The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maintains stream gauges along Esopus Creek.
The station in Coldbrook, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) upstream from Ashokan Reservoir, had a maximum discharge of 75,800 cubic feet (2,150 m³) per second on August 28, 2011, as Hurricane Irene passed through the area.
Minimum discharge has not been recorded.
In 2019 it averaged 680.8 cu ft (19.28 m³) per second.

Two more stations are further upstream.
The one in Allaben, in operation since 1963 between Fox Hollow and Peck Hollow creeks, had a maximum discharge of 29,300 cubic feet (830 m³) per second on August 28, 2011, during Irene and a minimum discharge of 2.1 cubic feet (0.059 m³) per second in September 1983.
It recorded an average flow of 204 cu ft (5.8 m³) in 2019.
A station at the Lost Clove Road bridge near Big Indian has been in operation since 2016.
It recorded a maximum discharge of 2,190 cubic feet (62 m³) per second in August 2018, and a minimum of 2 cubic feet (0.057 m³) per second in October 2016; average discharge in 2019 was 82 cu ft (2.3 m³) per second.

Downstream, there are two more stations.
Lomontville, in operation since 2013, 5.6 miles (9.0 km) below the spillway, had a maximum discharge of 4,300 cubic feet (120 m³) per second in September 2015 and a minimum discharge of 2.4 cubic feet (0.068 m³) per second in October 2014.
Its 2019 average flow was 428.8 cu ft (12.14 m³) per second.
Mount Marion, at the Glasco Turnpike Bridge between Kingston and Saugerties, recorded its 30,500 cu ft/s (860 m³/s) maximum during the 2005 flood, with a minimum of 5.3 cu ft (0.15 m³) coming in 1999.
Average flow for 2019 was 775.4 cu ft (21.96 m³) per second.

During Irene, up to 16 inches (410 mm) of rain fell in some locations of the watershed over a 12-hour period.
Streamflows on the creek met or surpassed the 100-year flood levels.
On the upper Esopus, floodwaters filled the streets of Boiceville and Phoenica, destroyed homes in Mount Tremper, and washed out numerous roads and bridges in Oliverea.
In the 2005 flood, 2 inches (5.1 cm) to almost 6 inches (150 mm) fell in some locations, including 4.83 inches (123 mm) at the Slide Mountain station near Winnisook Lake.
This along with 1 to 2 inches (25 to 51 mm) that fell a few days before produced extensive flooding on the Esopus.
The DEP recorded over 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rainfall at Ashokan Reservoir.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency studied 25 sites along the Esopus, and found that most sites were near the 50-year flood level.
The peak level at Bushnellsville Creek in Shandaken surpassed 100-year levels.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maintains stream gauges along Esopus Creek. The station in Coldbrook, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) upstream from Ashokan Reservoir, had a maximum discharge of 75,800 cubic feet (2,150 m³) per second on August 28, 2011, as Hurricane Irene passed through the area. Minimum discharge has not been recorded. In 2019 it averaged 680.8 cu ft (19.28 m³) per second.
Two more stations are further upstream. The one in Allaben, in operation since 1963 between Fox Hollow and Peck Hollow creeks, had a maximum discharge of 29,300 cubic feet (830 m³) per second on August 28, 2011, during Irene and a minimum discharge of 2.1 cubic feet (0.059 m³) per second in September 1983. It recorded an average flow of 204 cu ft (5.8 m³) in 2019. A station at the Lost Clove Road bridge near Big Indian has been in operation since 2016. It recorded a maximum discharge of 2,190 cubic feet (62 m³) per second in August 2018, and a minimum of 2 cubic feet (0.057 m³) per second in October 2016; average discharge in 2019 was 82 cu ft (2.3 m³) per second.
Downstream, there are two more stations. Lomontville, in operation since 2013, 5.6 miles (9.0 km) below the spillway, had a maximum discharge of 4,300 cubic feet (120 m³) per second in September 2015 and a minimum discharge of 2.4 cubic feet (0.068 m³) per second in October 2014. Its 2019 average flow was 428.8 cu ft (12.14 m³) per second. Mount Marion, at the Glasco Turnpike Bridge between Kingston and Saugerties, recorded its 30,500 cu ft/s (860 m³/s) maximum during the 2005 flood, with a minimum of 5.3 cu ft (0.15 m³) coming in 1999. Average flow for 2019 was 775.4 cu ft (21.96 m³) per second.
During Irene, up to 16 inches (410 mm) of rain fell in some locations of the watershed over a 12-hour period. Streamflows on the creek met or surpassed the 100-year flood levels. On the upper Esopus, floodwaters filled the streets of Boiceville and Phoenica, destroyed homes in Mount Tremper, and washed out numerous roads and bridges in Oliverea. In the 2005 flood, 2 inches (5.1 cm) to almost 6 inches (150 mm) fell in some locations, including 4.83 inches (123 mm) at the Slide Mountain station near Winnisook Lake. This along with 1 to 2 inches (25 to 51 mm) that fell a few days before produced extensive flooding on the Esopus. The DEP recorded over 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rainfall at Ashokan Reservoir. The Federal Emergency Management Agency studied 25 sites along the Esopus, and found that most sites were near the 50-year flood level. The peak level at Bushnellsville Creek in Shandaken surpassed 100-year levels.
Esopus Creek