Neversink River, New York

Just two hours from New York City, the Neversink River is a rare, pristine oasis—60 miles of rushing waters brimming with an outstanding array of life. With over 30 rare species and natural communities, the 435-square-mile Neversink River watershed is one of the primary headwaters for the Delaware River and is considered the purest source of drinking water for New York City.

Dragonfly © Elinor Osborn

Ecological Importance: The Neversink watershed’s floodplain and bottomland forests, marshes, and meadows harbor over 132 species of birds (including osprey & bald eagle), 17 reptile species and 14 amphibian species. The Neversink contains the greatest diversity of freshwater mussels in the Delaware River basin. Of particular significance are the federally endangered dwarf wedgemussel and the state-threatened brook floater. There are more than 40 fish species in the Neversink, including migratory fish such as American shad, alewife, striped bass, sea lamprey, and American eel. The Neversink’s rich and varied collections of insect species, particularly dragonflies, are an excellent indicator of a healthy, clean river. The globally rare brook snaketail and extra-striped snaketail are dragonfly species of particular concern.

Threats: A wide variety of stresses impact the biological diversity and ecological integrity of the ecosystems within the Neversink’s watershed. The most significant threat to the long-term health of the river is the disruption of its water flow patterns. Many aquatic species rely on and adapt to the specific natural ebb and flow of its waters. Structures like dams and reservoirs disturb these flows, causing unnatural thermal and chemical variations and periods of too much or too little water at inappropriate times and for irregular durations. Such changes severely affect aquatic life. The Neversink Reservoir Dam and the Cuddebackville Dam disrupt the Neversink’s natural water flow, affecting the movement of fish, mussels, and other species.

Partners: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; U.S. Department of Agriculture; U.S. Geological Survey; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Trout Unlimited; Orange County; Sullivan County; Town of Deerpark; Town of Thompson; Town of Mamakating; Orange County Land Trust; Bashakill Area Association; Delaware River Basin Commission

Conservation Action: The relative health and pristine state of the Neversink River make this an opportune time to act. The Nature Conservancy is working with local communities and state and federal agencies to apply the best scientific methods, management, and monitoring techniques to mitigate the primary threats to the river. Our core strategies include:

• Removing the Cuddebackville Dam. The Cuddebackville Dam is a complex of two dams straddling an island in the Neversink River.  In 1828, the first dam was built to divert water from the river to the Delaware and Hudson Canal. Later, in the early 1900's, a second dam was constructed on the main section of the river to divert water for hydropower. The now inoperative Cuddebackville Dams block migratory fish from reaching much of their spawning grounds and prevent certain freshwater mussel species from establishing colonies in the suitable habitat upstream of the dam. Research indicates that a careful and deliberate deconstruction of the second dam would help restore the river to a more natural state. The Conservancy is working with federal, state and local agencies to remove the dam.
• Establishing more ecologically suitable management of water control and release structures throughout the Delaware Basin, including the Neversink Reservoir which diverts 80% of the Neversink River's water into New York City's water supply system. Collaborating with New York City, the States of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware as well as the federal Delaware River Basin Commission and other stakeholders, the Conservancy has begun discussions to develop a model for science-based water resource management that balances human needs with that of freshwater ecosystems.
• Building local initiatives with communities to change land and water use and development patterns to be more compatible with conservation efforts.
• Restoration of working ecosystems. The Nature Conservancy is working with local, state and federal partners to restore roughly 1,000 acres of critical bottomland and riparian corridor on the lower Neversink River.   Restoring this area and its natural processes will equally benefit local human communities with ecosystem services such as flood attenuation, and natural communities with intact habitats and ecological processes that are required for their survival.
• Protecting key areas of biodiversity through land acquisition, conservation easements and voluntary agreements.

Neversink River Facts

• Location: primarily in Sullivan and Orange Counties in southeastern New York, with the headwaters extending into Ulster County
• Size: The Neversink River watershed encompasses 435 square miles and is one of the primary headwaters for the much larger Delaware River drainage, which covers 13,000 square miles.
• Plant Species: Moist, mixed hardwood forests dominate the uplands of the Catskill portion of the basin while a generally drier, ridge-top chestnut oak/conifer forest – including pitch pine — characterized by a significant fire regime, dominates the Shawangunk Ridge portion of the basin. Lower areas contain rich floodplain forests with river birch, red maple, white oak, white ash and sycamore. Bottomland forests, marshes, beaver ponds are scattered throughout the watershed’s primarily forest landscape. Rare wildflowers such as Fringed loosestrife, Lady’s slipper, bur marigold and spreading globeflower are found living in these wetland ecosystems. and meadows are also scattered throughout the watershed. Native grasses such as little bluestem also dot the landscape in successional and disturbed areas.
• Animal Species: Some 40 fish species including the rare ironcolor shiner, brook trout, bluespotted sunfish and ancient bowfin, more than 130 species of birds (including osprey and bald eagle), 17 reptile species and 14 amphibian species including the eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos), timber rattlesnake, five lined skink and marbled salamander. River otter, bobcat, black bear and fisher (Martes pennanti) can also be found in the area.

Neversink River © Hardie Truesdale

How to Visit
The Nature Conservancy’s Neversink River Preserve is open to visitors and has an extensive trail system.

Directions to the Neversink River Preserve.