West Branch Delaware River at Hale Eddy
New York · Fishing & wading
Measured at USGS 01426500 — WEST BRANCH DELAWARE RIVER AT HALE EDDY NY · NWS forecast point HLEN6
Reading taken Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC
About normal for the date
At 689 CFS, this gauge is running 123% of normal for late July — above the 560 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 62 years of record (1964–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Hale Eddy
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge HLEN6, issued by WFO BGM. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 15.0 ft · 24,400 CFS
- 15.0 ft Major Flood Stage. Above 15 feet, riverside campgrounds and resorts are flooded. River water crosses portions of River Road, Faulkner Road and Sherman Creek Road. Some homes in the area are flooded. In Hancock, river water spreads across S. Pennsylvania Avenue, and affects portions of Old State Road and W. Main Street near Exit 87 off Route 17. There is also considerable backwater flooding in the Village along Sands Creek and Shehawken Creek.
- 16.8 ft FEMA flood insurance maps indicate that a river level of 16.8 feet corresponds to the water elevation associated with the 1 percent (100 year) flood zone. If your property is determined to be in this zone, then it is at a high risk for flooding during major floods. This magnitude of flooding has a 1 percent chance of occurring in any year.
- 19.1 ft This level is the modern day record flood of June 2006. Widespread flooding occurred from Cannonsville Dam to Hancock with catastrophic property and infrastructure damages.
- 20.3 ft This level is the all-time, historic flood of record before the existence of the stream gauge at this location. The flood occurred on October 9, 1903, and is commonly known as the Pumpkin Flood.
- 24.4 ft FEMA flood insurance maps indicate that a river level of 24.4 feet corresponds to the water elevation associated with the 0.2 percent (500 year) flood zone. If your property is determined to be in this zone, then it is at a high risk for flooding during a record flood event. This magnitude of flooding has a 0.2 percent chance of occurring in any year.
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Moderate flood 13.0 ft · 18,000 CFS
- 13.0 ft Moderate Flood Stage. Between 13 and 15 feet, flooding of farm lands adjacent to the river intensifies. River water encroaches onto properties along parts of River Road and Sherman Creek Road. Winterdale Road and River Road in Hancock are flooded.
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Minor flood 11.0 ft · 12,500 CFS
- 11.0 ft Minor Flood Stage. Between 11 and 13 feet, minor flooding of farm lands adjacent to the river begins. River flooding affects Winterdale Road and River road in the Village of Hancock.
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Action 9.0 ft
- Right now 3.12 ft
NWS forecast: 4.60 ft by Jul 29, 12:00 PM UTC.
12 months of flow at Hale Eddy
Daily values from USGS gauge 01426500. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Hale Eddy
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 20.30 ft | 46,000 CFS | Oct 10, 1903 |
| 19.10 ft | 40,100 CFS | Jun 28, 2006 |
| 15.80 ft | 26,500 CFS | Sep 30, 1924 |
| 15.70 ft | 28,900 CFS | Mar 22, 1948 |
| 15.60 ft | 25,600 CFS | Sep 22, 1938 |
| 15.30 ft | 25,000 CFS | Mar 27, 1913 |
| 15.24 ft | — | Feb 16, 1939 |
| 15.15 ft | — | Mar 9, 1950 |
| 15.00 ft | 11,400 CFS | Mar 17, 1923 |
| 14.97 ft | 23,400 CFS | Mar 31, 1940 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About West Branch Delaware River at Hale Eddy
This gauge measures West Branch Delaware River at Hale Eddy, New York — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Premier Eastern tailwater; Cannonsville releases.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 560 CFS for late July, from 62 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
West Branch Delaware River at Hale Eddy — common questions
What is the current flow on West Branch Delaware River at Hale Eddy?
As of the last reading on this page, West Branch Delaware River at Hale Eddy was running 689 CFS at a gage height of 3.12 ft, or 123% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 01426500, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 560 CFS, calculated from 62 years of record (1964–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
Is West Branch Delaware River at Hale Eddy wadeable right now?
That depends on the reach and on your own judgement — riverlvl will not tell you the water is safe to stand in. What it will tell you is whether today's flow is unusually high or low for the date, against a seasonal median of 560 CFS, which is the single most useful input to that decision.
What makes the flow change on this stretch?
Rain in the basin upstream, plus seasonal baseflow. The 12-month chart shows the past year of daily values, which is the clearest picture of how this gauge behaves through the seasons.
Where does this data come from?
Flow and gage height are public-domain USGS data from gauge 01426500. Flood categories, impact statements and the forecast come from the NOAA / National Weather Service National Water Prediction Service, gauge HLEN6. riverlvl adds the seasonal comparison and plain-English summary; it is not an official source and does not issue warnings.