Watershed Profile: Chemung River at West Elmira, NY


Watershed Overview
The Chemung River begins where the Cohocton and Tioga Rivers come together in Painted Post, NY. The Chemung River flows southeast until its confluence with the Susquehanna River in Athens, PA. The monitoring station is near the town of West Elmira in Chemung County, NY.
Drainage Characteristics
  • Drainage Area (square miles): 2147.49
  • Total Stream Length (miles): 3514.6
  • Average Annual Flow at Station (NHD) (cfs): 2274.6
  • Population (2020): 132,179
Stream Classifications (Pennsylvania)
Designation Miles
Cold Water Fisheries 498.91
High-Quality Cold Water Fisheries 5.66
Trout Stocked Fisheries 170.32
Warm Water Fisheries 397.78
Total 1072.67
Stream Classifications (New York)
Classification Use Miles
Class A Drinking Water Source 41.00
Class A (T) Drinking Water Source With Trout Population 8.76
Class A (TS) Drinking Water Source With Trout Spawning 3.03
Class AA Drinking Water Source 0.47
Class AA (TS) Drinking Water Source With Trout Spawning 3.08
Class B Contact Recreation (Not Drinking Water Source) 2.94
Class B (T) Contact Recreation With Trout Population 0.72
Class C Support Fisheries (Non-Contact) 2080.36
Class C (T) Support Fisheries, Non-Contact With Trout Population 154.54
Class C (TS) Support Fisheries, Non-Contact With Trout Spawning 142.54
Class D Fishing, But Does Not Support Fish Propagation 4.45
Exempt Exempt 0.03
Total 2441.92
  • Land Use
  • Description Percentage
    Water 0.63
    Developed Open Space 5.16
    Low Urban 1.28
    Medium Urban 0.57
    High Urban 0.17
    Barren 0.13
    Deciduous Forest 38.67
    Coniferous Forest 2.89
    Mixed Forest 18.77
    Shrub Scrub 0.63
    Grassland Herbaceous 0.36
    Pasture/Hay 23.10
    Cropland 5.79
    Wetlands 1.84
Underlying Geology
Rock Type Percentage
Sandstone 20.87
Shale 79.12
Map
Recent Results
Sample Time 3/19/2024 12:00:00 AM
Temperature  (C) 5.65
Specific Conductivity  (mS/cm) 0.237
PH 7.69
Turbidity  (NTU+) 7.04
Dissolved Oxygen  (mg/L) 12.03
Dissolved Oxygen (last month of readings)
pH (last month of readings)
Specific Conductivity (last month of readings)
Temperature (last month of readings)
Turbidity (last month of readings)
Natural Gas
  • Natural Gas Pads 213
  • Natural Gas Water Withdrawals 11
Public Water Supply Withdrawals
  • Groundwater 342
  • Surface Water 9
NPDES Discharges
Description Count
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation 24
Mining/Quarry 14
Stormwater 45
Wastewater Treatment Plant/Sewage Treatment Plant 29
Other 50
Stream Impairments
Source Category Miles
Acid Mine Drainage Aquatic Life 68.50
Agriculture Aquatic Life 68.50
Atmospheric Deposition Aquatic Life 49.20
Channel Erosion/Incision from Upstream Hydromodifications Aquatic Life 17.30
Coal Mining Aquatic Life 0.90
Dam or Impoundment Aquatic Life 11.70
Golf Courses Aquatic Life 3.50
Highway/Road/Bridge Runoff Aquatic Life 26.50
Impervious Surface/Parking Lot Runoff Aquatic Life 21.00
Removal of Vegetation Aquatic Life 7.90
Rural (Residential) Aquatic Life 6.40
Streambank Modifications Aquatic Life 1.00
Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers Aquatic Life 3.60
Habitat Modification Aquatic Life 57.50
Source Unknown Fish Consumption 10.60
Acid Mine Drainage Potable Water Supply 0.70
Source Unknown Recreational 153.20