East Branch Delaware River at Harvard

1. 24.40 ftFEMA flood insurance maps indicate that a river level of 24.4 feet corresponds to the water elevation associated witih the 0.2 percent (500 year) flood risk zone. If your property is determined to be in this zone, then it is at high risk for flooding during a record flood event. This magnitude of flooding has a 0.2 percent chance of occurring in any year.
2. 19.60 ftFEMA flood insurance maps indicate that a river level at 19.6 feet corresponds to the water elevation associated with the 1 percent (100 year) flood risk zone. If your property is determined to be in this zone, then it is at high risk for flooding during a record flood event. A flood of this magnitude has a 1 percent chance of occurring in any year.
3. 16.93 ftThis level, from September 1938, is the historic flood of record prior to the construction of Downsville Dam.
4. 16.61 ftThis is the flood level from June, 2006 and is the modern flood of record. Widespread flooding, resulting in catastrophic property and infrastructure damage, occurred from Downsville to East Branch.
5. 16.32 ftThis is the flood level from April, 2005 and is considered to be major flooding.
6. 16.07 ftThis is the flood level from September, 2004 and is considered to be major flooding.
7. 15.00 ftMajor flood stage. Above 15 feet, river flooding is widespread from Downsville to East Branch with several residential and commercial properties affected between Harvard Road and Route 30. Significant backwater flooding from Baxter Brook is also likely. River water crosses O and W Road between East Branch and Fishs Eddy. Evacuations typically begin throughout the Town of Colchester.
8. 14.73 ftThis is the flood level from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee in September, 2011 and is considered to be moderate flooding.
9. 13.31 ftThis is the flood level from the remnants of Hurricane Irene in August, 2011 and is considered to be moderate flooding.
10. 12.63 ftThis is the flood level from January, 1996 and is considered to be moderate flooding.
11. 12.00 ftModerate Flood Stage. Between 12 and 15 feet, river flooding begins at the Oxbow Campground in Harvard. Significant backwater flooding from Baxter Brook is also likely. Residences along Harvard Road and Route 30 from Harvard to East Branch are threatened.
12. 11.00 ftHarvard Road, Fox Lane and Harvard Cemetery Road become impassable in spots due to increasing river flooding. Camp cottage properties along Route 30 flood.
13. 10.00 ftMinor flood stage. Low lying roads along the river from Downsville to East Branch begin to flood.
14. 7.00 ftIsland Road in the Town of Colchester is normally closed at this level.

Chance of flooding, October to December

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 28, 2026.

Most recent crests

• August 10, 2024: 11.41 ft
• April 8, 2022: 12.76 ft
• September 8, 2011: 14.73 ft
• August 29, 2011: 13.31 ft
• March 24, 2010: 10.29 ft
• March 9, 2008: 11.69 ft
• March 6, 2008: 10.87 ft
• June 28, 2006: 16.61 ft
• January 19, 2006: 11.38 ft
• April 3, 2005: 16.32 ft

• UpstreamEast Branch Delaware River at Downsville below Pepacton Dam
• DownstreamEast Branch Delaware
• East Branch Delaware River at Fishs Eddy
• East Branch Delaware River at Pepacton Reservoir
• Beaver Kill at Cooks Falls
• West Branch Delaware River at Walton
• East Brook at Walton
• West Brook at Walton

Forecasts by the Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. Gauge reading may be affected by ice. Forecast flows are unadjusted for ice.

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.