I live in WNY and fish the Erie and Ontario tribs all the time. I fish the SR at least a few times every season. It's definitely precip. dependent. The big difference is, that even at lower flows (like drought years) it still has a decent flow, unlike the the spate streams of Lake Erie.

The SR is still absolutely dependent on rain for flows. I recall September of 2007 and a flow of 162 cfs @ pineville, pretty freaking dismal. And what about this spring when the reservoir filled up with so much rain that she was belching well past 6k!?!?!?
Marty, that was the year it was at 90cfs at Brookfield! I'd never seen it that low before. It was nice to see a lot of spots that are normally under water. Pretty easy wading too! lol. Last years flood was amazing! Salmon swimming through fields, parking lots...people's basements. lol.