East Branch Croton River facts for kids
The East Branch Croton River is a small river that flows into the Croton River. It's located in Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester counties in New York State. This river is an important part of the New York City water supply system. It helps provide drinking water to millions of people in New York City.
The East Branch Croton River
The East Branch Croton River is a tributary, which means it's a smaller river that flows into a larger one. It's part of the bigger Croton River watershed. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a specific river or body of water.
Where Does It Flow?
The East Branch Croton River begins in a town called Pawling in Dutchess County. From there, it flows west and then south through the village of Pawling.
Next, the river crosses into Putnam County. It flows through a large wetland area known as the Great Swamp in the town of Patterson. Wetlands are important natural areas that help filter water.
After the swamp, the river continues south, then west, and finally southwest through the town of Southeast. Along this path, it passes through two important reservoirs. These are the East Branch Reservoir and the Diverting Reservoir. Reservoirs are like big lakes built to store water. The river also flows through the village of Brewster.
Finally, the East Branch Croton River enters Westchester County. It meets another river, the West Branch Croton River, at a place called Croton Falls. When these two rivers join, they form the main Croton River.
