Croton River

About

The Croton River ( KROH-tən) is a river in southern New York with a watershed area of 361 square miles (930 km2), and three principal tributaries: the West Branch, Middle Branch, and East Branch. Their waters, all part of the New York City water supply system, join downstream from the Croton Falls Reservoir. Together, their waters and the reservoirs linked to them represent the northern half of the New York City water system's Croton Watershed.

Shortly after the confluence of the three Croton River branches the Croton River proper flows westward into the Muscoot Reservoir, joined separately from the north by the Muscoot River, a tributary. The Muscoot empties into the New Croton Reservoir, which feeds the New Croton Aqueduct, supplying water to the Jerome Park Reservoir in the Bronx for distribution in New York City. Excess water leaves the spillway at the New Croton Dam and empties into the Hudson River at Croton-on-Hudson, New York at Croton Point, about 30 miles (50 km) north of New York City.