The New York District of the U.S. Geological Survey operates a water quality network throughout the New York City Watershed funded by New York City Department of Environmental Protection. The purpose of the network is to provide surface water stream flow and water quality data for selected streams throughout the Catskill Mountains within the New York City Watershed.

There are currently 34 sites throughout the network at which near real-time stream flow data is collected, at thirteen of those sites stream water quality data are also collected. These data consist of base flow and stormflow water chemistry samples. The water quality network is composed of paired "nodes" consisting of one or more "upper nodes" that provide background water quality, and "lower nodes" that provide water quality data at some distance below the upper nodes. This design allows us to document changes in water quality as it is affected by the land use between the two nodes.

One site, Little Beaver Kill above Lake Hill, does not have a corresponding lower node it is currently a part of the network to provide data in anticipation of specific research at that site. Rondout Creek above Peekamoose is part of the Regional Long-term Monitoring network operated by the NY District USGS and funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Winnisook Creek, Biscuit Brook, and Tisons Creek are also a part of that network.