2G0 



N E W YORK STATE MUSEUM 



The Drowned Lands are an extensive Pleistocene lake bottom 

 situated mainly in New York. They comprise an area of 28 

 square miles. A dam of drift at the north end of this tract holds 

 back the water of the Wallkill, causing an overflowing of this 

 entire flood plain. Formerly, this area formed a shallow lake 

 or undrained swamp. An artificial canal, cut through the drift 

 at the foot, has enabled a large part of the downstream portion 

 to be reclaimed for agricultural purposes. 



Below the foot of the Drowned Lands, fifteen miles from the 

 New Jersey line, the Wallkill flows in a broad, shallow valley, 

 averaging about one half mile in width. This valley has been eroded 

 from the drift, leaving a stream-bed of cobble and small boulders 

 too heavy for stream transport. The river terraces are not 

 abrupt, often curving gracefully to the uplands 30 to 60 feet above 

 the stream, and leaving a narrow plain submerged only during 

 freshets. At frequent intervals the stream cuts through the over- 

 lying drift to the Hudson river slate, and passing over ledges of 

 this slate produces waterfalls. 



At Gardiner the Wallkill receives its principal tributary, the 

 Shawangunk kill. The divide between the two streams is formed 

 by vertical strata of a blue shale fold, making- a definite ridge 

 between the catchment areas. 



The following are the catchment areas on W T allkill river: 



Square miles 



Wallkill above Franklin Furnace, N. J 31 



Wallkill at New York and New Jersey State line 2(10 



Wallkill above foot of Drowned Lands 393 



Wallkill above Freeman's proposed dam site 464 



Wallkill at mouth of Shawangunk kill 563 



Shawangunk kill above mouth 149 



Wallkill below Shawangunk kill 712 



Wallkill above Rifton Glen 761 



Wallkill at junction with Rondout creek 779 



Wallkill total catchment in New York : 567 



