Basic Creek Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Basic Creek Reservoir |
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 Basic Creek Reservoir
Location in New York
Basic Creek Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Westerlo, New York |
| Coordinates | 42°28′39″N 74°00′53″W / 42.47750°N 74.01472°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Average depth | 17 ft (5.2 m) |
| Shore length1 | 4 mi (6.4 km) |
| Surface elevation | 935 ft (285 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
The Basic Creek Reservoir is a large, man-made lake in Westerlo, New York. It is one of three important reservoirs that help supply drinking water to the City of Albany, New York. A reservoir is like a giant storage tank for water.
This reservoir was built between 1928 and 1932. Workers created it by building a dam across the Basic Creek. This dam held back the water, which then flooded old farmlands and forests to create the lake we see today. A road called Albany County Route 404 actually cuts right through the middle of the reservoir.
Contents
What is a Feeder Reservoir?
The Basic Creek Reservoir plays a special role. It is a "feeder reservoir." This means it helps send water to another, even bigger reservoir. Water from the area around Basic Creek (called its watershed) flows into this reservoir. From there, the water can be sent, or "diverted," into the Hannacroix Creek.
The Hannacroix Creek then flows into the Alcove Reservoir. The Alcove Reservoir is the main source of drinking water for Albany. So, Basic Creek Reservoir helps make sure the Alcove Reservoir has enough water.
Fun Facts About the Reservoir
The Basic Creek Reservoir is a great place for outdoor activities. If you get a permit, you can go fishing here! The reservoir is home to many different kinds of fish.
Some of the fish you might catch include:
- Smallmouth bass
- Largemouth bass
- Black crappie
- Walleye
- Bluegill
- Northern pike
- Chain pickerel
Reservoir Statistics
Here are some interesting facts about the size of Basic Creek Reservoir:
- It can hold about 716 million US gallons of water.
- The average depth of the water is about 17 feet (5.2 meters).
- The water covers an area of about 265 acres (1.07 square kilometers).
- The shoreline, or the edge of the water, stretches for about 5 miles (8 kilometers).
Images for kids
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This is the spillway, where excess water flows out of the reservoir.
