Section 4 Delaware County Profile
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SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE Delaware County profile information is presented in the plan and analyzed to develop an understanding of a study area, including the economic, structural, and population assets at risk and the particular concerns that may be present related to hazards analyzed later in this plan (e.g., low lying areas prone to flooding or a high percentage of vulnerable persons in an area). This profile provides general information for Delaware County (physical setting, population and demographics, general building stock, and land use and population trends) and critical facilities located within the County. GENERAL INFORMATION Delaware County was organized in 1797; however, settlement had begun in the area earlier that century. The Main industries were fur trading, lumbering and later dairy farming. Prior to the American Revolution the settlements of Harpersfield, Middletown and Sidney Plains were established in the County. However, during the war, these settlements were destroyed. Following the war, the County developed quickly with sawmills and various other industrious uses of its many waterways. In 1935, the Town of Deposit was the site of construction of the Erie Railroad; which brought in new industries and workforces to the County. Many other railways, including the Albany and Susquehanna (later Delaware and Hudson) made their way to the County. Farming is still currently a major industry in the County, most importantly dairy farming (Natural Resources Conservation Service, Date Unknown). Delaware County contains rural landscapes, small commercialized areas, dramatic terrain and natural features, including two major reservoirs which are contributing to New York City’s water supply (Cannonsville and Pepacton Reservoirs), agriculturally productive areas, as well as the State University of New York (SUNY) Delhi College of Technology. This combination of natural and developed features lay the foundation for Delaware County’s vulnerability to natural, human-caused, and technological hazards, both in terms of hazard frequency and the potential impact of hazard events. PHYSICAL SETTING This section presents the physical setting of the County, including: location, hydrography and hydrology, topography and geology, climate, and land use/land cover. Location Delaware County is located in the southern portion of New York State. The County is bordered to the north by Otsego County, to the northeast by Schoharie County, to the east by Greene County, to the southeast by Ulster County, to the south by Sullivan County, to the southwest by Wayne County (Pennsylvania), to the northwest by Chenango County and to the west by Broome County. Delaware County is comprised of 19 towns and nine villages and encompasses an area of approximately 1,460 square miles (U.S. Census, 2010). Figure 4-1 illustrates the County and its municipalities. DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Delaware County, New York 4-1 March 2013 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE Figure 4-1. Delaware County, New York Source: Delaware County Planning Department DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Delaware County, New York 4-2 March 2013 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE Hydrography and Hydrology Numerous ponds, lakes, creeks and rivers make up the waterscape of Delaware County, which lies within one drainage basin (Susquehanna River Basin) and five watersheds (Schoharie, Middle Hudson, Upper Delaware, East Branch Delaware and the Upper Susquehanna). The major bodies of water and waterways within the County include the East and West Branches of the Delaware River, Little Delaware River, Ouleout Creek, Charlotte Creek, Susquehanna River, Cannonsville Reservoir, Pepacton Reservoir, Schoharie Creek, Schoharie Reservoir, and Beaver Kill. Figure 4-2 depicts the 17 drainage basins found in New York State and Figure 4-3 depicts the watersheds of Delaware County. Figure 4-2. Drainage Basins of New York State. Source: NYSDEC, Date Unknown Note: The circle indicates the approximate location of Delaware County. DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Delaware County, New York 4-3 March 2013 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE Figure 4-3. Watersheds of Delaware County, New York Source: USEPA, 2012 Note(s): 02020005 Schoharie; state(s): NY 02020006 Middle Hudson; state(s): MA, NY 02040101 Upper Delaware; state(s): NY, PA 02040102 East Branch Delaware; state(s): NY, PA 02050101 Upper Susquehanna; state(s): NY, PA The five watersheds within the County include: Schoharie Watershed, Middle Hudson Watershed, Upper Delaware Watershed, East Branch Delaware Watershed and the Upper Susquehanna Watershed. Delaware River Basin The Delaware River Basin covers parts of New York State, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. About one-fifth of the Basin lies within New York State. The headwaters for the Delaware River originate in the Catskill Mountains and eventually flow into Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The Delaware River Basin encompasses 2,390 square miles of land within New York State and has 4,062 miles of freshwater rivers and streams. The major tributaries to the Delaware River in New York State include the East Branch Delaware, West Branch Delaware, Neversink, and Mangaup Rivers. There are 188 significant lakes, ponds and reservoirs within this Basin, which include the Pepacton, Cannonsville and Neversink Reservoirs. The Pepacton and Cannonsville Reservoirs are both located in Delaware County (NYSDEC, Date Unknown). Susquehanna River Basin The Susquehanna River Basin is the second largest east of the Mississippi River. The 444 miles of this Basin drains 27,500 square miles covering large portions of New York State, Pennsylvania and Maryland, before emptying into the Chesapeake Bay. The Basin has 4,520 square miles of land area within New York State and over 8,185 miles of freshwater rivers and streams. The major tributaries to the Susquehanna River in New York State include the Chenango River, the Tioughnioga River, the Unadilla River and the Owego Creek. There are 130 significant freshwater lakes, ponds and reservoirs that make DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Delaware County, New York 4-4 March 2013 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE up the Basin and include Otsego Lake, Canadarago Lake and Whitney Point Lake/Reservoir (NYSDEC, Date Unknown). Mohawk River Basin The Mohawk River Basin is centrally located in New York State. The Mohawk River is the largest tributary to the Hudson River. It has a total drainage area of approximately 3,460 square miles and represents approximately 25-percent of the entire Hudson River Basin. The Mohawk River starts between the Adirondack Mountains and Tug Hill Plateau in north-central New York State. It flows toward the east, carving a wide valley between the Adirondacks to the north and the Central Appalachian Mountains to the south. The entire basin is located within the borders of the State. The Mohawk River Basin area includes all of Montgomery County, most of Schoharie County, large portions of Schenectady, Greene, Fulton, Herkimer and Oneida Counties, and parts of Albany, Saratoga, Delaware, Otsego, Hamilton, Madison and Lewis Counties (NYSDEC, 2003). In Delaware County, the Schoharie Creek, a tributary of the Mohawk River, is located in the northeast portion of the County. The Schoharie Reservoir, also located in the northeast corner of the County, is considered one of the significant reservoirs within the Mohawk River Basin (NYSDEC, Date Unknown). New York City Watershed The New York City Watershed covers an area of approximately 1,900 square miles in the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River Valley. This watershed is divided into two reservoir systems, the Catskill/Delaware watershed west of the Hudson River and the Croton watershed east of the Hudson River. Combined, the system delivers approximately 1.4 billion gallons of water each day to nearly nine million people in New York City, Westchester, Orange, Putnam and Ulster Counties (USEPA, 2011). Delaware County is part of the Catskill/Delaware Watershed. This watershed consists of two reservoirs, the Cannonsville and Pepacton, both located within the County. These reservoirs significantly contribute to New York City’s water supply. The Schoharie Reservoir is located to the northeast of the County, and also contributes to New York City’s drinking water supply. According to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP), the Cannonsville Reservoir watershed’s drainage basin is 455 square miles, the largest of the City’s system, and includes portions of Delaware County (Andes, Bovina, Delhi, Deposit, Franklin, Hamden, Harpersfield, Jefferson, Kortright, Masonville, Meredith, Middletown, Roxbury, Sidney, Stamford, Tompkins, and Walton). The Pepacton Reservoir contributes more than 25- percent of the total daily water flow into New York City. The Pepacton Reservoir watershed’s drainage basin is 371 square miles and includes part of 13 towns within three counties, eight of which are located within Delaware County (Andes, Bovina, Colchester, Delhi, Hamden, Middletown, Roxbury, and Stamford) (NYCDEP, 2005). Figure 4-4 depicts the Catskill/Delaware Watershed. DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Delaware County, New York 4-5 March 2013 SECTION 4: COUNTY PROFILE Figure 4-4. Catskill/Delaware Watershed Source: NYC.gov, 2007 Note: The circle indicates the approximate location of Delaware County. Topography and Geology The topography is typical Appalachian uplands, which are part of the glaciated ridge and valley system that is common to the Southern Tier