LOCATION.--Lat 42°36'09.6", long 76°09'33.8" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, Cortland County, NY, Hydrologic Unit 02050102, on right bank at east end of Elm Street at Cortland, 0.4 mi downstream from confluence of East and West Branches.
DRAINAGE AREA.--292 mi². including 14.0 mi², the flow from which may be diverted into DeRuyter Reservoir in Oswego River basin.
PERIOD OF RECORD.--May 1938 to current year.
REVISIONS HISTORY.--WSP 2103: Drainage area. WDR NY-74-1: 1973.
GAGE.--Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 1,084.92 ft above NGVD of 1929 and 1,084.46 ft above NAVD of 1988. Prior to Oct. 1, 1939, at datum 4.00 ft higher. Oct. 1, 1939 to Sept. 30, 1963, at datum 3.00 ft higher.
REMARKS.--Diurnal fluctuation at low and medium flow caused by operation of mills on West Branch. Slight diversion from East Branch for operation of Erie (Barge) Canal. Slight diversion from Gate House Pond on West Branch 17 mi upstream from station into Onondaga Creek basin (St. Lawrence River basin).
Water Years 2014-17: Records good except those for estimated daily discharges, which are fair. Water Years 2018-23: Records good except those for estimated daily discharges, which are poor.
EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD.--Maximum discharge, 14,200 ft³/s, Apr. 3, 2005, gage height, 14.07 ft; minimum discharge, 9.8 ft³/s, Sept. 20, 1939, Sept. 29, 1959.

Rating Curve

Get the latest shift-adjusted rating table for this site at the
USGS Rating Depot.   What is a shift-adjusted rating?

Peak Flow and Stage Information

Station image