Cattaraugus Creek

{
  "id": "f60eb200-e275-4f29-ac29-c36cb407cec8",
  "name": "Cattaraugus Creek",
  "slug": "cattaraugus-creek-river",
  "type": "river",
  "status": "minimum",
  "tier": "t1",
  "centroid": {
    "crs": {
      "type": "name",
      "properties": {
        "name": "EPSG:4326"
      }
    },
    "type": "Point",
    "coordinates": [
      -79.1372618,
      42.5706142
    ]
  },
  "parentId": "9f430137-3521-471f-92f4-b04987acf02a",
  "country": "United States",
  "countryCode": "US",
  "stateProvince": "NY",
  "county": "Erie",
  "timezone": "America/New_York",
  "descriptionShort": "Cattaraugus Creek in western New York runs cold and clear from the Appalachian plateau to Lake Erie, hosting robust populations of steelhead and brown trout in a largely undammed system.",
  "descriptionLong": "Cattaraugus Creek drains the Appalachian plateau in western New York, flowing 116 kilometers from its headwaters near the Pennsylvania border northwest to Lake Erie. The creek maintains strong year-round flows and cold water temperatures due to groundwater input and minimal damming—a rarity in the Northeast that makes it one of the region's most consistent trout fisheries. The stream's character shifts from rocky, gradient-rich upper reaches around 535 meters elevation to a wider, more moderate lower section as it approaches the lake at 181 meters.\n\nThe creek is best known for its steelhead runs, particularly the fall and spring migrations when fish push upstream from Lake Erie to spawn. These runs can be substantial, drawing anglers from across the region to swing streamers and nymphs through the classic holding water. Brown trout are resident year-round and provide consistent dry-fly opportunity during spring and fall, with summer requiring deeper presentations and patience. The USGS gauge at Gowanda (04213500) sits roughly midway through the productive section and provides reliable flow data for planning trips.\n\nAccess is straightforward along much of the creek, with public land and willing landowners providing multiple entry points. The lower reaches near the hamlet of Versailles and around Gowanda offer the most reliable steelhead holding water and are the focal point for most guided trips. Upper sections, while less trafficked, hold good populations of resident browns and can be productive during low-water periods when the lower creek becomes too warm. The creek's proximity to Buffalo—roughly 90 minutes south—and its lack of heavy pressure compared to Pennsylvania's limestone streams make it an underrated option for Northeast anglers seeking uncrowded water with genuine runs of migratory fish.",
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  "verticals": [
    "fly_fishing",
    "conventional_spin"
  ],
  "waterCharacteristics": [],
  "searchAliases": [
    "Cattaraugus Creek Steelhead Section",
    "Cattaraugus Creek NY"
  ],
  "tags": null,
  "metadata": {
    "prepare": {
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        "name": "Cattaraugus Creek",
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        "type": "river",
        "stateProvince": "NY"
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        "name": "Cattaraugus Creek",
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        "stateProvince": "NY"
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      "confidence": "high",
      "searchQuery": "Cattaraugus Creek NY United States fishing"
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    "geminiReasoning": "This is a well-known fishing destination in New York, particularly famous for steelhead and other migratory fish.",
    "geminiConfidence": "high",
    "gnisFeatureClass": "Stream"
  },
  "nhdFeatureId": "87211514",
  "gnisId": "00969977",
  "gnisName": "Cattaraugus Creek",
  "reachCode": "04120102000042",
  "hucCode": "04120102",
  "nhdPlusId": "60001100020423",
  "streamOrder": 6,
  "nhdFcode": 46006,
  "nhdFtype": 460,
  "drainageAreaSqKm": 1444.0120001,
  "slopePercent": 0.00459295513661203,
  "elevationMin": 180.57,
  "elevationMax": 535.16,
  "lengthKm": 116.17719961,
  "areaSqKm": null,
  "nhdGaugeIds": [
    "04213500"
  ],
  "noaaTideStationIds": null,
  "noaaCurrentStationIds": null,
  "censusGeoid": null,
  "censusLsadc": null,
  "areaWaterSqKm": null,
  "seoKeyword": null,
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  "seoCompetition": null,
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  "source": "seed",
  "pipelineId": 119520,
  "createdAt": "2026-06-15T17:09:36.437Z",
  "updatedAt": "2026-06-15T17:09:53.356Z",
  "destinationSpecies": [],
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    {
      "slug": "north-america",
      "name": "North America",
      "type": "region_global"
    },
    {
      "slug": "united-states-of-america",
      "name": "United States",
      "type": "country"
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    {
      "slug": "new-york",
      "name": "New York",
      "type": "state"
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}