Canadarago Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Canadarago Lake |
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View of Lake from Elm Street Ext, looking south
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 Canadarago Lake
Location in New York Adirondack Park
Canadarago Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Otsego County, New York |
| Coordinates | 42°49′00″N 75°00′15″W / 42.81667°N 75.00417°W |
| Type | Lake |
| Primary inflows | Ocquionis Creek, Mink Creek, Hyder Creek, Herkimer Creek |
| Primary outflows | Oaks Creek |
| Catchment area | 67.34 sq mi (174.4 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 4.04 mi (6.50 km) |
| Max. width | 1.38 mi (2.22 km) |
| Surface area | 1,917 acres (7.76 km2) |
| Average depth | 24.75 ft (7.54 m) |
| Max. depth | 44 feet (13 m) |
| Water volume | 15,600,000,000 US gal (59,000,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 10 miles (16 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,266 feet (386 m) |
| Islands | 2 Deowongo Island, Loon Island (sunken) |
| Settlements | Richfield Springs, Schuyler Lake |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Canadarago Lake is a beautiful lake in Otsego County, New York. It covers about 1,917 acres (7.76 km²) and is the starting point for Oaks Creek. The village of Richfield Springs is located at the northern end of the lake. Canadarago Lake is the second largest lake in Otsego County. It lies next to and runs parallel to the bigger Otsego Lake. You might also see its name spelled as "Candajarago Lake" or "Caniadaraga Lake".
This lake has two islands. One is called Deowongo Island. Its name comes from the Oneida Iroquois people's language and means "Place of Hearing." This name was given because of the strong echo you could hear from the island. In 2012, the island became a protected area and is now open for everyone to visit. The other island is Loon Island, which is a sunken island. It disappeared underwater in the early 1800s.
Contents
Exploring Canadarago Lake's Geography
Canadarago Lake is a long lake, stretching over 4 miles (6.4 km). Its surface covers about 1,917 acres (7.76 km²). The lake is about 24.75 feet (7.54 m) deep on average, but its deepest point is 44 feet (13 m). The northern part of the lake is in the Town of Richfield. The southern part is in the Town of Otsego, with the Town of Exeter bordering its western side.
The lake stretches from the village of Richfield Springs in the north to the community of Schuyler Lake in the south. In the past, the lake was also known as Schuyler Lake, and the community still uses that name today.
What Islands Are in Canadarago Lake?
There is a small island called Deowongo Island located near the eastern shore. There is also a sunken island on Canadarago Lake known as Loon Island. This island was less than an acre in size. It was located toward the north end of the lake, on the northwest side, near the Baker’s Beach area.
Mountains Near Canadarago Lake
Several mountains are close to the lake. Nine Hill is located on the northwest side. King Hill is on the east side. South of King Hill, you'll find Panther Mountain.
A Look at Canadarago Lake's History
In 1778, during the American Revolutionary War, an event called the Andrustown Massacre happened near Canadarago Lake. There is a marker south of Hendersonville on the "Leatherstocking Trail" road. This marker reminds people of the massacre.
Until the early 1800s, there was a second island on the lake called Loon Island. It was smaller than Deowongo Island, only about half an acre. The southern part of Loon Island was marshy, but the northern part had trees and plants. In 1816, a year known for strange weather, an early spring thaw caused streams to flood the lake ice. A strong north wind then pushed the ice into the southern part of the lake. Later, a hard freeze occurred, and the winds shifted to the south. This pushed the larger ice pack back across the lake. This back-and-forth movement of the ice stripped away the soil, trees, and plants from the island. Loon Island has been underwater ever since.
In 1872, a small steamboat was launched on the lake. It was used for fun and pleasure rides.
The island that remains on Canadarago Lake is Deowongo Island. The Oneida Indians, who lived in the area, gave it this name. It means "Place of Hearing" because of the echo you could hear there. Daniel Wormer bought the island from New York State in 1850. Then, in 2012, the Schoenlein family donated the island to the Otsego Land Trust. This made it possible for the public to visit the island.
