No. 30.] ROCKY RIVER. 15 



ROCKY RIVER 

 DESCRIPTION OF THE RIVER AND ITS VALLEY 



Rocky River begins its course as a rapid mountain brook in 

 a rough highland, where the mantle of till in many places is 

 insufficient to conceal the rock ledges (fig. i). Near Sherman, 

 about four miles from its source, it enters a broad flood plain 

 and meanders over a flat, swampy floor which is somewhat 

 encumbered with deposits of stratified drift and till. Rocky 

 hills border the valley and rise abruptly from the lowland. The 

 few tributaries of the river in this part of its course are normal 

 in direction. 



About six miles below Sherman, Rocky River enters Wood 

 Creek Swamp, which is 5^ miles long by about one mile wide 

 .and completely covers the valley floor, extending even into 

 tributary valleys. Within the swamp the river is joined by 

 Squantz Pond Brook and Wood Creek. Tributaries to Wood 

 Creek include Mountain Brook and the stream passing through 

 Barses Pond and Neversink Pond. The head of Barses Pond is 

 separated from the swamp only by a low ridge of till. Never- 

 sink Pond with its inlet gorge and its long southern tributary 

 record significant drainage modifications, as described in the 

 section entitled " The Neversink-Danbury Valley." 



Within and along the margin of Wood Creek Swamp, also 

 east of Wood Creek and at Barses Pond, are rounded, elongated 

 ridges of till, some of which might be called drumlins. East of 

 Neversink Pond is the lateral moraine shown in PI. I. From 

 the mouth of Wood Creek to Jerusalem, Rocky River is a quiet 

 stream wandering between low banks through flat meadows, 

 which are generally swampy almost to the foot of the bordering 

 hills. 



Near Jerusalem bridge two small branches enter Rocky River. 

 Immediately north of the bridge is a level swampy area about 

 one-half mile in length. Where the valley closes in again, bed- 

 rock is exposed near the stream, and beginning at a point one- 

 half mile below (north of) Jerusalem, Rocky River a swift 

 torrent choked by boulders of great size deserves its name. 



