Otselic River facts for kids
The Otselic River (pronounced aht-SEEL-ik) is a river in central New York. It flows for about 55 miles (89 km) and is a branch of the Tioughnioga River. This river helps drain a hilly area that has many forests and farms. It's located at the northern edge of the larger Susquehanna River watershed.
Where the Otselic River Starts
The Otselic River begins at Torpy Pond in southwestern Madison County, New York. This is northeast of a town called Georgetown, New York. From there, the river gently winds its way southwest through rich farmland.
The Otselic Valley is the area the river flows through. It passes by several towns, including Georgetown, Otselic, Pitcher, Cincinnatus, Willet, Lisle, and Whitney Point. At Whitney Point, the river is held back by a dam, forming the Whitney Point Reservoir. After flowing out of the reservoir, the Otselic River joins the Tioughnioga River.
How the River Was Used
In the past, people used the river's water to power mills. They built special channels called "mill ditches" to direct the water to these mills. Today, one of these diversions is a dam above the small community of South Otselic. This dam originally supplied a mill there. Now, its water is piped to supply the New York State South Otselic Fish Hatchery, which raises fish.
Animals in the Otselic River
The Otselic River is home to many different kinds of fish. In the cooler, upper parts of the river, you can find native brook trout and brown trout that have been stocked (meaning they were raised elsewhere and released into the river).
In the warmer, lower sections of the river, you'll find fish that prefer warmer water. These include smallmouth bass, walleyes, and northern pike. Before the Whitney Point Reservoir was built in 1942, eels and shad used to swim up the Otselic River all the way from the Susquehanna River.
