At Deposit, on the border between Broome and Delaware counties, it turns sharply to the southeast and is paralleled by New York State Route 17.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maintains many stream gauges along the West Branch Delaware River.

[7] The Hale Eddy station, in service since 1912, located 9 miles (14 km) upstream from the confluence of East and West Branches.

Outside the period of record: In the flood of October 10, 1903 this station reached a discharge of roughly 46,000 cubic feet per second (1,300 m3/s)[8] The West Branch is tailwater fishery.

This means the same cold water releases that keep it cooler in the summer, keep the river a little warmer in the winter and early spring.

The West Branch Delaware River was divided into two sections when the Cannonsville Reservoir was formed.

[10] This section is considered one of the best fly fishing trout streams in the United States, due to the cold water released from the reservoir.