Beaver River (New York)

Beaver River
The Beaver River near Lake Lila
Location
Country	United States
State	New York
Region	Adirondack Mountains
Physical characteristics
Source	Lake Lila
Mouth	Black River
• location	Castorland, New York
• coordinates	43°53′36″N 75°30′13″W / 43.89333°N 75.50361°W / 43.89333; -75.50361
• elevation	720 ft (220 m)
Basin size	323 sq mi (840 km2)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Sunday Creek, Murmur Creek, Black Creek
• right	Alder Creek, Mosier Creek, Alder Creek, Sammys Creek, Wildmeyer Creek

The Beaver River is a small mountain stream which flows from the Adirondack Mountains to the Black River at Naumburg, north of Lowville in northwestern New York. The Beaver flows through parts of Hamilton, Herkimer, and Lewis counties. Its source is Lake Lila in Long Lake.^[1]

Owing to its high gradient as it drops out of the mountains, the Beaver is a favorite destination for whitewater kayakers and canoeists. In September of each year, hundreds of whitewater paddlers descend on the Beaver from all parts of the US and eastern Canada.

Also because of its high gradient, there are several hydropower projects along the Beaver's course. These projects, created between 1905 and 1920 have fostered a series of highly productive fisheries in the reservoir chain. Popular among locals, the Soft Maple Reservoir is an excellent Smallmouth Bass fishery.

The hamlet of Beaver River at the east end of Stillwater Reservoir, in the town of Webb has a year-round population of three that increases during the summer as many people have camps in this wilderness area. No roads lead to the hamlet; it is accessible only by hiking, rail car or boat in the summer and by snowmobile, snowshoes or cross country skis in the winter.