Mountain River

The feature-length documentary Mountain River follows the Esopus Creek from its headwaters on Slide Mountain to the Ashokan Reservoir, and on to the Hudson River at Saugerties—a fascinating journey of 65 miles. The story begins with the ancient geologic forces that formed the Catskill Mountains and goes on to explore the Native American and colonial settlements along the Esopus. The documentary covers the history of New York City’s Ashokan Reservoir, the development of waterpower on the stream, and the innovative beginnings of the American Industrial Revolution along the Esopus in Saugerties. The film celebrates the Upper Esopus, a world-class trout fishery, a recreational resource, and a critical source of clean, unfiltered water for millions of New Yorkers. Mountain River highlights the continuing environmental challenges and conservation efforts on the creek. The film is filled with personal stories and interviews with experts. It also features a lively mix of contemporary and vintage images and movie footage. Released in 2020, this is the latest film by Tobe Carey of Willow Mixed Media. Running time is 73 minutes.