section from Cobleskill Creek to Pleasant Valley Brook is rated Class C, which is most suitable for fishing, but can also be suitable for primary and secondary contact recreation. Stream flow on the lower Schoharie is significantly influenced by the Schoharie Reservoir. Flow from the reservoir is restricted when the dam is not open, and the lack of flow mostly during the summer increases water temperature, which negatively affects the fishery. Also this section flows through an agricultural valley, which contributes to increased sediment in the creek. This increases streambank erosion and sediment loadings, and during high flows, cause the creek's turbidity to increase. Biological tests were conducted in Fort Hunter in 2001, then in Burtonsville in 2001, and showed non-impacted water quality conditions at both sites. Discharge The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maintains many stream gauges along Schoharie Creek. The first station is east of Lexington in operation since 1999, had a maximum discharge of per second on August 28, 2011, as Hurricane Irene passed through the area, and a minimum discharge of per second on August 21–22, 2002. Another station by Prattsville in operation since 1902, upstream from Schoharie Reservoir, had a maximum discharge of per second on August 28, 2011, with no minimum discharge recorded. Below the Schoharie Reservoir is the station by Gilboa in operation since October 1975, downstream from the Schoharie Reservoir dam, had a maximum discharge of per second on August 28, 2011, and a minimum discharge of per second on many days from June to October 1976, and September 11-13, 1980. Another station by North Blenheim in operation continuously since October 1970, upstream from bridge on State Highway 30 in North Blenheim, had a maximum discharge of per second on August 28, 2011, and a minimum discharge of per second on many days from June to October 1976, and September 11-13, 1980. The station by Breakabeen in operation since July 1975, downstream from Keyser Kill, had a maximum discharge of per second on August 28, 2011, and a minimum discharge of per second on October 14, 1988. Further downstream the station by Middleburgh in operation from July 1927 to September 1939 and since December 2017, slightly downstream of the bridge at intersection of State Highways 30 and 145 in Middleburgh, had a maximum discharge of per second on March 18, 1936, and a minimum discharge of per second on September 1, 1939.