As part of our 2026 program theme, “Ecologies of Water,” WLC is proud to present “Know Your Watershed,” a monthly series that explores the parts of our local water system and how to care for them.

Last month, we talked about underground water; this month, we’re focusing on flowing waters.

As snow melts in the Catskills, water moves through Hudson Valley creeks, streams and rivers. What’s the difference? There’s no scientific rule. These names are shaped by culture and scale. “Streams” are usually the smallest flows (like the water through Israel Wittman Sanctuary); “creeks” are larger (like the Sawkill); and “rivers” are the largest water bodies in a region. Here, the Hudson River’s scale shapes how we talk about all other waterways. For our purposes, a waterway includes all flowing water that collects and moves across land, shaping ecosystems as it goes. Clean, flowing water is essential; it provides habitat for fish, salamanders, freshwater mussels, crayfish and aquatic insects while supporting drinking water for people, too.

In the Woodstock area, the Sawkill Creek is our main waterway, which is why we call this the Sawkill Watershed. The Sawkill helps define Woodstock’s landscape, supports town wells during drought and provides habitat for diverse species that, in turn, assist in keeping our watershed and drinking water healthy. Headwaters are the start of waterways. The Sawkill’s headwaters are at Echo Lake on the north side of Overlook Mountain.

Want to visit the Sawkill’s headwaters? The most common route starts at the Meads Mountain Road / Overlook Mountain trailhead across from the Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, with alternate access from Platte Clove Road. Expect a moderate backcountry hike of several miles each way, with no facilities at the lake.