 feet above the ground, on a tree on the left bank, 370 feet upstream from the

Leggs Mills Road bridge, at elevation 141.46 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 59’ 42.4”, long 73o 59’ 56.5”). 

High-water mark 21.8 is a fair debris line about 1.5 feet above the ground, on the streamward side of a stone wall, on the left

bank, 270 feet downstream from the Leggs Mills Road bridge, at elevation 138.80 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 41o

 59’ 44.8”, long 

73o

 59’ 48.8”). 

Appendix 1 69
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 22: Esopus Creek at Glenerie Boulevard (south) at Glenerie Lake Park, N.Y. 

Site Location: Glenerie Boulevard, lat 42o 00’ 17.6”, long 73o 59’ 27.2”, NAD 83 

Town of Ulster, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Saugerties USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Four high-water marks were surveyed: three debris lines and one seed line. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by K.D. Metzker, C. J. Ostheimer, S.A. Vivian, and M.T. Whitehead on June 2, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a benchmark that is an NGS standard disk stamped H-280 1942, located at 

the municipal building in Saugerties, set vertically in the south face at the southwest corner, 17.7 feet east of the east curb of 

Partition Street, 0.6 foot above the building corner stone, NGS PID MZ0780. Elevation is 155.04 feet above NGVD 29. To 

convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.79 feet from all elevations at this site.

Saugerties quad map with location of site 22, Esopus Creek at Glenerie Boulevard (south) at Glenerie Lake Park, N.Y. 

70 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 22.1 is a good debris line about 1.5 feet above the ground, on the streamward side of a storage shed 

streamward from house 370 on Glenerie Boulevard, on the right bank, at elevation 136.33 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 42o

 00’ 

17.6”, long 73o

 59’ 27.2”). 

Appendix 1  71
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 23: Esopus Creek at Glenerie Boulevard (north) at Glenerie Lake Park, N.Y. 

Site Location: Glenerie Boulevard, lat 42o 01’ 15.5”, long 73o 59’ 08.9”, NAD 83 

Town of Ulster, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Saugerties USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Two high-water marks were surveyed: two mud lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by K.D. Metzker and C. J. Ostheimer on June 2, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a benchmark that is an NGS standard disk stamped H-280 1942, located at 

the municipal building in Saugerties, set vertically in the south face at the southwest corner, 17.7 feet east of the east curb of 

Partition Street, 0.6 foot above the building corner stone, NGS PID MZ0780. Elevation is 155.04 feet above NGVD 29. To 

convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.79 feet from all elevations at this site.

Saugerties quad map with location of site 23, Esopus Creek at Glenerie Boulevard (north) at Glenerie Lake Park, N.Y. 

72 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 23.1 is an excellent mud line about 3 feet above the ground, on the downstream side of cabin C5 at 127 

Glenerie Boulevard, on the right bank, at elevation 133.59 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 42o

 01’ 15.5”, long 73o 59’ 08.9”). 

High-water mark 23.2 is an excellent mud line about 3 feet above the ground, on the downstream side of cabin C7 at 127 

Glenerie Boulevard, on the right bank, at elevation 133.59 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 42o

 01’ 16.3”, long 73o 59’ 09.9”). 

Appendix 1  73
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 24: Esopus Creek at Glasco Turnpike at Glenerie, N.Y. 

Site Location: Bridge on Glasco Turnpike, lat 42o 02’ 16.2”, long 73o 58’ 18.0”, NAD 83 

Town of Saugerties, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Saugerties USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Six high-water marks were surveyed: five debris lines and one wash line. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by S.A. Vivian and M.T. Whitehead on June 2, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a reference mark that is the USGS stream-gaging station 01364500 reference 

mark RM 3. Elevation is 93.33 feet above NGVD 29. To convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.79 feet from all elevations at this 

site.

Saugerties quad map with location of site 24, Esopus Creek at Glasco Turnpike at Glenerie, N.Y. 

74  Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 24.2 is a fair wash line on the ground, on the left bank, 150 feet upstream from the Glasco Turnpike bridge, at

elevation 67.80 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 42o

 02’ 15.3”, long 73o 58’ 19.2”). 

High-water mark 24.4 is a poor debris line about 6 feet above the ground, on a tree on the left bank, 100 feet downstream from 

the Glasco Turnpike bridge, at elevation 66.19 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 42o

 02’ 17.5”, long 73o 58’ 18.7”). 