In 1902, the Southern New York Railroad, an electric train line, opened. It connected towns like Richfield Springs and Cooperstown. There were two stops along Canadarago Lake: Canadarago Park and The Lake House.
In June 2006, the lake experienced massive flooding after a lot of rain. In 2007, a plan to create a Canadarago Lake District was approved by the New York State Legislature. However, Governor Eliot Spitzer later stopped the plan.
How Was Canadarago Lake Formed?
Canadarago Lake is similar to the Finger Lakes in New York. Both were carved out by huge sheets of ice called glaciers. However, Canadarago Lake is not considered one of the Finger Lakes. One reason is that Canadarago Lake is much higher up, at about 1,266 feet (386 m) above sea level. The Finger Lakes are much lower, around 400 feet (120 m). Another difference is that the Finger Lakes flow into Lake Ontario. Canadarago Lake is part of the Susquehanna River system.
Canadarago Lake is a dimictic lake. This means its waters mix completely twice a year, usually in spring and fall. The lake is also eutrophic, which means it has a lot of nutrients.
Understanding the Lake's Watershed
Several creeks flow into Canadarago Lake. Ocquionis Creek and Mink Creek enter from the north. Hyder Creek flows in from the west, as does Herkimer Creek. Herkimer Creek enters near where Oaks Creek drains the lake. Oaks Creek flows south through a marshy area for about 9 miles (14 km) before joining the Susquehanna River.
The area of land that drains into Canadarago Lake is called its watershed. This watershed covers about 67 square miles (170 km²). It includes parts of several towns in Otsego County and Herkimer County. Canadarago Lake is at the very beginning of the huge Susquehanna River watershed. This watershed covers about 27,510 square miles (71,250 km²). The Susquehanna River flows from Otsego Lake all the way to Havre de Grace, where it empties into the Chesapeake Bay and then the Atlantic Ocean.
Protecting Canadarago Lake
What Are Invasive Species?
Zebra mussels are tiny creatures that first arrived in the Great Lakes in the 1980s. They came from ships that had traveled from Europe and Asia. These mussels began living in Canadarago Lake around the year 2000. They can harm the lake by outcompeting native clams and changing the food web. They can also damage docks and swimming areas. In Canadarago Lake, zebra mussels are a big concern because there are many places for them to live, which increases their impact on the lake.
How Is Pollution Controlled?
In the past, sewage from Richfield Springs was not fully cleaned before it flowed into Oquionis Creek and then into the lake. This caused too much algae to grow. In 1973, a better cleaning process called tertiary treatment was started. This process removes phosphorus using a chemical called alum. Within a few years, the lake started to look much healthier.
Fun Things to Do at Canadarago Lake
Fishing at the Lake
One of the most popular activities at Canadarago Lake is fishing! The lake is home to many types of fish. Some of the most popular fish to catch are tiger muskie, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black bass, yellow perch, walleye, and brown trout.
You can access the lake using a public boat launch on the west side, off State Route 28. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) helps the lake's walleye population. They add about 40,000 young walleyes, 4 to 5 inches long, to the lake each year. During the summer, many bass fishing tournaments are held to see who can catch the biggest bass. You can also go ice fishing on the lake during the winter months.
There are rules for fishing, including how many fish you can catch and when you can fish. For black bass, the season runs from December 1 to the third Saturday in June, with a limit of 5 fish per day. The walleye season is from the first Saturday in May to March 15. In 2017, the walleye rules changed for this lake. You need to catch walleye that are at least 18 inches (46 cm) long, and you can only keep 3 per day. For yellow perch, you can fish all year, but you can only keep 25 per day.
Where Can You Swim?
Baker's Beach is a public picnic area where you can also swim. It's open from 11 AM to 7 PM, from July 4 through August 30. You can swim when a lifeguard is on duty. Baker's Beach is on the northwest side of the lake, and you can get there from State Route 28.
Images for kids
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View of Lake from Elm Street Ext, looking south
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Canadarago Lake seen from NY 28
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Deowongo Island in summer 2018
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1900 post card of the lake
