DEC DELIVERS---RIVER PROFILE: BRONX RIVER, BRONX AND WESTCHESTER COUNTIES

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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 

River Profile: Bronx River; Bronx and Westchester Counties

Location: The source of the Bronx River is the Kensico Reservoir in Westchester County. From here the river flows south, passing through White Plains, Scarsdale, Yonkers, and Bronxville until it reaches Bronx County, where it then empties into the East River between Hunts Point and Clason Point.

Length: Approximately 23 miles

Characteristics: The Bronx River is generally a narrow and shallow urban waterway. Slim sections of riparian buffer straddle the river along each of its banks as it meanders its way along the Bronx River Parkway. Although there are a few deep holes scattered throughout the river (mostly south of cross country parkway), river depth typically ranges from about 1-4 feet. Substrate mostly consists of soft sand with small cobbles and rocks mixed in as well.

The dam located at 181st street is a defining physical feature of the Bronx River, as it marks the divide between the freshwater section (north of the dam) and the brackish, tidally influenced section (south of the dam). A fish ladder was erected at this site in 2015 as part of a restoration effort to help diadromous species such as alewives and blueback herring reach freshwater spawning habitat.

Below the dam, the river takes on new physical transformations. As it passes through Starlight Park it begins to widen, substrate shifts from sand to rock and rip-rap, and gradually the depth increases as it meets its mouth at the East River.

The Fishery: Freshwater fish species present in the Bronx River include redbreast sunfish, white sucker, yellow bullhead, as well as American eel. While anglers may be discouraged by its lack of sportfishing potential, the Bronx River offers other unique opportunities for those looking to wet a line. Looking at DEC’s freshwater fisheries surveys across NYC waterbodies, the Bronx River offers one of the only opportunities for anglers to target white sucker or redbreast sunfish within the city.

Access: Although public access to the river is restricted as it passes through the NY Botanical Garden and Bronx Zoo, several of the parks that line the Bronx River shoreline provide anglers with ample access. Shoelace Park, Scout Field, and Bronx River Pathway all offer access to the Bronx River’s freshwater sections above the dam at 181st street. Additionally, Soundview Park provides anglers with river access, however due to its proximity to the east river, anglers fishing here are more likely to encounter marine species such as striped bass, bluefish, black seabass, tautog, porgy and summer flounder.

Current Management/Research: Currently, DEC’s Bureau of Fisheries conducts annual backpack electrofishing surveys along the freshwater portions of the Bronx River to assess the presence and distribution of different fish species.