Appendix 1  75
SITE DESCRIPTION 

Site 25: Esopus Creek at U.S. Route 9W and State Route 32 at Saugerties, N.Y. 

Site Location: Bridge on U.S. Route 9W and State Route 32, lat 42o 04’ 16.8”, long 73o 57’ 00.6”, NAD 83 

Village of Saugerties, Town of Saugerties, Ulster County, N.Y. 

Saugerties USGS 7.5’ Topographic Quadrangle 

High-Water Marks: Four high-water marks were surveyed: four mud lines. 

Photos and GPS readings were taken at each high-water mark. Field notes are filed at the USGS office in Troy, N.Y. 

Marks were surveyed and photos taken by S.A. Vivian and M.T. Whitehead on June 2, 2005. 

High-water-mark elevations were surveyed from a benchmark that is an NGS standard disk stamped H-280 1942, located at 

the municipal building in Saugerties, set vertically in the south face at the southwest corner, 17.7 feet east of the east curb of 

Partition Street, 0.6 foot above the building corner stone, NGS PID MZ0780. Elevation is 155.04 feet above NGVD 29. To 

convert to NAVD 88, subtract 0.79 feet from all elevations at this site.

Saugerties quad map with location of site 25, Esopus Creek at U.S. Route 9W and State Route 32 at Saugerties, N.Y. 

76 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
High-water mark 25.1 is an excellent mud line about 2 feet above the ground, on the downstream side of the Village of 

Saugerties Waterfront Park beach house, on the left bank, 220 feet upstream from the U.S. Route 9W and State Route 32 bridge, 

at elevation 54.64 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 42o

 04’ 15.8”, long 73o 57’ 04.6”). 

High-water mark 25.4 is a good mud line about 2 feet above the ground, on the upstream side of a fence, on the left bank, 105 

feet downstream from the U.S. Route 9W and State Route 32 bridge, at elevation 54.61 feet above NGVD 29 (lat 42o

 04’ 18.6”, 

long 73o

 57’ 02.1”). 

Appendix 1  77
This page has been left blank intentionally. 

78  Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
Appendix 2. Selected Photographs of Flood Damage during 

the Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin and 

Surrounding Areas

Appendix 2  79
Ashokan Reservoir spill channel to Esopus Creek on April 3, 2005. 

Photo courtesy of Times Herald-Record. 

Washington Avenue in Kingston, N.Y. Photo courtesy of Times Herald-Record. 

19

80 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York

Flood Damage in Esopus Creek Basin
Local business adjacent to New York State Thruway, N.Y., April 3, 2005. 

Photo courtesy of Times Herald-Record. 

Chandler Drive, Kingston, N.Y., April 3, 2005. Photo courtesy of Times Herald-Record. 

20

Appendix 2  81
Route 28 near Kingston, N.Y., April 3, 2005. Photo courtesy of David Bondarenka. 

Evergreen Lane, Hurley, N.Y., April 3, 2005. Photo courtesy of David Bondarenka. 

21

82 Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
Wynkoop Road, Hurley, N.Y., April, 3, 2005. Photo courtesy of David Bondarenka. 

Ferraro's Auto Body on Esopus Ave. in Kingston, N.Y., April 4, 2005. 

Photo courtesy of Times Herald-Record; photo taken by staff photographer Ken Bizzigotti.

22

Appendix 2  83
Ashokan Reservoir spillway channel during typical spring spillage. Photo courtesy of James Werner. 

Ashokan Reservoir spillway channel on April 3, 2005. Photo courtesy of James Werner.

23

84  Flood of April 2–3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York
Flood Damage in the Adjacent Rondout Creek Basin

Photos courtesy of Times Herald-Record

 

 Sundown Road, Sundown, N.Y., April 3, 2005. 

 

 

Route 209 in the area of Accord and Kerhonkson, Route 209 in the area of Spring Glen, N.Y.,

N.Y., April 3, 2005. April 3, 2005. 

 

 

 Route 209 in the area of Accord and Kerhonkson, N.Y.,

 April 3, 2005. 

 

 

Appendix 2  85

For additional information write to: 

New York Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey

425 Jordan Road 

Troy, NY 12180

Information requests:

(518) 285-5602

or visit our Web site at:

http://ny.water.usgs.gov
Es

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DELAWARE

SULLIVAN

ULSTER

Suro, T.P. and Firda, G.D.— Flood of April 2−3, 2005, Esopus Creek Basin, New York—Open-File Report 2007−1036

Ashokan Reservoir spillway

Ashokan Reservoir spillway - April, 2005